Seed Care and Watering Instructions

Irrigate the soil daily, at least twice a day, but we recommend 3 times daily. You do not want to use full cycles each time, simply divide normal watering times into 3 and set the program accordingly. We recommend times of around 4 am, Noon, and 7 pm. Try not to let the soil completely dry out. If your seed is planted in bare soil, do not soak or flood your lawn. When watering a new lawn, use just enough water to keep the soil moist at seed depth. Standing water or prolonged heavy rain could ruin some of the seed or possibly wash the seed away.Pay attention to the conditions of the area where you seeded- Is it in full sun or shade? Is it exposed to high winds or protected? Are you seeding in early spring or late fall? If you are seeding in early spring, late fall, or have a shaded yard with low wind, you can probably water less often because the water will not evaporate as quickly.

If overseeding a lawn where you have established grass, be sure to keep the seed moist by watering lightly twice a day. If possible, set specific zones where the lawn was overseeded to get the extra watering. That way the entire lawn doesn’t get over-watered.
Occasional deep watering is okay to maintain grass health. The existing grass will help keep the seed in place, shade the soil, and slow evaporation.

Seed takes 4 to 6 weeks to germinate and fill in completely. Here are some additional steps to ensure the success of your grass seed-

Step 1: Once the seed has sprouted continue watering lightly, but allow the soil to dry slightly before watering again. At the seedling stage, it is even more critical not to repeatedly saturate the soil. Persistently wet soil can lead to serious root diseases, such as Pythium Blight, that can kill the roots. Very humid weather often has greater disease problems than dry weather. If watering 3 times a day, you can either shorten watering times per cycle or decrease the schedule to twice daily.

Step 2: When the grass is a couple inches tall cut back on water to once every two to three days, depending on the temperature. Tiny seedlings can still suffer if the temperature spikes and the soil dries out. Soil dries faster in hot, arid environments than humid environments. If these conditions exist, water daily for a week or two.

Step 3: Once the grass reaches the cutting height for your particular grass type begin watering deeply, but less often, so the soil is wet to a depth of four inches. After watering, don’t water again until the grass begins to show signs of stress. This trains the roots to grow deeper into the soil to reach available water and nutrients. You can cut back your watering schedule at this point to a more normal schedule (2 to 3 days a week).

Important Hint: Grasses are “monocots”, meaning they emerge from the soil as a single blade. This single blade develops into a larger plant, but it will take time. Don’t expect to have a thick lawn in a few weeks. It takes at least one full year and often two years to get thick, healthy turf when starting with seed on bare soil.

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