How Long for Grass Seed to Grow
How long should you have to wait for grass seed to grow? The knowledgeable professionals at Jonathan Green can provide the answers you need and other advice that will help you achieve great results with your lawn.
Since 1881, Jonathan Green has specialized in beautiful lawns. Six generations of the Green family have worked to perfect our genetically superior grass seed and our family of lawn and soil care products. Jonathan Green products will transform every aspect of your lawn to help it thrive like never before.
About Seed Germination
Most grass seed packages include three, four, five or more different turf grass cultivars from different areas of the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. and Canada. They are checked for germination and purity and very often double-checked by governmental agencies in states where they are sold.
The germination time for grass seed ranges from 5 to 30 days depending on the variety you plant. It can be even longer than this in cooler temperatures.
At Jonathan Green, we mix elite varieties of Kentucky Bluegrass seed as well as tall fescue and perennial ryegrass to create our Black Beauty® Ultra Grass Seed. The expected germination time for this mixture is about 14 days.
We take every precaution to ensure that our Black Beauty® seed will germinate. However, not all seeds will sprout at the same time. If you’ve waited the expected time and there are still no signs of life, the culprit may be the lack of soil moisture or soil temperature that is too cool or too warm.
A more common problem is the depth of planting. Grass seed needs to be planted only ¼ inch deep and pressed into the loosened soil. If the grass seed has been planted much deeper or covered with an inch or two of fresh soil, it has been planted too deep and will not germinate.
On rare occasions, the age of the seed is a problem. To test if your grass seed will germinate, wet a paper towel or toilet tissue and put it in a cup. Spread a small amount of seed on the wet paper and cover the cup with a plastic bag. This creates a little greenhouse environment. If the seeds are good, you will see a small shoot emerge that will be either white or light green in color
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Water and Grass Seed Germination
If there is too little moisture in the soil, your seeds will dry out. Too much water will also hinder germination and prevent sprouts from getting the oxygen they need to survive. Excessive spring rains can delay germination and, while watering newly planted grass seed is good for growth, overwatering will not make it grow any faster.
A newly seeded lawn should be watered at least every other day. Water deeply, at least 30 minutes in each area, to supply at least a half inch of water one inch down into the soil. This encourages the development of deep roots that help the grass become more drought tolerant.
Once the new grass has reached at least three inches tall, you can begin mowing, but continue watering at least two times a week unless it rains. To determine the level of moisture in your soil, push a screwdriver into the ground as far as it will go. Then twist the screwdriver in a circle to create a hole large enough to stick your finger in. If the soil inside the hole is moist to the touch, you’re in good shape. If the soil is powdery and dry, keep watering.
Find out how long it takes for grass seed to grow and how to avoid problems with seed germination. Visit Jonathan Green online, or ask your nearest independent lawn and garden retail store for expert advice.