Grass can take around 2 weeks to grow once the seeds have been planted. Further, 4 to 6 weeks later, you can expect your garden surface to have grass all over. Not even the slightest of patches should exist by then.
Although to ensure you have a uniform grass height and your grass grows naturally there are several factors that can make a difference. Soil type, weather conditions, type of grass seeds used, presence of fertilizers, etc.
Does Grass Growth Time Depend on the Type of Grass?
Grass growth time varies based on whether you are using warm-season or cool-season grass. Either way, plenty of sunlight is a must. Right after the seeds sprout and minuscule leaves begin to form, they reap the nutrients provided by sunlight. This factor helps their roots get necessary nutrition and develops into lush green garden grass. Lesser sunlight means longer grass growth duration.
Cool-Season Grass
Cool-season grass tends to grow much faster than other types of grass. Ideally, if your soil temperature fluctuates between 50 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit then your cool-season grass seeds have the perfect atmosphere for emerging as beautiful shards of grass.
Can’t measure your soil temperature? No worries. Simply measure the air temperature in your garden. Anything between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit is perfect for cool-season grass.
Provided you nurture these seeds with water and required fertilizers, within 4 weeks you can expect your garden to be flourishing with grass. Also, gardening experts state to plant these seeds in the month of fall so that they can nurture in spring.
We suggest that you plant these seeds in early autumn as the daytime conditions indicate comfortable temperatures to promote germination.
Just make sure that there is minimal leaf-shedding from existing trees in the area that you are planting your new grass.
The more open surface area your grass soil has it itself, the better. Besides, this is an effective prerequisite to keep weeds at bay.
Warm-Season Grass
Warm-season grass tends to grow slower as compared to other grass types. Air temperatures during the day need to be greater than 80 degrees Fahrenheit for the best results. In case you can check soil temperature (which usually fluctuates less as compared to air temperature), then 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit would be apt.
The warm temperature requirements lead to prolonged germination periods. This also makes it harder for roots to develop and start providing and taking nutrients from the soil.
Due to the warm temperature, the grass may begin to grow in patches. Although within 6 to 8 weeks you can expect your grass to be tall enough. This is when you can use a lawnmower to achieve the desired level of grass uniformity across your backyard. Also, consider planting warm-season grass seeds in early summer or late spring as they begin to bud by peak summer, which is perfect.
If you want a physically stress-free method to apply water and fertilizers to your warm-season grass then consider checking out these backpack sprayers. They will make your life much easier in matters related to garden maintenance.
Time Taken for Cold and Warm Season Grass Seeds to Germinate
| Warm-season Grass Seeds | Cold-Season Grass Seeds | ||
| Buffalo grass | 14 to 30 days | Tall fescue grass | 7 to 12 days |
| Bermuda grass | 10 to 30 days | Perennial Ryegrass | 5 to 10 days |
| Centipede grass | 14 to 21 days | Kentucky Bluegrass | 7 to 10 days |
We have considered the most common grass types that are easy to grow, easy to maintain, and alsoused extensively by gardeners.
How Old are Your Grass Seeds?
Old grass seeds will fail to germinate and leave you scratching your head a month after the planting date. Always check your seed bag to look for the expiry date. Even if you can find the manufacturing date it proves to be enough. Typically, 2 years from the date of manufacturing will tag your seeds as ‘healthy’.
As seeds are expensive, you want to ensure you aren’t throwing away perfectly fine seeds. In case you have no expiry date on your seed bag stock then you can use a simple technique. Place a seed inside a wet tissue and keep this tissue in a plastic bag. If you notice sprouting in a few days then the odds are that most of your seeds are still capable of germination.
Soil Condition and Wetness
Soil that is extremely wet or extremely dry from the insides can prove detrimental to grass seed growth. It becomes hard to absorb the nutrients that the soil shares with the seeds. Consider making a hole in the soil with a screwdriver and checking how wet is it.
Speaking of depth, you don’t want to plant your seeds too deep into the soil. This can choke the seeds and leave them dead even before germination. One-quarter of an inch would be a reasonable depth for seed plantation.
Also, make sure not to harden your soil and cover it with excess compost. The former surely won’t help whereas the compost will only help if your seeds have enough space to breathe and emerge.
Are you trying to grow new grass on an existing garden that now has a worn-out grass surface? Start by clearing the dead grass with a rake and then loosen the soil. Sprinkle a little fertilizer, plant the grass seeds, and sprinkle a little fertilizer again. Putting compost on top of this can help the grass to grow quicker and healthier.
Frequency of Watering Your Seedlings Influences Grass Growth Period
Extremes are never an advisable route when it comes to growing grass. Too much water will block the soil and your seeds will struggle to grow. Whereas too little water will dry your seeds and make it impossible to absorb nutrients.
Consistency in watering your grass is key to achieving a complete growth cycle with the least delays in growth time.
Too much watering can be identified by checking the sponginess of your soil. But just the right amount of water helps to maintain an accurate intensity of soil hardness and the roots can store essential nutrients for the period when the seeds are developing and need more food.
Tips and Tricks:
- Variance in environmental factors can make a difference and hinder the expected growth period of your grass. Be aware of the change in weather, if at all. Take precautions in advance to be prepared to alter your nurturing plan if the situation calls for it.
- Lawn maintenance must be a top priority. Otherwise, all the efforts that gardeners put in towards the initial stages of grass growth can prove wasteful.
- If you want unhindered grass growth then never let your soil dry out. When you notice a thick layer of grass growing then you can reduce the focus on soil maintenance.
- Consider using a mixture of different grass seeds if you live in a region that surprises you with random changes in the climate. This way your expected grass growth period will face minimal issues due to the random weather.
Verdict
Gardening with an intention to maintain an appealing grass surface can prove troublesome. But if you are consistent in looking for patches, weed growth, and watering, then almost nothing can stop you from beautifying your lawn with the perfect grass.