How long does grass seed take to grow? (2024)

How long does grass seed take to grow? (1)

In ideal conditions, most grass seed species will begin to grow about 8-10 days after initial sowing. After 6-8 weeks, the grass will be fully established and provide full coverage across the lawn with no patches. You will be pleased to read this guide, which will ensure your grass grows as quickly as it should!

How long do grass seeds take to grow?

Your grass seedlings will be growing successfully around the 6-8 week mark after you’ve sown your grass seed, and it is around this time that you are free to walk on it, play on it, and enjoy it as much as you see fit! This time frame is determined by how well you’ve prepared your seedbed before sowing and how committed you are to the aftercare. So, knowing how long grass seed takes to grow will help you plan and make time for your prep work.

Please be aware that the successful growth of your garden is subject to a few preparation requirements and aftercare activities that you need to keep in mind. If not, your grass could take longer to grow or, in the worst-case scenario – not grow at all.

To help you with this, we have a detailed video guide on how to sow grass seed to make sure your lawn gets off to its best possible start:

Best preparation to help your grass seed grow

Four things should be considered when sowing grass seed and hoping for the very best outcome, these are:

Weather and soil conditions affect grass growing time

Sunshine, temperature, and water are the primary ingredients that power the growth rate of your grass, and they determine how long it takes for your grass seed to grow. Even with all of these ingredients in place, your lawn can still fall foul due to poor ground preparation and adverse/extreme weather conditions. These issues can cause delays in growth or completely prevent the seedling’s ability to germinate.

This is why weather and soil conditions when the seed is sown are crucial to successful germination and rapid growth of your beautiful new lawn!

Ideal weather for germination

Most grass species will germinate between 8-10 degrees Celcius (and above). Should these temperatures be inconsistent and drop frequently, germination and establishment could take longer.

How do you know when conditions are perfect for growing grass?

Ideally, grass seed should be sown when temperatures range between 8-10 degrees consistently for at least two weeks.

This generally means the ideal sowing season in the UK is from March to September. Always check the weather forecast for frosts, snow, flooding, or heatwaves. When deciding when to sow, consult a two-week forecast.

Ideal soil/sowing conditions

The perfect seedbed for sowingshould be free from weeds and mosses, level, and have adequate drainage. If seedbed preparation fails on any of these fronts, your grass seeds may struggle to grow. Similarly, if the seeds are sown incorrectly, they may not germinate. Seeds need heat, moisture, and air from the soil, so if the seeds are too close to the surface, they won’t benefit from the key things they need to germinate.

Be aware of burying the seeds too deep (unable to reach sunlight) or too close to the surface. Sowing at the incorrect rate (too close together or too scattered) will also cause growth issues.

Please read our detailed guide to find thebest method for sowing grass seed.

Choosing the best grass seed for your lawn

The best grass seed mixtures are often a blend of multiple grass species. Most of our seed mixes containblends of perennial ryegrass and fescues, except for a few specialist mixes for sports and shaded areas. We also have other specialist mixes of 100% perennial ryegrass or 100% fescue.

Perennial Ryegrass

This seed offers extremely fast-growing, especially within the UK.Various grass species germinate at different temperatures, equating to how long it takes to grow fully. For example, perennial ryegrass is a cool-season grass and only requires temperatures of 8-10 degrees consistently to germinate. Since the UK gets 8-10 degrees temperatures during the sowing season (spring, summer, and early autumn), fast and efficient growth is easy to achieve.

Fescues Seed

Fescues require slightly warmer temperatures of 10 degrees plus to germinate. We usually hit these temperatures during mild spring and warm summer months in the UK, which helps speed up seed germination. However, temperatures in the UK usually get to 8-10 degrees a lot earlier and more consistently, making perennial ryegrass a relatively faster-growing seed option when compared with fescue.

We use many species of grass seed in our mixes, which you can read about in more detail in ourtypes of grass seedblog post.

What do these different grass seed types do?

What is in your mix will dictate how fast it will grow. As stated before, perennial ryegrass grows faster than fescue – so if you want a fine bowling-green quality ornamental lawn (100% fescue), be prepared to wait a little bit longer and be aware of the ideal growing conditions. Other species offer better wear and tear properties, and some grass seed species evenself-repair as they grow!

One of our most popular mixes,SUPERSTAR: Back Lawn, offers you the best of both worlds through its 80% perennial ryegrass content. This seed mix is fast-growing and hardwearing whilst also containing 20% fescue, which helps to give it a fine appearance.

Aftercare for your new grass seedlings

So, you have sown your lawn in the ideal weather conditions in a perfect seedbed, with an ideal mix of grass seedlings for what you need – how can you further guarantee its quick growth? One way to enhance growth is to ensure your lawn is watered evenly.

After sowing your grass seed, you should water your lawn once a day daily anddeeplyfor the first few weeks. Avoid watering when it rains, and you will soon see the little green shoots begin to appear all across your lawn!

