Caring for Recently Seeded Lawns

Many lawns suffer some type of damage during any given year. Thankfully, through the process of aerating soil and putting down high quality grass seed in the fall, much damage can be corrected. With that said, even if you seed at the proper time and prepare the soil, the end result may still be less than anticipated. Often, poor results can be attributed to the lack of ongoing initial care after seed has been sown.
One of the most critical factors for successful establishment of new turfgrass seedlings is maintaining adequate moisture until the grass is well established. Without moisture, germination and early seedling survival will be reduced or result in complete failure.
For the best possible results, the soil surface should be kept moist from the time of seeding until several weeks after the seed has germinated. Think of the seed as a tiny sponge. Watering lightly several times per day may be needed to maintain moisture for germination and prevent seedlings that have just emerged from dying. Do not depend on rainfall to provide this moisture, as this usually leads to seeds (and seedlings) drying out and dying. Simply put, when the seed gets wet, it needs to stay wet.
Sometimes excess water from rainfall or irrigation may also lead to problems. Avoid watering past the point when water starts to run off the site or pool, as this can cause suffocation of young grass as well as disease problems. This will occur sooner on clay soils and compacted soils.
Once seedlings and their root systems develop, frequent watering can be substituted with less frequent, yet longer watering. This will allow the surface area to dry out but keep the root area moist.
As the grass continues to develop and mowing is required, the necessity for irrigation continues to decrease. The soil at this point should be firm enough to allow the use of a mower without its sinking into the turf. If the soil is too wet when the new turfgrass stand is first mowed, damage can occur to the new seedlings.
Following these tips will provide your newly seeded lawn the moisture it needs to germinate and develop into the healthy lawn you desire. For additional lawn care tips or questions, please contact NaturaLawn of America – Cape May Court House at: (609) 465-1405 or CapeMayCourtHouse.NaturaLawn.com.