Grass seed germination can be tricky for several reasons. When we plant our grass seeds, anticipation sets in and have us on pins & needles. There are a lot of factors that will help out with that will help out with the grass seed germination process after you have planted them.
We will cover a few things to help your seedlings survive the growing process here in this post.
What Is Grass Seed Germination?
Germination is the process by which a plant grows from a seed, generally breaking through the shell or hull of the seed. For it to successfully grow, it needs sufficient moisture to start sprouting.
This growth also depends on the soil temperature they are planted. The variety of the seed dictates the temperature that is needed. The hull, which is a hard outer casing, may delay the germination process until the conditions are favorable.
As soon as germination starts, the environment can affect whether the seed or sprout will survive or not. This is what could put us on edge about whether they will grow successfully.
Nature’s Ingredients Needed
For a seed to germinate, it needs moisture at all times. Too little and the seed can dry out. Too Much, and then it can rot out. Either way, you are stuck with a dead seed.
Soil temperature affects the germination process as well. We spoke in the previous post on how cool & warm season grasses react differently when it comes to the climate. Cool season grasses need a minimum range of 45 to 65 degrees while the warm season grasses require a minimum of 55 to 65 degrees.
The soil temperature is affected by moisture evaporating from the surface because it presents a cooling effect. So the soil actually warms slower than the temperature outside. The chart represents outside temperatures for cool-season grasses.
You can monitor this with a soil thermometer to help you keep a handle on it. For a reliable thermometer that is inexpensive, you might want to check into a Multi-Purpose Soil Thermometer. It can help you a great deal in assisting the germination process.
The last two ingredients are oxygen & light. When the sprout does break through the seed, oxygen is needed for it to grow. This is why you don’t want to over water because it will result in less oxygen. Compacted soil is a culprit in this as well.
We all know how important photosynthesis is for plant life. This is why the light is needed, because it actually creates a food source for the plant. So we must make sure the seeds are not buried so deeply that the sprouts can’t break through.
How To Assist in Getting Successful Results
Once you determine the proper time to plant your seeds, remember to put some compost down lightly over the seeds for added protection. Use the back end of a rake to mix the seed with the soil stroking it lightly.
This will help the seeds to get the moisture they need as well as prevent them from running off during watering.
Make sure you don’t plant around the time you have used chemicals such as weed killers, fungicides, or pre-emergents. The product label on the seeds should help you determine the length of time you should allow before planting if you used any of these chemicals.
Lastly, but very important, is to keep kids and pets out of the area you laid seed. This will definitely hurt the germination process if it is constantly trampled on.
As far as birds and other animals go, do the best you can because they like to feast on the seedlings. This is just a natural thing that we can’t control.
Germination Time On Various Seeds
Below is a chart to give you an idea of how many days you should prepare yourself for before you will see any results.
Conclusion
The grass seed germination process will be a success, and sometimes not. It depends on how well we do our part in assisting the process.
Make sure you water correctly which is about 5 to 10 minutes twice a day to ensure the moisture is there. Also, make sure to use compost to help protect the seeds and to capture the moisture. Always keep anything away from the planted area that will disrupt it.
After doing all that was mentioned, your chances of producing a nice lawn will be favorable.
Thank you for dropping in, and I hope this post will help someone out in their lawn care ventures. Please feel free to leave any comments below.