How You Know When Grass Seeds Are Beginning to Grow
Planting a lawn from seed takes knowledge, preparation and care.
The most common questions are: How long does it take for grass seeds to germinate? How soon is it safe to begin walking on your new lawn and enjoying it in other ways?
The rate of growth depends on several factors: the type of grass seed you plant, the climate, the condition of your soil, and the amount and regularity of water you give your young lawn.
Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Warm Season and Cool Season Lawns
-
If your summers are hot (daytime temperatures often over 80 degrees Fahrenheit) and your lawn will be in a sunny area, choose a warm season grass such as Bermuda or buffalo grass. Both germinate within 14 to 21 days and grow quickly.
If your summers are not as hot (daytime temperatures usually below 75 or 80 F) or if your intended lawn will be in the shade, choose a cool season lawn such as tall fescue or one of the bluegrasses. Kentucky bluegrass germinates in about eight days and grows quickly.
Warm Season Grasses
-
Depending on the type of seed you plant, you can expect to see a little green beginning to appear in your planting area within one to two weeks.
Bermuda grass and buffalo grass germinate in 14 to 21 days and are considered fast growers.
Zoysiagrass germinates in 21 to 28 days and grows quickly.
Bahiagrass germinates in 21 to 35 days. It's a slow grower.
Don't expect to see centipede grass for 35 to 40 days---it is considered a slow, poor grower. -
Cool Season Grasses
-
Most cool season grasses usually sprout within one to two weeks of planting.
Ryegrasses are the fastest cool season grass to germinate: Watch for annual ryegrass in seven to 14 days; perennial ryegrass is faster---five to 12 days. Both grow quickly.
You'll see colonial and creeping bent grass in seven to 14 days. Both are fast growers.
The fescues sprout within 10 to 21 days. You will begin seeing red and sheep fescue sprouts within 10 to14 days---both varieties grow at a slow to medium pace. Tall fescue germinates in 10 to 21 days and is a fast grower.
Kentucky bluegrass germinates in a little more than one week; rough bluegrass germinates in 10 to 21 days. Both are fast growers.
Helping Your Lawn Grow Quickly
-
The sun can easily burn young sprouts, so plant your lawn seed in the fall. September and October are recommended, but be sure to plant before the year's first frost.
The condition of the soil is very important. Conducting a simple soil test will tell you what nutrients your soil is lacking and will give you a guide to the amendments that will lead to a healthy lawn. Grass prefers neutral soil---pH from 6.5 to 7 is ideal.
Water is crucial to a young lawn: soak it well with a sprinkler for 30 minutes two to three times per day for the first month.
Seeing Green
-
Don't despair if you don't see any green starting to emerge from your planting area right away. Conditions vary and can greatly influence the rate of germination of all types of lawn. Keep watering the area and keep pets and people from walking on it. Soon you will begin to see a faint shadow of green where you planted. Continue watering two to three times each day---every day you will see more green grass coming in.
Care After the First Month
-
You can begin to use your new lawn about three months after it starts to sprout. Begin mowing it at the same time. Continue watering your lawn once per day for its first three months. Water more frequently if it begins to dry out. When a lawn is mature, it responds well to one deep watering per week that provides 1½ inches of water. Apply fertilizer twice each year: March and September. Use a 20-5-10 fertilizer formulated for lawns. Do not over fertilize or over water your lawn.
-
