Spring is the time of year when many homeowners begin to think about planting grass seed to have a lush green lawn in the summertime. However, the decision of when to plant your lawn seed is not always an easy one.
When to plant lawn seed? There are a few different factors that you should keep in mind when deciding the best time to plant lawn seed. These factors include the season, the climate, the type of soil, and the desired lawn area.
This blog will go through these factors and tips to help you decide the best time to plant lawn seed and achieve the best results.
Understanding Lawn Seeding
The seeds that grow grass are known as lawn seeds. Every good lawn you’ve ever seen started with a healthy dose of this seeded material at some point.
However, to create the kind of brilliant, green grass that people—and even dogs—love, you’ll need to understand more about this horticulture requirement. It’s critical to know how to plant it at different times of the year, especially how to plant grass seed in the winter.
There are a few different types of grass seed available, including zoysia grass seed and Scotts grass seed.
When to Plant Lawn Seed
Planting your seed shortly before the grass’s peak growing season is the best time of year. This will give it a head start, allowing it to establish itself quickly and be ready to use as soon as feasible.
Grasses are classified as either cool-season or warm-season plants, and their peak growing seasons reflect their climate preferences.
As you might expect, Warm-season grasses prefer warmer weather and thrive when planted in the late Spring. This allows them to establish while the temperature isn’t oppressively hot, it also allows them to enjoy and capitalize on the hotter weather throughout the summer.
Cool-season grasses, on the other hand, prefer colder temperatures. Planting them in the late summer/early fall will provide them with excellent warm soil to sprout in a while, allowing them to enjoy the cool autumn/winter months and adequately establish themselves while conditions allow.
With good results, grass seeds can be planted in the Spring and Fall. If you want to grow grass seed in the Spring, don’t use weed control products on the lawn. Delay the weed control application until the grass seed has germinated and the grass has been mowed at least three times.
Follow the same weed control precautions when planting grass seed in the Fall, and time the seed sowing to allow the grass seed to fully germinate before the arrival of cold temperatures in your area.
How to Plant Lawn Seed
Use your hand to distribute the seed in small areas, flinging it out over the place. To disseminate the seed over a large area, utilize a walk-behind broadcast spreader or a hand-held hopper spreader. In either case, it’s all too simple to put down too much seed or too little seed.
Distribute the grass seeds evenly across the soil surface when you’re finished. They should be about a quarter to half-inch apart (obviously, no one expects you to measure — go by feel).
The plants will outcompete each other if you sow grass seed too thickly, and their growth will suffer. Weeds may invade if you don’t seed them thick enough.
How do you Plant Lawn seeds in the Fall?
Autumn is the most outstanding season to grow grass seed in many climates. Late August, September, October, or November’s still-warm soil stimulates optimal root growth, but the lowering air temperatures inhibit excessive top growth. This is ideal for establishing lawn grasses and encouraging deep root development. It also improves the turf’s drought resistance and ability to obtain nutrients in the soil.
In addition, most places experience an increase in rainfall in the Fall. You won’t have to drag out the hose and sprinkler as frequently as before.
When nighttime temps drop to around 60 degrees F, it’s time to put grass seed. Keep a close eye on the weather forecast for perfect timing. When there is a chance of rain for a day or two, spread grass seed.
How do you Plant Lawn seeds in Spring?
Another ideal time to seed the grass is in the Spring. It’s especially beneficial if you live somewhere where the springs are lengthy and chilly.
It’s critical to keep watering the seed and sprouted grass throughout the Spring, summer, and even into the Fall if you’re planting in the Spring. Improper irrigation is frequently linked to establishment failures.
Another option is early summer, but you’ll have to water more frequently.
How often can you water lawn seed after planting?
Suppose the temperature is above 80 degrees F; water newly planted grass seed every day. If the weather is cooler, there is a decent watering regimen every other day. Wet the top inch or so of the soil before germination.
Reduce the irrigation frequency but water more deeply as the grass seed germinates and begins to develop. Reduce your watering plan to once or twice a week until your new grass is approximately two inches tall, but water until the ground is saturated to a depth of about three inches.
Unless there is a protracted period of drought, stop irrigation once the grass is fully grown. It’s usually advisable to water established lawns less frequently yet profoundly when it comes to irrigation. If possible, rinse your grass first thing in the morning to avoid fungal disease problems.
When to safely mow new grass?
When fresh grass reaches a height of about 3 inches, mow it. Keep the mowing size large during the first growth season (3 to 4 inches). Make sure your mower blades are sharp (here’s my go-to sharpening tool), so they cut the grass cleanly instead of shredding it, which can allow the disease to enter.
When is the perfect time to fertilize new grass?
Many people believe that when learning how to sow grass seed, fertilizer should be added at planting. Fertilizers (particularly salt-based synthetic lawn fertilizers) can damage sensitive new grassroots; thus, this is not desirable.
Instead of using a synthetic lawn fertilizer, top-dress the lawn with compost or use organic granular lawn fertilizer. After you’ve mowed the grass six times, you can begin fertilizing new lawns.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, it is best to plant lawn seeds in the early Spring or late Fall when the weather is cool. If you live in a warm climate, you may need to grow your lawn seed in the late Fall to ensure successful germination.
Ensure to water your lawn regularly and keep it free of debris to ensure a healthy lawn.
We hope you enjoyed our blog on when to plant lawn seeds. In this blog post, we touched on the different seasons and explained how to plant lawn seeds during each one. Keep these dates in mind for the best planting conditions so you can get your lawn seed in the ground and growing.
Reference:
Image from www.experigreen.com
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