How Long Does It Take for Grass Seed to Sprout?

Different types of grass seed take different amounts of time to sprout.

Grass seed can take five to 30 days to sprout-- germinate--depending on the type of seed. Whether grass seed sprouts at all also depends on different environmental and cultural factors. Does this Spark an idea?

Cool-Season Grasses

Cool-season grasses generally sprout faster than warm-season grasses. Fescues and rye grasses sprout in five to 15 days. Kentucky bluegrass sprouts in 20 to 30 days.

Warm-Season Grasses

Bentgrass and Bermuda grass usually will sprout within 10 days, but Bermuda grass can take up to 30 days. Centipede grass sprouts in 14 to 21 days.

Water

Grass seed won't sprout at all without proper water. Water the seed before it germinates daily, or enough to keep the soil moist. Don't let the soil get soggy.

Temperature

Grass seed also needs the proper temperature to sprout. Cool-season grasses need temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees.

References

• The Garden Counselor: Understanding Grass Seed Germination
• Penn State Center for Turfgrass Science: The Cool-Season Turfgrasses--Basic Structures, Growth and Development
• The Garden Counselor: Watering New Grass Seed

Resources

• Read this Article in UK English