It takes about two to four weeks for new grass to grow completely. Once your lawn is taking shape, return to regular care to maintain your grass. “Grass grows best in full sun,” Angelov notes. To keep turfgrass from drying out, it needs thorough watering once a week. Start mowing once a week during the growing season, but you can ease up to every other week the rest of the year.
If you notice that your newly seeded lawn is still struggling, perhaps the area is simply not suited for grass. Instead of getting frustrated with grass that will not sprout, consider turning the area into a tapestry lawn, a vegetable garden or a flower patch.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a grass seed mixture and a grass seed blend?
A seed mixture is two or more varieties of the same species. For example, two types of Kentucky bluegrass. A blend is a combination of two or more species, such as Kentucky bluegrass and Perennial ryegrass, Mann explains.
Turfgrass blends include two or more species of either cool-season grasses or warm-season grasses. For example, Kentucky bluegrass and perennial rye grass. “Using a blend of different species is recommended because genetic diversity helps to prevent pests from running roughshod over a stand of turfgrass,” Mann says.
How short can you cut a lawn with new grass?
Different varieties of turfgrasses will have different optimum heights of cut. “As a general rule, taller is better than shorter. More leaf tissue means more photosynthesis and therefore more food for the plants,” Mann says, adding that you can use the one third rule for determining when to cut: For example, if your desired height is 2 inches, mow the lawn when it reaches 3 inches in height.
How can you protect new grass when mowing?
The topsoil in the new lawn may not have settled by the time of the first cut and there may be some muddy spots from all the watering. “Make sure to scout the lawn before mowing so that you know if and where muddy areas might be,” Mann says. “If you can use a push mower for the first couple of cuts, that helps to minimize the amount of damage that can occur too.”
For the first mow, it’s critical that the mower blade be sharp. “Because the root system is not fully developed, utilizing a dull blade runs the risk of pulling the plants out of the ground instead of cutting the leaves,” Mann says.
After mowing, it can be helpful to return clippings to the lawn to help preserve nutrients and organic matter, however limit what you leave. Excessive clumps on the surface of the lawn can smother new seedlings, Mann says.
What do you need for planting grass seed seeding grass, you’ll need: