They say that all good things take time – and every seasoned gardener will agree!
Here I am, sitting – beaming with pride – after what I would describe as one of the best nights of my life. Today was a huge milestone for me and my family – the front lawns were bestowed with three out of seven titles at the annual Lawn and Garden Awards.
These backyard awards were started three years ago to encourage top-notch lawns and landscaping. Ever since then, the value of all the houses in my beautiful block has been absolutely skyrocketing!
And so, after the ceremony, I received a lot of questions about lawn maintenance – most complaining that it takes forever for grass seeds to sprout.
Hence, I was forced to reveal my secret tool – patience. Sometimes, the question they should be asking isn’t how long for grass seed to germinate. Rather, ask yourselves whether conditions are right for grass seeds to germinate. After all, if you are sowing the right seeds, the fruits (grass, in this case) shall follow!
Hi! My name is Stacy. And today, I will help you have realistic expectations for the grass growth on your lawn.
How Long Does Grass Seed Take To Germinate?
In all my life, I have worked with a wide variety of crops and different kinds of grass. And yet, the truth remains that I don’t have an answer!
Look up this question on any search engine and you will come across different numbers. Most experts settle on between 7 and 14 days, but taking these numbers without a grain of salt may bring you disappointment.
The only universal truth is that all grass seeds take their own sweet time to germinate – no man-made fact can hurry them or slow them down. However, what you do have control over is making conditions suitable for grass seeds to germinate.
Why Grass Seeds Don’t Germinate
Rather than asking how long it takes grass seeds to germinate, try to figure out whether your seeds will germinate at all. Sometimes, beginners assume that scattering grass seeds on a whim will lead to lush, green lawns. Needless to say, this is not true. In fact, many things can go wrong.
1. Type Of Seeds
The first mistake that people make is choosing the wrong type of seed. Species, regional climate, and nature of soil – thorough research on these can make all the difference.
To help you with that, there are lots of resources that talk about the types of grass that thrive in each region. You might be surprised to learn that many species of grass simply refuse to grow in certain lawns – through no fault on the gardener’s part!
2. Sowing In Winter
This is also a huge factor in deciding if your grass seeds will germinate late, if at all. When the air and the soil are cold, germination simply cannot occur. In other words, avoid sowing grass seeds in winter.
I will go off on a tangent here and tell you about my personal experience. Well, like many others, I learned (the hard way) that grass seeds stay dormant throughout the winter.
This happened when I was still pretty young and had just moved into my husband’s house. One cold fall morning, I had the urge to own a grassy lawn. And so, I sowed a few seeds – only to find out that they had not germinated even after a few weeks.
Winter came and went – then came spring, and my grass seeds finally sprouted! The only downside was that the winter snow and wind had carried away most of the seeds, so I was left with a pitiful patch of grass.
Take this as a testament to the possibilities of germination for seeds sown in winters. However, I would still advise sticking to sowing seeds right before spring.
3. Sowing In Summer
Needless to say, the time of year is a big factor in deciding the fate of grass seeds. Although cold winters aren’t great for grass germination, a hot summer’s day will inhibit growth all the same. This is because hot weather dries out the soil – and grass seeds cannot sprout without hydration.
The perfect temperature for grass seeds to germinate is between 65 and 70 degrees F. In warm places like Texas, people sow grass seeds around April or March in spring, or late August to September during the fall.
4. Sowing Too Deep
Another rookie mistake is to bury seeds too deep into the soil. This blocks out sunlight – which all science textbooks will say is essential to the germination of seeds, regardless of their species.
5. Hydration
Grass is often considered to be needy for hydration, and it does wilt even a few days after not receiving proper irrigation. Usually, grass seeds need to be generously watered for the first few weeks after being sown. After this, a sprinkler can take over the job.
The situation changes when it rains – avoid watering seeds on these days as, contradictory to a popular misconception, it is possible to overwater grass seeds.
6. Lost Seeds
Leaving seeds on the lawn can attract birds, who devour them – often leaving growers perplexed and waiting for lost seeds to germinate. In the same manner, wind may carry seeds away, never to be seen again.
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- This grass seed mix is designed for full sun and dense shade, and has medium drought resistance with medium to high durability
- Use this lawn care product in the spring or fall to seed a new lawn or overseed an existing lawn
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- Ideal grass seed for lawns that receive sun in some parts and moderate shade in others
- Contains just the right amount of fertilizer to help your lawn succeed
Final Words
Now that you know what all can go wrong, I must reveal that it is not all bad news; once grass seeds germinate, it is only smooth sailing from there. Of course, this is only if you remember to water the lawn daily.
But, you probably don’t need this disclaimer. After all, if you have managed to get the seeds to germinate, you already know grass is far from an unconditionally loving species…
To reiterate – I implore you to treat seeds with patience, and any questions about their germinating speed will answer themselves. Perhaps, if the seeds really begin to test your patience, then take a look at my guide to understand the causes of delayed sprouting.
And with that, I wish you good luck for getting your award-winning lush lawns!