Did you know that grass is a source of food for human beings? It’s also one of the biggest protectors against soil erosion and ultimately plays a big role in landscaping and scenery. If you have kids, a cool and well maintained grass at the front and back yard is something that they will enjoy playing on.
Some opt for fake grass while others consider pre-rolled grass. By being here, chances are you’re among the many that enjoy tending to their grass. Honestly, the choice is yours. However, if you’re growing grass for the first time, you may be interested in knowing how long it takes for grass to grow.
Growing grass is more than just watering and waiting for it to thrive. In this read, we’ll tell you about all you need to know pertaining grass.
Untold truth about growing grass
Grass seeds require specific moisture and temperatures in order to germinate. The period between seeding and observation of first sprout is probably the most critical. However, despite the growth of the first sprout, your commitment to water the grass should not stop until the grass fully establishes.
Five things you should consider when growing grass for optimal outcome
1. Environment
Sunshine and water are the main requirements that determine the growth rate of your grass. Obviously, they help out only if you had prepared your site well before seeding. Any extremes of this cause delay and may completely inhibit the growth of the grass. So how do you achieve the ideal conditions for proper growth of your grass?
- Ideal weather conditions
Most grass seeds require 8-10 degrees to grow and establish themselves. Temperatures below that make the germination take longer.
- Ideal Soil
The seedbed should have been properly prepared. There should be no weeds, moss and drainage issues. Also, you should ensure the seeds are sown at correct depth, else they might struggle to grow.
2. Variety of grass seeds
Different types of grass seeds grow and thrive under different conditions. This equates to how long it takes for them to fully grow. There are two varieties: Cool season grass and warm season grass.
3. Grass seed mixture
Some grass seeds contain both the cool season and warm season varieties. What is in your mix determines the number of days/weeks it will take to grow.
4. Time of the year
This is a huge factor in the germination of your grass seeds. Avoid winter seasons for warm season varieties and hot summer for the cold season varieties. Failure to observe seasons makes your grass seeds take longer to grow than expected, leaving it vulnerable to being eaten by birds of even being blown away by wind. We recommend growing grass seed in mid-spring and in early autumn. However, all this may depend on your location.
5. Maintenance
So, you’ve finally assured that all the above conditions are right checked! What else can you do to guarantee a quick germination and establishment of your grass? Your grass needs to always stay moist, water it appropriately and it won’t be long before you start seeing little green shoots all over your lawn. Once it sprouts, the grass continues to grow at a rate of 2/3cm every week.
Watering new grass seeds
The aspect of watering new grass is like taking care of a new-born baby. It calls for total commitment, considering that its opportunity to germinate correctly also knocks once.
As a rule, always ensure that your grass is moistened. Insufficient water will kill while too much of it might drown the sprout.
How much watering of new grass is enough?
Depending on the lawn’s location, sun and wind might quickly dry your soil. If there are some trees, they might shade some areas thus reducing moisture evaporation. If you had recently overseeded your lawn, it may provide temporary shade to the new seeds. Considering the factors, it might be hard to consider the amount of watering needed for the whole lawn.
Factors that determine the watering frequency of new grass seeds
- An old lawn being over-seeded
An established lawn is normally watered infrequently. However, with the new grass, you must water it frequently. You may even need to have a time to alert you every morning, midday and even in the evening.
- Repair of bare patches on an old lawn.
In the spirit of saving costs, you may need to consider hand-watering for smaller lawns. Pay more attention on the bare patches and keep new seeds moist as advised above.
- Grass seeds on a new lawn.
For a new lawn, you really ought to have concentrated on proper preparation. Loose soil is tends to have poor drainage thus having high water retention, never over-water it. Walking on it may also cause depressions. As a rule, leave it moist but soggy.
Common mistakes to avoid when watering new grass seeds
- Over-watering that forms puddles. This may drown the grass by denying it oxygen.
- Failing to mulch, especially on sloping area.
- Excess watering that makes the soil spongy.
- Uneven watering practices such excess water on shaded lawns You may need to consider hand watering to cover the exposed areas.
- Uneven watering. This is normally caused by clogged sprinklers. Always check your sprinkler to ensure it is correctly adjusted.
- Insufficient watering due to any of the above possible mistakes. That will make your grass wilt and you might have to start all over again.
How long does it take for grass to grow?
There are no one-size-fits all when it comes to how long it takes for grass to grow. It all depends on the variety of the grass, wshere you live and some uncontrollable factors such as ground temperature, sunlight and moisture.
In ideal conditions, most grasses takes between 7-30 days to grow and get fully established in 6-8 weeks. If its fence grass, the period might be longer, ranging between 7-14 days
Overview of some different varieties of grass and how long they take to grow
- Cool-season grass: They grow from a crown while the shoots develop rhizomes (underground nodes).
| Examples | How Long they take to germinate (Days) | |
| 1 | Kentucky bluegrass (KBG) | 14–30 |
| 2 | Fine fescue | 7-14 |
| 3 | Tall fescue | 4–14 |
| 4 | Red fescue | 10–14 |
| 5 | Perennial ryegrass | 5-10 |
| 6 | Annual ryegrass | 5-10 |
- Warm–season grass: They germinate from a crown and mowers should mow them at a higher level to avoid cutting the crown. They normally turn brown winter.
| Examples | How Long they take to germinate (Days) | |
| 1 | Bahia | 7-21 |
| 2 | Bermuda | 10-30 |
| 3 | Centipede | 14-21 |
| 4 | Zoysia | 14-21 |
Once you see the new grass, it means the roots are now growing into the soil. Well, the grass is not very delicate at this stage. However, don’t stop watering your grass. As you’ll notice, grass seeds planted on hard or rocky soil will grow at different speeds, therefore, continue keeping the area moist until all seeds germinate.
Tips to for success when growing new grass seeds
- Mulch: spread a fine-screened protective covering over the new seeds site. This helps reduce moisture evaporation, maintain right temperature, helps in control soil erosion and growth of weeds.
- Avoid hot spells. Hot seasons make the site dry out more quickly which might mean more energy on frequent watering.
- Presence of moss and algae: If you see these, it means there is too much moisture in your lawn. Reduce the amount and frequency of watering.
- Cheap lawn sprinkler. Cheap is always expensive, don’t buy cheap sprinklers. Apart from them not distributing the water correctly, they also normally leak and cause puddles. Oscillating sprinklers are best for watering new grass especially where run-off is a concern.
- Never allow the soil to dry out.
- Use high quality seed mix and always follow the specified instructions.
- Don’t sow on windy days as the seeds can be blown about.
The Bottom Line
Before seeding, do proper research. Consider all the many details that help your seeds grow healthily. Whenever you’re in doubt, don’t shy away from asking an expert. Two minds are better than one. Importantly, know that the time it takes for grass to grow and thrive also largely depends of the person taking care of the lawn. You can have 100% germination but all that will be useless if you fail to observe proper maintenance.
