What Can You Mix With Grass Seed to Make It Grow Faster?

Starter Fertilizer

• Starter fertilizer is mandatory to give the grass seed a good, strong start. The phosphorus in the formula helps the grass build strong roots. Look at the chart on the back of the fertilizer package to find out how much of it to use for the size of the lawn. Set a spreader to the rate suggested, distributing the fertilizer over the newly sown seeds in the same manner that the seeds were sown.

Moisture

• New grass seeds require moisture to sprout. Too much moisture, on the other hand, may rot the seeds or deprive the seedling of required oxygen. The first watering after sowing the seed and spreading starter fertilizer should moisten the soil to a depth of 6 inches. After that, water lightly but frequently to keep the seeds moist. If the weather is warm, spray the seedbed several times a day. If that's not possible, add a 1/8-inch layer of mulch over the seeds and fertilizer. Use a light mulch, such as peat moss or straw, that won't impede the sprouts.

Temperature

• One of the things that can't be controlled but is vital to the speedy germination and growth of grass seeds is soil temperature. Warm-season turf grasses require a soil temperature of at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit, although 65 degrees is better. Cool-season grasses, on the other hand, should be planted in soil that is 45 to 55 degrees. Use a soil thermometer, available at nurseries and home centers, to determine when the soil is the proper temperature.

Light

• Photosynthesis is the name of the game in the plant world and is especially true for a new grass seedling. A too-heavy layer of mulch may impede the seed's journey to reach sunlight, so apply only a very thin layer. Time the planting so that the grass will germinate when the weather is consistently sunny in your region.