Why my grass grow so fast is something you all might be pondering. Sure, lush grass growing thickly is the dream of all lawn owners, but there is nothing more tedious than having to mow it over and over again.
In this article, we compiled a list of all the possible reasons why a grass’s growth rate might be faster than you can handle. Go through these points to learn some clever ways of growing healthy grass that does not grow as rapidly.
Why Does My Grass Grow So Fast?
Your grass might be growing at such a fast rate because of several reasons. It might be a fast-growing grass type by its very nature; you might be watering and feeding it too frequently or mowing the grass blades too low.
– It Is a Fast Growing Grass Type
One of the main reasons your grass keeps growing fast is because it is a naturally fast-growing species. Some types of grass can regrow taller much sooner than others. Some of the fastest-growing grass varieties are Perennial ryegrass, Annual ryegrass, and Kentucky bluegrass.
Are you struggling to mow your lawn over and over again? Check whether you have planted one of the fast-growing types of grass. Alternatively, it is better to plant slow-growing grass instead. Our favorites are Zoysia, Bermuda grass, and tall or fine fescues.
One major advantage of slow-growing grasses is that they are also often drought-tolerant. They will survive harsh growth conditions much better than fast-growing types. This renders them ideal for areas that are not the most conducive for growing grasses and turf owners with no time for constant lawn care.
We understand that it might not be possible or easy to uproot a short grass type with a slow one just like that. Wait till your grass undergoes its period of dormancy to uproot it. Then seed your lawn with the slow-growing grass seed of your choice.
– The Growth Conditions are Ideal
There is nothing wrong with having the ideal conditions for growing grass in your area. When all the needs of any particular grass are being fulfilled-such as light, water, shade, and nutrients-it are only natural that it will grow fast and more healthily.
If your grass grows taller frequently, try holding back on its care needs for a while. No, we are not asking you to neglect your grass completely to let it wilt and die. Just hold back on watering and fertilizing the grass for the time being.
By not fertilizing regularly and only watering enough to prevent it from drying, you allow the grass to grow at its own pace. Another pro tip you can act on is to use a slow-release fertilizer instead of a liquid rapidly-acting one.
When a grass comes out of dormancy in winters or summers as per its natural cycle, it grows much slower afterward. Many lawn owners apply growth promoters and feed to accelerate their growth. You can skip this feeding if you don’t want the grass to grow too fast.
– Too Much Watering
Watering your lawn a lot will make your grass blades grow faster. This means more work for the lawn owner, who must mow it repeatedly. All grass types, even drought-tolerant ones, love water and undergo a rapid growth spurt when watered deeply or after particularly heavy rainfall.
Another solution would be to slow down the growth of your lawn grass by not watering it too often or too deeply. Of course, you should water it as much as is needed to keep it from dying. Turf grasses need one to one and a half inches of water every week.
Just give your grass the bare minimum needed to survive and stay green. If it has rained on your lawn anytime within the past week, then skip watering by yourself altogether. Similarly, skip watering when the grass becomes dormant because there is no need to.
Grasses are not tolerant to overwatering like most plant types. A soil composed primarily of clay does not allow the water to drain out as fast as it is delivered. If the water stays collected in the soil for a long, it causes rot to the roots of the grass. Your soil needs to be as airy and well-draining as possible.
– A Grass That Is Mown Too Short
Do you mow your grass short so it will take a long time to grow back up? This does sound counterintuitive, but mowing too short can promote faster growth afterward.
We are only talking about the grass being cut short enough not to be damaged. The reason why this happens is that grasses are known for their survival. When cut short, they begin to repair themselves quickly and grow taller in the process.
If the grass is cut too short, its blades will not be able to photosynthesize enough food to keep it going. The root system of the grass will not develop as extensively as needed. Moreover, cutting off more than one-third of the grass blades in one go will also harm the grass.
