There’s nothing like the feeling of freshly mowed grass under your feet. The cool, soft texture is a welcome respite from the hot sun. It provides beauty, shade, and a place for animals to graze, and it’s an important part of any lawn and garden.
When it comes to lawn care, one of the most frequently asked questions is how long it will take for the grass to grow back. The answer to this question depends on a variety of factors, such as the type of grass, the climate, and the amount of sunlight and water the lawn receives.
In general, most types of grass can take anywhere from a few days to six weeks to start growing visibly, although it may also take several months for the lawn to reach its full height. By taking into account the different factors that influence grass growth, homeowners can create a plan to help their lawn bloom beautifully.
In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at how long it takes for grass to grow and some of the factors that can affect the process. We’ll also share some tips on how to make your lawn look its best. So, if you’re eager to get your lawn looking green and lush again, read on to learn more!
When Is The Best Time To Plant Grass Seed?
Before you start scattering your grass seeds over the soil and hoping they plant and take root, it is important to know certain rules about seasonal timing. You don’t want to spend a whole weekend trying to plant the perfect grass lawn only to realize it’s the wrong time of year for it.
Some of the rules around this are obvious. For example, don’t plant grass in the winter. Summertime is also not the best time, as the high heats can scorch the grass too much as well as evaporate the water they need to grow.
It also depends on the type of grass seed you aim to plant. There are two main types, warm-season grasses and cool-season grasses.
Regardless of where you live in the country, autumn is the ideal time to plant a cool-season seed variety. If you live further north, aim for late August to mid-September; if you live farther south, you can even plant grass through the end of October.
For warm-season grass, the spring time is the best time of year to plant, and especially the month of May. Cool-season grasses can also be planted in the spring, though the optimum time for these is a bit earlier, around the month of April.
Here is a full detailed article about when is the best time to plant grass seed, if you would like to know more.
Why Is My Grass Seed Not Germinating?
There are many reasons why your grass seed might not be germinating after planting, including the grass seed itself, the soil you’re trying to plant in, and the seasonal weather you’re experiencing.
Grass Seed Conditions
The first thing to do – and something you should do before even preparing to plant grass seed – is to check if the seeds have expired or gone bad. Yes, they can expire. Make sure you keep any grass seed stored in dry, dark, and cool conditions, and that no animals can get to them.
The best way to ensure that your grass seed is healthy and able to be planted is to buy it right before you start working on your lawn.
Soil Conditions
One of the most common reasons for a missed germination is because the soil may have been too wet or too dry when you planted. Too much water can drown out the seeds and prevent them from sprouting, and too little water won’t provide the seeds with the necessary amount to cause them to break open and sprout.
Additionally, garden and lawn soils can differ in nutrient and alkalinity content, so it’s critical to match the type of soil you have with the sort of soil your seeds require. A soil test may assist you to understand if you need pre-seeding fertilization and whether any further soil preparation is required before planting.
Seasonal Timing
As stated above, planting seeds at the wrong time of year can potentially keep them from sprouting. This is especially true if you’re planting warm-season grass seeds in the fall or cold-season ones in the summer.
Also, make sure to check the forecast for anytime you plan to start spreading grass seed. Check if the week ahead has an unusual heat-wave or if it’ll be raining constantly, and only plant when the conditions look ideal.
Grass Seed Type Germination Rates
Now that you know when and how to plant grass seed at the right time of year and in the right conditions, let’s go through some of the more common types of grass seed and see how long they take to germinate on average. There are many types of seed, so be sure to check exactly what type you are buying and planting, because sometimes confusion here can lead you to think that your grass seed isn’t growing when it actually is, or that it is growing when it actually isn’t.
Here are the main types of grass seeds, and the time they take to germinate:
- Bentgrass – This variety may germinate in as little as two weeks. The refreshing, bright green blades of this popular cool-season grass are frequently seen on golf course greens.
- Bermuda Grass – This is a warm-season variety of grass, and it takes around 1 to 2 weeks to germinate in ideal conditions.
