After your seeding appointment this fall, the success of your lawn depends on what happens in the next six to eight weeks. Taking care of your newly seeded lawn can be a simple process if you follow a few easy tips.
1. Watering
During the first two to four weeks after your lawn has been seeded, the seeded areas will need continuous moisture. The soil must be moist at all times, but don’t overwater or you will risk washing away your new grass seed. Watering briefly and frequently throughout the day will give you the best chance of allowing your seed to grow.
After two to four weeks, you will start to notice seedlings emerging from the ground. When this occurs, you can reduce your daily watering by half to encourage deep rooting. Do not stop watering until the newly seeded areas have been mowed at least 3 times. Grass seed varieties germinate at different rates, so your newly seeded lawn will not become fully mature for at least six months.
When your lawn is established, it is best to water deeply and infrequently in order to encourage deep rooting, minimize yellow nutsedge establishment, and reduce the chances of turf disease.
2. Mowing
After your new seedlings emerge, use caution while mowing, especially while making turns. The tires on mowers can easily uproot new seedlings until they are at least three inches tall. Avoid trimming new seedlings with a weed eater or edger until the grass plant grows to at least three and a half inches tall. Continue to use care when mowing new seedlings until the newly seeded areas have been mowed at least 3 times. Remember to sharpen your mower blades every 8-10 hours of cutting time to prevent dull blades from ripping the grass plant or uprooting new seedlings.
3. Follow up
Applying fertilizer at regularly scheduled increments can help build turf density and combat weeds. As the weather gets colder, your lawn will begin to go dormant and turn a dull green or brown color, but the root system will continue to grow until the ground freezes. During this time, you can apply a winter fertilizer to help your lawn through the colder weather.
For more information about fall seeding, contact us today!