When to Plant Grass Seed for a Healthy Spring Lawn
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There's nothing like bare feet in a yard of thick, fresh grass. But between foot traffic, pets, weather, and tree roots, maintaining a pristine lawn can be difficult. Luckily, you're not stuck with the grass you have right now. As you make your list of spring gardening to-dos and vegetables to plant, include sowing some grass seed. Refreshing your grass seed, also called overseeding, can help revive your lawn after the winter frost and repair thinning or bare areas.
Professional landscapers do see a shift away from laying sod as some homeowners lean toward native grasses or even wildflower lawns, grass seed is still important. "We encourage organic materials and practices, so the optimal grass is now native grass or a wildflower meadow," explains Janell Denler Hobart, a landscape designer who has more than 20 years of experience and is the founder of the Northern California based firm Denler Hobart Gardens LLC. "These varieties will also attract pollinators and beneficial insects, which lead to a healthier garden overall."
When to plant grass seed is a widely debated, and it depends on the type of grass you have: cool weather or warm weather. Each type is specific to the climate in which it thrives best.
When Is the Best Time to Plant Grass Seed?
Generally speaking, you can plant grass seed any time of the year. That said, planting it at the optimal time gives it the best chance of getting established. The rule of thumb is: Fall is the best time to seed a lawn with a cool-season variety, while spring is the best time to plant warm-season grasses. "The best time to plant grass is August to September, when there is less competition from lawn weeds and crabgrass," explains Janice Parker, a landscape architect based in Greenwich, Connecticut, who founded her firm in 1984. "Weeds are finished with their rampant growth by the fall, and grass has a better chance to take hold."
Cool-Weather Grasses
Late summer into early fall, as the temperature begins to drop, is the best time to plant all types of cool-weather grass seed. The best time slots are the weeks between August 15 through October 1 for most of the U.S. However, as you go farther south, your window of opportunity expands a little more and you can seed from Labor Day through the end of October. If you live in the South, we'd recommend using a a warm-weather variety of grass for your lawn instead.
Types of Cool-Weather Grasses
Kentucky bluegrass
Perennial ryegrass
Fine fescue
Tall fescue
Warm-Weather Grasses
Warm-weather grass seed prefers to be planted in early spring in order to allow non-frost time for the seeds to germinate. The timeframe that guarantees the most success with a warm-season grass is through the month of May, especially if you're located in northern Georgia or North Carolina. If you live farther south, you can continue to plant into June. Just be sure to water thoroughly before the onset of summer heat as the grass will begin to grow rapidly in July, August, and early September.
Types of Warm-Weather Grasses
Bermudagrass
St. Augustinegrass
Centipedegrass
Zoysiagrass
Bahiagrass
Carpetgrass
How to Spread Grass Seed Properly
There are many varieties of grass seed, but you should never skimp on quality, according to Parker. "Use top-quality seed, and be sure to read the labels that tell you what is in the seed mix," she says. "Avoid a high percentage of annual grass, as this will leave bare patches in the next growing season. Annual grass will green up quickly but will not return the next growing cycle."
Calculate How Much You Need
If you're repairing an existing lawn (rather than seeding from scratch), you'll want to calculate how much grass seed you'll need based on "overseeding" numbers. There are a number of online grass seed calculators (this one at The Home Depot is simple to use), but if you're unsure, ask a professional at your local nursery or hardware store.
Level Your Lawn
Before spreading your grass seed, scan your lawn and remove any debris, rocks, weeds, and dead grass. If there's a slope (where there isn't supposed to be one), try to level it out as much as you can with potting soil. You'll want your lawn or wherever you plan on spreading your grass seed to be as bare as possible.
Add Compost
In order to give your grass seed the best possible start, add compost to the soil prior to spreading. Compost will act as a fertilizer and give your grass seed the nutrients it needs to grow. It also helps with your soil's natural water retention.
Create a Seed Mix
Rather than simply spreading the grass seed on its own, it can be helpful for growth to use a soil mixture with the seed in it instead. Mix the grass seed with potting soil (a ratio of one part seed to two parts soil is usually recommended) in a wheelbarrow or other large container, and be sure to mix well. This assists with spreading the seed more easily and prevents crowding or bare patches caused by missing a spot.
Sow the Grass Seed
Using a garden spreader, distribute the seed mix thoroughly, then smooth the area over with a rake. For patches that are merely thinning, you'll probably have to sow some of the seed right on top of some of the existing grass, which isn't ideal, but that's okay—it's inevitable.
Water the Seed
Using a garden hose or your sprinkler system, lightly but evenly water your lawn in order to set the seeds. Avoid creating puddles, which can move the seeds and leave bare spots. Water the lawn regularly to keep it moist but not oversaturated. If you don't have a sprinkler system, a regular lawn sprinkler really helps.
Cover and Protect it
Hungry birds see fresh grass seed as their next meal, and that can result in a patchy lawn. To protect your fresh seed, we recommend opting for a bird netting cover (sold in rolls at any local hardware store) or simply covering the freshly seeded areas with straw.
Wait to Mow
Once the grass has begun to sprout, you'll want to wait a couple of months for the new grass to become fully established before going over it with a lawn mower. If you've protected your lawn from birds using netting, remove the netting before mowing. It's safe to begin mowing after two to three months, although you may want to adjust the height of your mower's blade up. During this time, continue to water the new grass regularly to promote healthy growth.
FAQs
Can You Plant Grass Seed in the Winter?
If you live in a very mild climate, planting grass in the winter is probably fine—especially if overnight frosts are rare. However, in more extreme climates like the deep south or northeast, exposing grass seed to the harsh extreme of winter (or summer) may not be worth it. If the seeds don't have the proper amount of time to establish roots, they'll fail.
How Long Does Grass Seed Take to Grow?
If the grass seed was planted at the correct time and cared for properly (aka watered regularly), you can expect to see new growth between five and 30 days after planting.
Can I Just Throw Grass Seed Down on Bare Spots?
You can, but it might not work. Fixing a bare or thinning spot in the lawn by reseeding may not be sufficient if there's an underlying problem. Certain areas of your lawn may be more prone to disease than others. Other common causes of bare patches include heavy foot traffic, pet urine, excess shade, and too many tree roots.
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