How To Speed Up Grass Seed Germination: 10 Proven Ways

How to speed up grass seed germination is a question every lawn owner needs to know the answer to. Trust us; there are many ways you can get your grass seeds to germinate faster, all by yourself.

We have compiled ten science-backed methods that have always worked out for us here. Why don’t you go through all these methods and then try them out during the next grass-growing season?

10 Ways To Speed Up Grass Seed Germination

Find out ten cool methods by which you can speed up the germination of any grass seed by continuing to read below.

1. Opt For Coated Seeds

No matter what grass type you want to grow, make sure you go for coated seeds instead of uncoated ones. Coated seeds are better able to retain moisture and provide it to the seedlings inside for quicker germination. Birds and rodents are also less likely to be picked up and damaged.

You can usually buy coated seeds of all grass types from your local gardening stores. It is also possible to order them online after doing thorough research. You can also self-coat the seeds by yourself at home.

Just order a pack of coating for your lawn seeds. You will need a few buckets and a pair of protective gloves. For small lawns, take the seeds of your choice, put 90 percent of them in a bucket, and mix them with the coatings.

For larger lawns, you must follow several steps involving various buckets. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and see a major difference in the seed’s germination rate.

2. Water Regularly But Lightly

Regular watering is one of the fastest ways grass seeds germinate. The trick is to only lightly mist the sowed seeds as much as eight times each day. Allow the water in the soil to evaporate before each misting session. 

That is why you should carry out these mistings from early morning till early afternoon. Stop watering later in the day because it will not evaporate, and the lawn might stay moist all night. This will put the entire lawn at risk of developing root rot and other diseases.

You will need to water the seeds more frequently during the hotter days of summer. Once again, we reiterate that it’s best to water more frequently with, very lightly.

3. Choose Seeds Appropriately 

The seeds might take a long time to grow if they are being grown inappropriately. In most cases, they might not grow at all. There are different types of grasses out there, and each has particular requirements for quick germination.

Warm-season grasses begin to germinate in the early to late spring when the temperature rises. These grass varieties include popular names such as Bermuda, centipede, and Zoysia grasses. Regions like the southwest that stay warm throughout the year with little temperature fluctuations are best for these types of grasses.

Then there are cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, Tall fescue, and Perennial ryegrass. Their seeds germinate in late fall when the temperature drops below a certain point. Cooler regions such as the northwest or midwest are where cool-season grasses grow as quickly as possible. 

At the same time, you must be informed about whether your grass needs wet or dry soil. Don’t just show any grass seed on the lawn. Find out what the germination needs of that grass are and how best to fulfill them.

4. It’s Best Not To Bury Grass Seeds

It is a misconception that you must bury the seeds deep into the soil. This could not be further from the truth because seeds need sunlight access to germinate.

If a layer of soil covers them, then only a little light will reach them. As a result, the seeds will take much longer to germinate than if they had proper access to light. The majority of the seeds might not germinate at all. 

On the flip side, simply sprinkling the seeds on the surface without any ground cover is not a good option either. The ideal scenario is to bury the seeds only one-quarter of an inch into the soil. Any deeper than this, it might become too dark for it to grow. Similarly, do not place the seeds any shallower than barely one-eighth of an inch into the soil.

 

5. Ensure That The Soil Is Prepared Well

The health of the soil is imperative to speed up the germination process of your seeds. They will have a much tougher and slower time sprouting in poor soil that does not meet their needs. It is fruitful to thoroughly prepare the soil before planting grass seeds in it.

Before spreading seeds, remove all old grass and weed roots from them. Any flowers or plants growing there should also be uprooted.

The next step of soil preparation is to loosen up compact soil; otherwise, the seeds will have a very hard time gaining access to food and water. Although hard work, we suggest you level up your lawn and turf. Fill up all low spots with fresh soil and level out any mounting spot.

It is also important to learn what kind of soil is preferred by your grass. Dissolve a little bit of soil in water and use filter paper to see if it is alkaline or acidic. In order to increase the soil’s acidic levels as per the grass’ requirements, you need to add more organic ingredients to it. To make the soil less acidic, add limestone to it. 

See that no stones or boulders are present anywhere on the lawn. If they are, then pick them up and move them somewhere else. Finally, give your lawn a good raking all over the surface as it is finally good for you to plant grass seeds.

6. Avoid Disturbing The Seeds While They Are Growing

One thing that inhibits the proper germination of seeds is when they are disturbed during their growth phase. That is why we strongly urge you not to let anyone walk on the lawn or over the turf for the entire time the seeds are planted there until the grass blades begin to grow.

