How Often and When to Water New Grass Seed

There’s nothing more aesthetically pleasing than a beautiful lawn when it comes to a home’s curb appeal. While it may seem tedious, growing and maintaining a lush, green lawn is relatively simple. To achieve a beautiful new lawn, the first step is to understand the basics of seeding and lawn care.

Water new grass seed immediately after spreading. Then, water twice daily at the coolest times of day until the seeds sprout. After germination, water seedlings once a day for ten to fifteen minutes each time. Keep grass moist until it’s at mowing length, or 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches (6.35 to 8.89 cm).

This article will cover types of grass seed, general guidelines for preparing to lay grass seed, and how to sow the seeds properly. We’ll also discuss watering and maintenance for a nice, healthy lawn. Read on to learn more.

Get more tips for outdoor spaces and diy home projects here.

Things to Know Before Laying Grass Seed

Laying grass seed isn’t as easy as throwing the seeds in the yard and expecting them to grow.

There are several things to know before casting the seed, which we’ll discuss in this section.

Best Time of Year To Plant Grass Seed

Generally speaking, grass seed may be planted at any time of the year, but different grasses grow better in different regions and during different seasons.

Before planting your grass seed, know the growing season in your area.

This is the time of year when rainfall, temperature, and hours of daylight are ideal for optimal plant growth. More often than not, it’s in the spring after the last frost.

Additionally, you’ll want to think about the type of seed you’re planting.

Cool-Season Grasses

These grasses grow best in cooler climates.

For cool-season turfgrass, the best season for grass planting is in autumn, particularly around Labor Day.

This provides seedlings enough time to establish their root systems before the first frost without being scorched by the hot summer sun.

Cool season grasses may also benefit from dormant seeding.

According to Purdue University Forest & Natural Resources, it’s possible (and even beneficial) to plant grass seed around November. This gives the grass a period of dormancy which might actually help prevent exposure to pathogens.

Some cool-season grasses include:

• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Fine Fescue
• Tall Fescue
• Perennial Ryegrass
• Bentgrass

A major drawback to cool-season grasses is that after dormancy planting if the temperature rises unexpectedly, the seeds will germinate and die after the weather turns cold again.

Warm-Season Grasses

Warm-season grasses require warm weather to thrive. Once established, these grasses are semi-drought resistant, making them an excellent choice for drought-prone areas. Early to late spring is the best time to plant warm-season turfgrass.

Some warm-season grasses include:

• Bahia
• Bermuda
• Centipede
• St. Augustine
• Zoysia

The major downside to warm-season grasses is that they do not retain their vibrant, green color during the winter.

Soil Quality

Before tossing that seed into your yard, think about the type of soil you have.

Soil conditions and soil type matter, especially if you want a well-established lawn. Knowing your soil is important for choosing the type of grass seed that works best in your environment.

Type of Soil

Every area has a different type of soil.

• Clay soil. It’s dense and heavy and usually needs the addition of nutrients before planting grass seed. Some cool-season grasses that grow well in clay soil include Tall Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass. Some warm-season grasses that thrive in clay soil are Bermuda Grass and Zoysia.
• Sandy soil. It’s airy, dry, and light and is often low in nutrients, and tends to have a lower pH than other types of soil. It also doesn’t hold moisture. Zoysia, Centipede Grass, and Bahia Grass are fine grasses for sandy soil.
• Silt soil. It is considered the best of the three because it is light and has good moisture retention, so it’s ideal for most types of grass seed. It also has a high fertility rating and rarely needs amendments.
• Loam. It’s a mixture of the three above soil types. It contains sand, silt, and clay, and has a good water retention rate, and contains many minerals and nutrients.

Soil Condition

Some grass types are finicky about soil pH level.

The ideal pH level is between 6 and 7. Acidic soils (sandy soils are very acidic) require the addition of ground limestone to amend the soil and make it suitable for grasses.

Alkaline soils (with a pH above 7) require organic matter such as compost, composted manure, or sulfur to increase acidity.

Always test the soil’s pH and nutrient levels before planting so that you can make any necessary amendments.

Soil Temperature

Before laying grass seed, soil temperatures need to be between 55 to 65°F (12.77 to 18.33°C).

Mild temperatures in the daytime, around 60 to 75°F (15.55 to 23.88°C), are a good indication that soil temps are warm enough for grass seed germination.

Soil temperatures below 50°F (10°C) cause the seeds to lay dormant.

Preparation for Laying Grass Seed

Once you’ve determined which grass to plant and have factored in your soil quality, it’s time to prepare for sowing your grass seed. 

1. Measure the future planting area. Determine the square footage and use that information to purchase the proper amount of grass seed.
2. Clear the existing lawn where you plan to plant grass. Remove any large branches, lawn furniture, paving stones, etc.
3. Loosen the soil. Soil compaction prevents seeds from taking hold. Clay soil is especially prone to compaction. Use a rotary tiller to loosen the entire area.
4. Rake the area. Pick up and remove any sticks, trash, debris, or old grass.
5. Test the soil. As discussed earlier, the pH should be around 6 or 7, and the soil should have enough nutrients. If not, mix in nutrients or organic matter accordingly. Mix it in using a tiller.
6. Moisten the soil thoroughly. Water the area to a depth of 6 to 8 inches before sowing the grass seed.

