The Best Ways to Get Grass Growing

Soil Preparation

• Growing grass starts with the soil. Soil rich in organic matter makes for the best lawn growing. As the organic material breaks down in the soil, it releases nitrogen. The roots of the grass feed on the nitrogen, which stimulates blade growth and health. Spread out a 3-cubic foot bag of peat moss to every 100 square feet of soil, which will provide a 1-inch layer over the area. Till the peat moss into the first 4 to 6 inches of soil with a rototiller. Do this only for new seed. A way to improve soil for established lawns entails aerating, which involves using an aerator designed to pull 3- to 5-inch-long plugs of soil out of the turf to increase oxygen in the soil. The oxygen speeds the decomposition process of organic matter in the soil, thus increasing the release of nitrogen to the root system.

Fertilizer

• Use a fertilizer higher in nitrogen for summer feeding and a fertilizer higher in potassium for fall, winter and spring feedings. More nitrogen is needed to feed summer growth while more potassium feeds the root system during fall, winter and spring growth. Use 1 lb. of fertilizer per 1,000 square feet. Fast release and controlled release are the two types of nitrogen fertilizers. Fast release works best in spring and fall while controlled release works best for summer growth.

Irrigation

• New seeding needs to be watered four times per day until the seeds germinate for best results. Spread out 1 bale of straw over 1,000 square feet to help keep the new seedlings from drying out. Established grass require 1.5 inches of water per week during the growing season and 1 inch of water per week during the dormant season. Some varieties of grass require less watering. Set out an empty cup while sprinkling your grass to see how much time it takes to fill the cup with an inch of water. Once you've established the time span, water every seven days. The best time to water grass is from 6 to 8 a.m. in the morning. Less evaporation takes place, and the chance of turf disease is minimized because the grass leaves will dry out by nightfall.

Mowing

• Never cut more than one-third of the overall glass blade length at a time to ensure better root growth and minimize heat and drought stress. The longer grass blades help shade the soil, which minimizes evaporation and weed growth. Sharpen your mower blade twice per season to keep a dull blade from bruising and tearing the grass blades. Grass can be cut a little shorter in the spring and fall. Spring and summer cutting should be between 2 to 2.5 inches for most grasses and 2.5 to 3 inches during summer stress periods.