We understand that it might be difficult to manage at the time. However, it would be best to keep children, pets, and neighbors out as much as possible. Even when grass blades emerge and cover the entire lawn, our experts suggest you don’t disturb it much for at least a month.

Sometimes, despite all your efforts, you might notice that the grass seems thinner and patchy in certain places. This means that animals visit your grass at night, and strict measures must be taken against them.

7. Mow Your Grass The Right Way

Perennial grasses self-seed when the time is right each year. When it’s time for the grass seeds to germinate and if the grass blades have reached a height of about three inches, then you need to mow the old grass blades to a particular height.

Mowing is important because tall grass is far easier to damage when compared to short ones. Keeping the grass short means keeping it safer and healthier. However, do not mow the blades too low because that will not be healthy for the seed’s growth rate either. 

8. Tilling The Soil Helps A Lot

Before planting grass seeds, you must till the soil thoroughly. This will improve the aeration of the soil and make it easier for the seeds to obtain water and nutrients.

It will also drain the extra water and prevent the seeds from getting soggy. After multiple growing seasons and the use of lawn mowers etc., your soil will become compacted.

Remove all rocks, weeds, and any other plantation growing on the lawn. Use a tiller to rake up the top four to six inches of the soil and mix it all up. 

9. Pre-Germinate Grass Seeds

Pre-germination is the process by which you soften the seeds in water before planting them. When dry seeds are sowed in the soil, it takes some time for the seed shell to become permeable to water—putting them in water before sowing will instantly lead to faster germination.

Put clean water in a bucket with the seeds in it. To be on the safe side, allow the seeds to soak in this bucket for 24 hours. You can also let them soak in for three days while changing the water daily.

Afterward, spread these seeds on a piece of newspaper to absorb their excessive water. Please don’t allow them to dry and plant them in prepared soil immediately. You will notice that these seeds will germinate much faster after pre-germination.

10. Add Nutrients And Feed

While preparing the soil and before raking it, it would suit to fertilize it first. Grass grows best in soil rich in nutrients, and feeding it beforehand makes grass seed germinate much faster.

Peat and compost are suitable options if you want to go for an organic option. To ensure that the soil doesn’t clump after adding peat or compost, you can add vermiculite to loosen the soil up.

It is also okay to go for commercial fertilizer, and we have found that one with an NPK ratio of one to two works the best for lawn care. Mix it within the top two to three inches of the soil using a rake. 

Frequently Asked Questions

– How Long Does It Take Most Grass Seed To Germinate?

Most commonly, the grass seeds will take about 10 to 14 days to germinate fully. How quickly or late these seeds germinate upon several factors such as the type of grass seed and whether the right germination conditions are present on your lawn.

On the other end of the spectrum is grass, such as tall and fine fescue, that can germinate in only five days. Some grasses take as many as 30 days to germinate, no matter how conducive the conditions are.

– Can You Put Down Too Many Grass Seeds?

Yes, it is possible to put down too many seeds while trying to sow grass. Naturally, this does not produce good results because overcrowding is not good for germination. Each seed needs adequate space in order to grow its roots and shoots.

Cramming too many seeds in one place will hamper the free growth of all of them – too many seeds in one place also mean more competition for all the resources, including sunlight, water, nutrients, and whatnot. 

The packaging in which most grass seeds arrive specifies how many seeds will be required for a particular length and breadth of a lawn. You can also take help from an expert or the internet in this manner so that you don’t end up overcrowding your grass seeds.

– Does One Grass Seed Produce One Blade Of Grass?

Yes, one grass seed will only produce one blade of grass after germination. This is true for all grass seeds, known in the botanical world as monocotyledons.

– Will Uncovered Grass Seeds Grow?

Technically, uncovered grass seeds can grow successfully, but usually, this does not happen. The reason why this does not happen is that uncovered seeds get easily perturbed and swept away.

Another problem uncovered seeds face is that they get easily desiccated from direct sun exposure and wind. That is why it is better to cover them with a thin layer of soil, compost, or peat to protect them.

Conclusion

You know how to speed up the germination of grass seeds using information from our article.

• Always opt for coated seeds instead of normal ones, even if they are expensive.
• It is best to water more frequently but only lightly during the initial few days.
• Prepare the soil well before use by removing all old grass and weeds, mixing nutrients within it, and then raking the top layers.
• Don’t bury the seeds more than one-quarter of an inch into the soil, and do not disturb them until they germinate.

Now that you have all the steps of accelerating the germination of grass seeds at your fingertips, it is time for you to go and get those seeds planted.