Fast Ways to Germinate Grass Seeds

When to Plant

• Cool- and warm-season grasses need specific soil temperatures to germinate. Warm-season grass needs soil temperatures between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Virginia Cooperative Extension website. Cool-season grass needs temperatures of 40 to 45 degrees to germinate, according to Purdue University's website. Sowing when the soil is too cold or warm prevents or slows or prevents germination.

Site Preparation

• Weeds compete with grass seedlings for the soil's nutrients. Grass seeds trying to compete for those nutrients germinate slowly. Remove all the weeds in your yard before sowing with a herbicide that contains glyphosate. Wait five to 14 days to seed your lawn after the herbicide application, as suggested by the University of Minnesota's website. Break up the soil with a tiller to help grass seedlings establish root systems.

Fertilizer

• Apply a starter fertilizer high in phosphorous to promote grass seed germination and root development, as suggested by the website of the University of California, Davis. Use a starter fertilizer that has a NPK amount like 5-10-5 at a rate of 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Work the starter fertilizer into the first 2 to 4 inches of top soil. Water the lawn to allow the fertilizer to sink into the soil.

Sowing

• Sow the recommended amount of grass seeds for the type of grass you are growing. For example, Kentucky bluegrass should be sown at a rate of 2 to 3 pounds per 1,000 square feet, while Bermuda grass must be distributed at a rate of 1 pound per 1,000 square feet. Using too few grass seeds results in bare areas, but overseeding results in a slow establishment rate due to seedling competition, according to the University of Minnesota's website.