- Fescues – These take around 12 to 22 days for the seed to germinate. The shade tolerance and low water requirement of this grass make it an excellent choice for small gardens.
- Zoysia Grass – Zoysia is a slower germinator, taking on average between 14 and 21 days to emerge. It is a warm-season grass that’s drought-tolerant and stands up well to foot traffic.
- Kentucky Bluegrass – This is a hardy grass that is very resilient to cold, but it takes approximately 10 – 21 days to sprout, which is longer than other varieties.
- Annual Ryegrass – This is a fast-sprouting and adaptable grass, and generally takes five to 10 days to germinate, but it’s not very cold tolerant.
- Perennial Ryegrass – This grass takes only five to seven days to germinate, although it requires a lot of water to do so, and is excellent for foot traffic.
How to Grow Grass From Seed
Here are few more tips that will help you get the most out of your grass seed, and set you well on your way to a healthy, thick green lawn.
Cool-Season Grasses
Cool-season grasses, such as Fescue, Ryegrass, and Bluegrass, are typically the quickest to germinate from seed. These grasses flourish in soil temperatures of 50 to 65 F, which is equivalent to air temperatures of 60 to 75 F. All of these grasses may be cultivated from seed to lawn in as little as 30 days
Warm-Season Grasses
Warm-season grasses, on the other hand, take longer to germinate and develop roots, and therefore these grasses grow more slowly than cool-season grasses. Cold temperatures can also halt the germination process and harm young grass plants.
Warm-season grasses require soil temperatures of 60 to 75 F for optimum germination, and daytime temperatures that are consistently above 80 F. While these grasses may be tall enough to mow after 2 months of seeding, complete lawn establishment can take up to a year.
Sunlight
Sunlight helps grass thrive the best. As soon as the grass seeds germinate, the tiny leaves begin to utilize that sunshine to create energy, which grows deep roots and lush leaves. Grass plants develop fully and quickly if there is plenty of light, and will grow sparsely if there is too much shade.
Make sure your lawn and garden receives at least 6 hours of direct sunshine each day before planting grass seed, or use a seed mix that works in shaded soil if that is not possible.
Prepare the Soil
It is a good thing to prep your soil before trying to plant any new grass seed or overseeding an existing lawn. For one thing, remove all weeds that you can. You can use a weed killer to do this, but be sure to wait the right amount of time afterwards, because weed killers can also harm your grass seed if you plant immediately after weeding.
Also, you can help to prepare your soil by fertilizing it. This gives the soil the nutrients and energy it needs to then provide the grass seeds with enough of both. Firstly, test your soil to see what specific vitamins and nutrients it needs, if any. Then use a fertilizer to improve any unhealthy aspects, and then get to planting.
How to Water Grass Seed
The advantage of planting grass seed at the proper time can be enhanced by watering your lawn properly during its growth stage. You should water your seed twice a day for the first few days after planting to keep the top inch of soil moist until the seeds germinate, and from then on water every day for about the next six weeks. If it rains during any of the days, you don’t have to water that day. Make certain not to over- or under-water your lawn; rather, water it deeply once a day.
However, if there is too much water, the seeds might wash away before they can be planted and embedded in the soil. If you have days of heavy rainfall on your forecast, don’t try to grow grass seed during that period.
When the grass is about 3 inches tall, begin mowing. After you’ve mowed your new turf once or twice, you may resume your regular pre-planting watering schedule.
Summing Up
So, how long does it take for grass to grow? The answer to that question depends on myriad factors. By understanding some of the things that impact grass growth, you can set your expectations accordingly and give your lawn the best chance to thrive.
Following the tips we’ve outlined above should help you see some improvement. Grass seed germination can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, so above all you need to be patient.
Make sure to test your soil before planting, choose the right type of seed for your climate and growing conditions, water sufficiently (but not too much), and give your lawn adequate sunlight. With a bit of patience and these simple steps, you should be able to enjoy a beautiful green lawn in no time!
If you’re looking for more information on growing grass from seed, feel free to reach out to us. We’ll be happy to help in any way we can. Good luck with your brand new, lush green lawn!