To slow down the grass’s growth, you must start keeping it longer. Reset the length at which your lawn mower blades are present. When only a little portion of the grass is cut at a time, it does not feel the need to repair the damage and will not undergo any post-lawn mowing growth spurt.
– It Is Being Fertilized Too Much
If the grass has to rely solely on nutrients obtained from the soil, then naturally, it will grow at a leisurely pace. This is compared to grass, fertilized grass and regularly supplied with adequate nutrients. It will, of course, keep growing and spreading as much as you keep feeding it.
There are two things you can do in such a scenario. The first is to go for at least a slow-release chemical fertilizer so that the nutrients are delivered much slower.
Stop using a fast one altogether because it delivers nutrients within a few minutes of application.
Secondly, stop fertilizing and instead go for mulch. Collect an adequate amount of grass clippings and use them as mulch to cover the real grass. This would serve the dual function of providing nutrients and retaining water.
– You Are Not Using Growth Inhibitors
Growth inhibitors can help busy lawn owners tired of dealing with super fast grass growth. These are also known as plant growth regulators (PGRs) and can be bought from any gardening store reasonably.
They can assist in slowing down grass growth by as much as 50 percent without harming grass health overall. Two types of growth retarders are available; type I and type II. These slow down the division of the cells in the grass and are rapidly absorbed by it.
Beware using only those type I retarders that don’t double as non-selective herbicides. Many people inadvertently end up killing their grass by using the wrong type of growth inhibitors. Steer clear from type II growth inhibitors because these work slower than type I.
– You Are Not Using Artificial Turf
If you grow grass, it is only natural to grow, and you will have to deal with it. There is only so much one can do to slow down its growth. Doing so will then lead to unwanted consequences as well.
The best solution to this is that you switch to artificial turfs. Maintaining a lawn is a serious commitment and needs constant care and mowing.
Installing an artificial lawn means getting all the benefits of having an esthetically pleasing lawn and turf without doing half the work.
Nowadays, you can find realistic-looking artificial turfs that look and feel even better than real grass. There are a lot of them available in a variety of price ranges. Since you will install it for one time only with little aftercare, we suggest you invest in a good-quality one.
Frequently Asked Questions
– Which Grass Grows Very Fast?
Cool-season grasses tend to grow much faster compared to warm-growing ones. Perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, fine fescue, and Kentucky bluegrass have the most rapid germination and growth among these. On the other hand, Bermuda is the fastest spreading and growing warm-season grass in the US.
– When is too often to mow your grass?
As mentioned, mowing your lawn too often can lead to it growing to fast or, conversely, dying. Mowing schedules depend on how fast your grass is growing. There is a handy rule for this. When grass is growing actively the stems are near the soil.
Therefore they are protected from the mower. YOu should not mow more than half or a third of the blades. This way it still has enough left to produce food and won’t grow too fast.
– How Do You Get Rid Of Fast Growing Grass Types?
There are several ways to eliminate fast-growing grass spreading in unwanted places. The most reliable method is a non-selective glyphosate herbicide, preferably from early spring to late summer.
There are also some DIY homemade remedies that you can try to kill grass naturally. One of these includes pouring undiluted bleach over the grass. You can also mix a few tablespoons of baking soda and dishwashing soap in water and spray it on the grass patch that you want to get rid of.
You will need frequent re-applications with natural methods before they can exert their effects. No matter what type of grass killer you decide on, you must wait for the grass to die, wither, and then pull it out manually.
Conclusion
Here are some useful take-home points about why your grass might grow so fast.
- Starting with a fast-growing grass type like Kentucky bluegrass will naturally have to be mowed very often.
- A grass that has all of its growth requirements being fulfilled will carry on growing at a much faster rate.
- If you regularly fertilize using a good liquid fertilizer every month during the peak growth, your grass will grow much more.
- Cutting the grass too low has been documented to promote even further growth.
There is no reason why busy people should not get to keep a lush lawn despite not having the time for constant upkeep. We have discussed why your grass might grow faster than normal and how to stop it without damaging it.
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