When to Water Your Lawn After Seeding
When to water your lawn after seeding can vary. We recently had our fall lawn aeration and overseeding. (If you don’t have this done, I highly recommend it.) When the work was completed, I asked the technician about watering. He not only explained what we needed to do but also gave me a printed handout.
When to Water Your Lawn After Seeding
Germination Period
The germination period begins as soon as the seed is spread on your lawn and continues for seven days after the first seedlings appear. During this time, you should water the lawn for 15 to 20 minutes every day. Rain replaces the need for water as long as it’s enough to leave the area moist. Do not overwater. If you are creating puddles when you water, cut back on the watering time.
Note: We recommend the above for Autumn overseeding. Do not water the seeds before the first week of April. At this time, the ground temperature is too cold for the seeds to germinate, regardless of how much you water.
Post-Germination Period
The post-germination period begins seven days after the first new blades of grass appear. During the post-germination period, reduce watering to two or three times a week. However, when you do water, do so for 30-40 minutes. And as before, if Mother Nature waters your lawn with ½ inch or more of rain, cut back your watering to once a week.
Continue watering 2-3 times a week all summer to help the seedlings establish strong root systems.
Note: Do not apply herbicides or weed killers to the newly seeded areas until the grass is tall enough to have been mowed twice. Crab grass killers are especially hard on new grass because they prevent the seeds from germinating.
By following the watering plan and applying a starter fertilizer at the time of seeding, you should have healthy new grass with a strong root system.
How Can We Help You?
Berger Hargis has a company philosophy of providing personal excellence for all our services. Our growth and success have been due entirely to our commitment to honest, excellent customer service. The company has been built on the referral business we have received due to this philosophy.
We work with residential customers and businesses in Central Indiana. If you have any questions about lawncare or gardens, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
About the Author
Randy Clark is a speaker, coach, and author. He publishes a weekly blog at RandyClarkLeadership.com. Randy is passionate about social media, leadership development, and flower gardening. He’s a beer geek, and on weekends he can be found fronting the Rock & Roll band Under the Radar. He’s the proud father of two educators; he has four amazing grandchildren and a wife who dedicates her time to helping others. Randy is the author of the Amazon bestseller The New Manager’s Workbook, a crash course in effective management.
Would you like to learn more about aeration and seeding?
What Is Lawn Aeration and How Do You Know If Your Lawn Needs it?
When’s the Best Time to Reseed Your Lawn?
Photo by Lumière Rezaie on Unsplash
Go Back