Spreading Grass Seed

While you may not think so, according to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, there is a proper way to spread grass seed.

Follow these steps to get the best results:

1. Separate your seeds in half. For example, if you purchased four pounds of grass seed, put only two pounds in a drop spreader.
2. Sow the first half of the seeds in a vertical path. Use the drop spreader to move up and down the lawn, spreading the seeds evenly. Fill the spreader with the second half of the seeds once you’ve finished the vertical path.
3. Spread the second half of the seeds in a horizontal path. Overlap the first path, moving side to side across the yard.
4. Cover the seeds about ⅛ inch (0.31 cm) deep using a rake. Avoid sowing the seeds at significantly different depths – this could cause one area to germinate before the other, leading to an unsightly, patchy lawn.

Related: How Often to Water New Sod

How Often To Water New Grass Seed

Enough water is an essential part of a happy, healthy lawn – and it’s even more critical during those early growing stages.

With that said, however, it’s important to ensure that you’re watering properly.

Frequency of Watering

Whether you are using a sprinkler system or watering your new seed with a garden hose, as soon as the grass seed is sown, it’s critical that you maintain moisture.

If seeds are allowed to dry out, they will not germinate – they will die. Water the grass seedlings twice daily.

Continue this watering schedule until the seeds begin to sprout.

Once the grass seed starts sprouting, water once a day, but increase the time spent watering. The top two inches (5.08 cm) of soil should remain moist until the grass is fully established 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches (6.35 to 8.89 cm).

Once the grass is established (at mowing height), water it thoroughly once the top inch of soil becomes dry.

How Long To Water New Grass Seed

Immediately after sowing the grass seed, water it for five to ten minutes each time.

The top three to four inches (7.62 to 10.16 cm) of soil should stay moist.

If you water too lightly, the grass roots will stay shallow – and you’ll see the negative effects of these shallow roots once the weather heats up.

Once the seeds sprout, reduce the frequency of watering.

However, make sure to water for a longer period each time. Try to stay around 10 to 15 minutes of water per day.

It may seem like a short time to water so much grass seed, but you only need a little water to moisten the soil adequately. Too much water could drown the seeds, rendering them unviable.

When watering, don’t focus on single, small areas. Ensure that you’re covering the entire area of the lawn with a consistent amount of water.

Related: Backyard and Deck Makeover

Weather Conditions

Mother Nature doesn’t always give us the weather we need for optimal growth, but sometimes she can help us water our grass.

Keep an eye on the weather forecast every day and watch for high rainfall potential.

On days when you receive a lot of rainfall, make sure to factor the weather into your watering schedule.

Use a rain gauge to determine how much water fell.

Use that information to determine how much you should water, pausing your irrigation system as needed.

When you receive a small amount of rainfall, you may only need to do a light watering that day.

If you’re receiving little to no rainfall, you’ll need to water every day, at least twice per day, especially during serious dry spells.

Sprinkler Systems

Sprinkler systems are an excellent choice for maintaining the moisture levels of your grass seed.

However, it’s important to set the sprinklers on a schedule to water only at optimal times – and if it rains, remember to turn it off!

We’ll discuss what time you should water grass seed in the next section.

Best Time to Water New Grass Seed

For best results, water grass seed first thing in the morning, during the late afternoon, or in the evening.

During these times, the winds are calm, and the temperatures are cooler, allowing the water to be better absorbed into the ground.

Avoid watering at night. Because of the lack of sun and heat, water tends to rest in the soil and around the roots. This encourages disease, pests, rot, and fungal growth.

How To Prevent Evaporation

As mentioned above, you can ensure that the water absorbs into the soil by watering at the right times.

Watering in the morning, late afternoon, or evening helps prevent evaporation, thanks to lower temperatures and less intense sunlight, especially during the summer.

Additionally, shady areas do not tend to evaporate as quickly as areas exposed to full sun. With that said, you may need to water areas exposed to sunlight more frequently.

How Long Does Grass Seed Take To Grow?

The amount of time it takes for new grass seeds to grow depends on a number of factors.

If you plant grass seeds in the spring, you can expect the grass to be well-established by early summer.

If you plant in the winter, the time is longer due to the period of dormancy. Expect grass planted in November to be well-established by April.

Grass seed takes around one to three weeks to sprout when proper conditions are met. It may take an additional three to four weeks before the grass is at mowing length. As a general rule, grass takes about two months to fully establish itself, from seeding to mowing height.

During the germination period, it’s important to protect the new grass sprouts.

Keep pets and animals away from the planted area and take extra care to reduce foot traffic on your freshly grown grass.

Conclusion

If you want good results after seeding your lawn, use the guidelines laid out in this article for a regular watering schedule.

Choose the right grass for your area, prepare the yard properly, ensure the soil is ideal, and maintain a frequent watering schedule.

Once established, your lush, green lawn will be the talk of the town. Don’t be surprised when your neighbors come by asking you for advice on their yards!

FAQs