on When to plant grass seeds for a perfect lawn?
A beautiful garden always starts with a beautiful lawn! And who doesn’t dream of having one as green and lush as those you admire in certain hotels or golf courses? If yours tends to dry out, turn yellow over time, and have holes in places, it is poorly maintained and needs optimal growing conditions. If you want a healthy and thick lawn, you must first choose the right time to plant the grass seeds.
With the rising cost of grass seed in recent years, it’s essential to maximize planting success, explains Horticultural Director Adam Gore. This means sowing a lawn in the best possible conditions. This reduces the risk of disease development, poor seed germination, and seedling failure. To have a beautiful green lawn, you need to take matters into your own hands and follow a few golden rules. If you’re looking to plant a new lawn, choose the best fast-growing grass seed and finish it off with one of the most stylish lawn edging ideas.
In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how to properly plant grass seeds and grow a lush lawn. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by its transformation in less than two months!
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When to sow the lawn?
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What you need to consider
Lawn planting times depend on several factors, including soil temperature, weather forecast, choice of grass species, and location.
Local climate is a key factor in minimizing the risk of seedling diseases. Therefore, gardeners living in warmer southern regions may be able to plant their seeds earlier than those living in cooler northern regions. But the type of lawn also plays a key role.
Warm-season grasses, such as Bermuda grass, zoysia grass, and centipede grass, prefer soil temperatures at or above 60°F (18°C) for best germination. While cool-season grasses, such as fescue and ryegrass, prefer soil temperatures below 18°C.
Every plant needs favorable conditions for germination and growth. Exposing a plant to harsh summers and winters can result in lawn loss because the plants won’t have had time to develop.
When is the best time to plant grass seed?
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The best time to plant grass seed depends on the type of grass you’re growing. ” It’s generally best to plant cool-season grass seed in early fall and warm-season grass seed in late spring,” recommends Jeremy Yamaguchi, a landscaping company manager. While it’s technically possible to plant them any time of year, soil moisture is highest when the climate is still mild and not too hot. These are the optimal conditions for grass seed, and you’ll notice the best results.
When to plant grass seeds in spring?
Warm-season grasses should be planted in spring for the best growing conditions. “ These grasses need time to establish a sufficient root system before facing summer or winter temperatures, ” explains Yamaguchi. Planting in mid- to late spring provides seedlings with the most hospitable environment to promote growth. Cool-season grasses can be planted in late winter or early spring. “ While planting in early spring can be riskier, it doesn’t allow the plants to mature sufficiently before the heat of summer ,” adds Yamaguchi.
When to plant grass seeds in the fall?
Cool-season grasses are best planted in early fall, giving them plenty of time to establish before the following spring. ” Cool-season grasses develop deep root systems that allow them to withstand the cold winter months, ” says landscape designer Erinn Witz. Ideally, therefore, seeds should be planted when temperatures are between 10 and 18°C.
Can you plant grass seeds in winter?
Although you can plant grass seed in winter, it’s best to wait until spring for warm-season grasses. Cool-season grasses can usually be successfully planted in late winter, or better yet, in fall.
How long does it take for grass seeds to grow?
As long as you plant the grass seeds at the right time, they should grow quickly. “Expect to see new shoots emerge between 5 and 30 days after planting. It should take about 30 days to establish this,” says Erinn Witz.
Caution: Do not cut your new lawn until it is at least 8 cm high and avoid removing too much grass at once.
Some tips for planting grass seeds
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Careful preparation is the key to successfully planting grass seeds. “Testing soil nutrient levels is an often overlooked but essential step in growing healthy new grass,” says Erinn Witz. If your test reveals significant nutrient deficiencies, replace them before planting.
Prepare the soil for planting by removing stones and raking the area to ensure it is as even and finely textured as possible. ” Use a hand spreader or broadcast applicator to apply the seeds and use lawn fertilizer to provide additional nutrients ,” says Witz.
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Immediately after planting, the area should be lightly raked and covered with a layer of soil. Then, consider spreading straw or hay over the area to prevent seed loss due to birds and rain. And remember to water daily until your seeds germinate. Then, water less frequently but more thoroughly over the following weeks.
By following all these rules scrupulously, you will get a dream lawn: fresh, thick and healthy.