Home Garden
# Home & Garden >> Garden & Lawn >> Growing Grass

When to Sow Grass Seed?

When you should sow grass seed depends on the type of grass you are trying to grow. There are two main categories of grass: cool season and warm season. Cool-season grass is typically grown in the northern regions of the United States, because the grass cannot tolerate hot summer temperatures. Warm-season grass is primarily grown in the southern states because the grass will go dormant during cold spells. In many cases a mix of grasses is needed for year-around lawn.

  1. Cool-season Grass Types

    • Cool-season grass types include ryegrass, fescue and bluegrass. These grasses grow best when air temperatures are between 59 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Pennsylvania State University. You may be inclined to plant grass seed in the early spring, but you risk losing some of the grass to the heat and drought of summer. In addition, cool-season grass such as Kentucky bluegrass has optimal root growth when soil temperatures are around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Texas A&M University. It is important to plant grass seed when soil temperatures favor healthy root growth.

    Warm-season Grass

    • Warm-season grass varieties such as Bermudagrass, St. Augustine, zoysia, buffalo, and centipede, grow best in the early spring or before the heat of the summer. Grass types like Bermudagrass perform well when air temperatures exceed 75 degrees Fahrenheit and soil temperatures are around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Texas A&M University. Check the soil temperatures after the last frost in the morning and afternoon. Average the two numbers to obtain an accurate soil temperature.

    Site Preparation

    • Prepare the soil before sowing grass seed, regardless of the type you are trying to grow. Remove all weeds from the lawn before sowing seeds. Competing vegetation can cause thinning grass or bare areas. Spray the lawn area with a herbicide that contains glyphosate, but be careful when spraying around ornamental plants, because the chemicals will kill anything it comes in contact with. Till the lawn area to break up compacted soil. Work a starter fertilizer high in phosphorous into the first 2 to 4 inches of top soil prior to sowing grass seeds.

    Planting conditions

    • Choose a day to sow seeds that is free of heavy rainfall or strong winds. Heavy rainfall and wind can push seeds off of the lawn or cause uneven grass growth. Days that have a light rain in the afternoon benefit the seeds by moistening the soil. Grass seed will dry out and die if there isn't enough soil moisture. Don't plant during drought, because drought conditions make keeping the soil sufficiently moist difficult.

Previous:

Next:

Growing Grass
  1. When to Plant Grass Seed in Denver?
  2. When to Seed Grass in the Fall
  3. When Do You Plant Grass Seed in Fall?
  4. When to Fertilize Grass Seed?
  5. When to Overseed Grass Seed
  6. When to Plant Winter Grass
  7. When to Plant Grass Seed in the Soil?
  8. When to Sow Grass Seed: Before or After Rain?
  9. How Closely to Sow Grass Seed
  10. When to Sow Grass Seed in Massachusetts
  11. When to Broadcast Grass Seed
  12. When to Sow Grass Seed in Virginia?

Home Garden © https://www.98905.com