For more information about how to water your lawn post-sowing and to keep those little green shoots growing,read our top tips for watering your lawn.

Ourand ourGrass Seed FAQsections are packed with helpful information to help you achieve the garden you’ve been dreaming of!

FAQs

How long does grass seed take to grow? ›

Whether you're repairing bare spots, overseeding an existing lawn or starting from scratch, you can generally expect grass seedlings to emerge within seven to 21 days when grown under proper conditions. It may take another three to four weeks of growth before grass is long enough to mow.

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How often do you water new grass seed? ›

It is best to water the grass seedlings 2 to 3 times a day for about 5 to 10 minutes each time. This way you replace any water that has evaporated without oversaturation. It amounts to 3-4 inches of water per week. Once the grass seeds germinate, you should water for a longer period once a day.

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What month should I put grass seed down? ›

The best month to put grass seed down depends on the type of grass you have and where you live. The best time to plant grass seed for cool-season grasses is in early fall or around September. For warm-season grasses, late spring or early summer (May to June) is the optimal time.

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How long does it take for grass seed to sprout? ›

Most grass seed will start growing in about 10-14 days, but sometimes it can take up to 30 days. When you're planting new grass seed in your yard, it can seem like it's taking forever to start sprouting.

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Can grass seed grow in 3 days? ›

Even under optimal conditions, grass seeds still need time to germinate and grow. You can expedite this process, but a little bit of patience is always required. Depending on the type of grass you're growing, it may be anywhere between a week and a month before you begin to see growth.

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Is it OK to walk on grass seed? ›

So, generally, once you're done seeding you should limit foot traffic for at least 3-4 weeks. Cool-weather grasses usually take a couple of weeks to sprout, but giving it a little longer to grow will help its root system to take hold.

What happens if I miss a day of watering grass seed? ›

What Happens If a Day of Watering Grass Seed Is Missed? Missing a day of watering in the critical germination phase can impact the health and growth of your new grass. If the soil dries out, it can halt the germination process or kill the young seedlings.

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Can I just throw grass seed on bare spots? ›

Can I Just Throw Grass Seed on Bare Spots? Throwing grass seed onto bare spots will result in little-to-no germination and will not help to repair lawn spots. If you want to fix patches on grass, you need to properly prepare the bare spots before laying down the seed.

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Can I just throw grass seed down on an existing lawn? ›

Overseeding is spreading grass seed over an existing lawn. Done right, it's a straightforward process that gets results. As grasses mature, thinning is normal—especially if you enjoy your lawn and use it often. Overseeding keeps your lawn competitive and steeped in youth and vigor, without starting over from scratch.

Can you put too much grass seed down? ›

Quality grass seed labels include guidance on optimal seeding rates to maximize your results. Don't overdo or cut corners. Too much grass seed causes undue competition for resources such as light, water and nutrients, and grass seedlings struggle as a result. Too little seed leaves lawns thin or bare.

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What temperature kills grass seed? ›

If you're wondering how cold is too cold for grass seed germination use our rule of thumb and check the weather reports. If the daytime temperature is below 60^°F then soil temperature is below 50^°F, making it too cold; if there is frost or still a danger of frost, then it's too cold.

Why is my grass seed not growing after 2 weeks? ›

'There are several possible causes that may prevent the grass seed from growing, such as poor soil quality, inadequate sunlight or water, temperature extremes, bad seed, and pests,' says Susan Brandt, Co-Founder of Blooming Secrets.

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Can I plant grass seed in May? ›

Spring ranks second for planting cool season grass seed, ideally between April 1st and May 15th, to ensure germination before the cold of March in northern areas. Expect higher weed competition, notably from crabgrass, and avoid overseeding warm season grasses with cool season varieties in spring.

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How to speed up grass growth? ›

Seed and Feed

One of the most effective ways to get your grass to grow quickly is to fertilize right after you plant. For use on all grass types, reach for Scotts® Turf Builder® Starter® Food for New Grass, which helps grass grow up to 70 percent thicker and 35 percent more quickly (vs. unfed).

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How do I speed up grass seed germination? ›

In these cases, you can cover your grass seed with soil, mulch, or compost to keep it moist and protect it from external elements. Straw can also be used as a cover, which shields them from excessive sunlight and increases germination rates.

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Do you need to cover grass seed? ›

Cover Up

After you finish laying down the grass seed and lawn food, cover both with a thin layer of soil to help keep the grass seed from drying out and washing away.

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Can you overwater grass seed? ›

Highlights. Watering grass seed requires balance, as overwatering can wash away seeds, while underwatering can dry out sprouts. Keep the soil moist when you sow new grass seed.

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How to tell if grass seed is germinating? ›

The most straightforward way to know if your grass seed is germinating is to look at it. If the seed's sprout is pushing up through the soil, it has successfully germinated. If there are no sprouts after two weeks, check the seeds.