Watering Tips for Fall Grass Seedlings

Keep it Light

• Lightly sprinkle your newly sprouted fall grass seedlings with water. The force of a heavy watering, such as from a hose or sprinkler, can damage fragile seedlings or wash them away due to their shallow root systems. Use a watering can or the fine mist setting on your hose or sprinkler to keep fall grass seedlings looking and growing their best. The University of Missouri Cooperative Extension recommends applying one bale of straw per 1,000 feet of lawn on top of fall seedlings to prevent the loss of fall seedlings due to watering.

Do it Often

• Fall grass seedlings require frequent watering -- no fewer than one and as many as four times a day. Because you’re only sprinkling the seedlings, they require moisture more often. According to the University of Minnesota Cooperative Extension, seeds are not susceptible to damage by moderate soil drying, but seedlings are. Once you see those first sprouts of green, water lightly and water often. You can set an automatic sprinkler to mist the seeds or do it by hand -- just make sure the soil stays moist to the touch to a depth of 1/4 to 1/8 inch.

Avoid Soaking

• Not enough water spells death for your fall lawn seedlings, but too much water can be equally hazardous. In addition to washing away delicate seedlings, too much water encourages fungal growth, something that is hard to combat during the fall and winter due to the increase in moisture levels associated with watering a newly seeded lawn. A fungal infection can quickly kill off a newly seeded lawn, so keep waterings light and do it often.

How Much is Enough?

• Water fall grass seedlings to a soil depth of 1/4 to 1/8 inch each time you water throughout the day. You want the soil moist to the touch, but not soaking. If puddles are forming or the ground requires less than two waterings a day, you’re probably watering your fall grass seedlings too often. As the seedlings grow in height and their roots grow in depth, water less frequently but more deeply. According to the University of Missouri Extension Office, you can cut back on waterings when the lawn takes on a green cast and the seedlings reach a height of between 1/4 and 1/2 inches tall.