Watering Newly Seeded Lawn
Do you have questions about watering your newly seeded lawn? All grass seeds need moisture before they will germinate and become established, but too much or too little water can kill your lawn before it gets started. Jonathan Green can help you fine-tune your watering skills.
Jonathan Green is a major supplier of grass seed, organics, and turf products to both the independent retailer and professional lawn care markets and breed genetically superior turf grasses, such as those found in our Black Beauty grass seed mixtures in our own grass seed breeding program in Oregon. Our genetically superior grass seed and soil food products will transform your lawn and help it thrive.
Watering Just After Seeding
For the best results, water the seedbed a little bit every day to keep the newly planted grass seed wet while it’s germinating. Light watering twice or three times a day – in the early morning, early afternoon and late afternoon – will keep young seedlings moist while they are developing.
The germination process will stop if the soil gets too dry, so don’t allow the tender seedlings to dry out. One way to prevent this from happening is to use Jonathan Green Top Dress™ Seedling Cover and Growth Accelerator, which will keep moisture close to the seed for the best establishment.
After a few weeks, reduce watering to two to three times a week and water deeply, at least 30 minutes in each zone. This puts water deep down into the root zone and promotes deeper root growth. Shallow waterings don’t provide the same benefit since much of the water is lost to evaporation and the roots stay at the surface because this is where the moisture is.
Once you begin to mow these new areas, the lawn will need about 1/2 inch of water when irrigated during the growing season. NEVER water the lawn at night. Excessive moisture on established grass leaves at night will increase the risk of fungal disease.
Watering Established Lawns
Homeowners with irrigation systems tend to overwater their lawns, thinking that more water will make the lawn greener. This is not usually the case.
Established lawns don’t typically need more than about one inch of water a week, which translates to 20 to 30 minutes per zone, watering once or twice every week. This will help the roots of the grass grow deep into the ground and make the lawn more drought-tolerant. Water in the early morning to avoid excessive evaporation. If the weather is hot and dry, increase the frequency of watering to three or four times per week at 20 to 30 minutes per zone.
Start with the Right Products
Choose Black Beauty grass seed mixtures for a beautiful, dark-green lawn that will possess outstanding drought, disease, and insect resistance.
Your soil’s pH should be between 6.2 and 7.0. A pH tester, found in most garden centers and hardware stores, will help you figure out soil pH. If it is below 6.2, use Mag-I-Cal® for Lawns in Acidic Soil to adjust it. Use it on the same day that you seed or sod.
If the soil is very hard, use Love Your Soil® to loosen it. Push your finger into the soil to test for soil compaction. If the soil doesn’t come up to the first knuckle, then it is compacted, and water and air will be unable to penetrate the root zone. Use it on the same day that you seed or sod. Another way to test for soil compaction is with a screw driver. Push the tip into the ground as far up as the handle. If this is hard to do then your soil is compacted and would be considered to be hard soil. Love Your Soil can be spread on the same day that you seed or sod.
Veri-Green Starter Fertilizer for Seeding & Sodding is rich in potassium, an essential nutrient needed for the development of new grass roots and freshly cut sod.
Mentioned Products
For more tips on watering a newly seeded or established lawn, visit Jonathan Green online, or visit your nearest independent retailer for reliable lawn and garden advice that will help you achieve great results with your lawn.