How to Germinate Grass Seeds
The best times of year to seed your lawn are in spring and fall. Do spring seeding after any threat of frost but well before the warmer weather sets in. If you seed in the fall, do so after the temperatures begin to cool but before there is a threat of frost or snow. Once you seed your lawn, you want to help your seed germinate. Making sure the conditions are right for germination will increase your chances of having a healthy, long lasting lawn. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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How to Germinate Grass Seed
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1
Rake the new seed into the soil. Do not use a lot of force or rake up the soil. Rather, nestle the seed in the topsoil.
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2
Place a thin layer of mulch over the seeded area. The mulch should be a fine, porous material such as straw to ensure the seeds are exposed to sunlight and water can reach them. You can use steer manure, but apply it in a thin layer to avoid suffocating the seed.
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3
Water the newly seeded area with a light spray. After spreading the seed, use the sprayer on your hose to sprinkle the lawn with water. The spray should just dampen the surface of the seeded area.
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4
Keep traffic to a minimum on the newly seeded lawn to avoid compacting the soil or dislodging the seed. Grass seed will germinate two to three weeks after planting.
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Keep the soil moist, but not soaked. Continue to spray the area lightly with water each day, preferably in the morning, for 10 to 15 minutes. The seeds need moisture to germinate. Too much water, though, and the seeds will rot. Too little water and the seeds will dry out.
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Do not spray herbicides or weed killers on the seeded area. Should you see any weeds, remove them with a weeder tool.
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Check the soil daily to ensure you are not over-watering or under-watering. Remember, the soil should be moist but not soaked. Also check for sprouting grass. The grass will only sprout if the seeds have germinated. If you see patches where there are no sprouts, while other areas have sprouted, reseed those patches, but only if the nights are cool but not cold, and the days are warm but not hot.
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Maintain your lawn as you normally would once your grass is 2 to 3 inches tall. Keep your mower blades high up, though; you want to only mow the tips of the new grass to encourage hearty growth.
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