How Fast Do Grass Seeds Grow?
You checked on the price of sod to cover the dirt that will become your lawn. The price exceeded expectations so Plan B comes to you: seed the lawn yourself. You have diligently removed all the stones, leveled the dirt where necessary, applied the seeds and watered. Day one passes, then days two and three pass, and still no grass is showing. Makes you wonder how long it will take for your grass to grow. Does this Spark an idea?
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Choosing Seeds
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Read the label on the grass seed package to select a product suited for the amount of sunlight your lawn receives. "Straight seed" packages contain one type of seed, such as all tall fescue seeds, that are more likely to germinate together. Packages marked as blends or mixes will contain a variety of seeds that may germinate at different times, even as much as a week in apart.
Preparation
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Rake the dirt to loosen the soil. If working with primarily clay soil, add top soil as you rake. For best results, spread a fertilizer. Though you can plant seed anytime from spring to fall in cold climates, grass seed is best planted in the fall. In warm climates, winter is the best time to plant grass.
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Seeding
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Apply the seed using a lawn spreader. This ensures that the seed is evenly distributed. To help retain moisture, hand-spread a layer of straw across the seeded area. Water after seeding and continue to water daily unless it rains. The best time to water is in the morning. Water the grass deeply on a regular basis, summer through fall, whenever rainfall is lacking. In the heat of summer with no rain, watering may be necessary twice a week to keep the grass green.
When grass first starts to sprout, the blades are far apart with a shallow root system. Keep people and animals off the seeds and sprouting grass. When you can tug on a fist full of new grass and feel resistance, the grass is ready for foot traffic.
Germination
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The time frame from planting until the grass sprouts varies depending on the variety of seeds planted, soil conditions, amount of sunshine and watering. The fastest varieties to germinate are red top and bent grasses that need nine to 14 and seven to 14 days respectively. Expect 10 to 14 days until germination for rye grass and tall or meadow fescue; 10 to 21 days for creeping red fescue; 10 to 28 days for Part and Newport Kentucky bluegrasses; 14 to 28 days for Kentucky (plain) and Marion bluegrasses.
Continuing Care
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When the grass appears, water deeply once a week for the next month unless there is a saturating rain. Water as needed thereafter. Plan to fertilize at least once a year, tackle dead spots as they occur by raking and reseeding the area, and mow regularly to maintain the lawn you waited so patiently to see turn green.
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