One consideration when choosing between sod and seed is your families ability to stay off the area while the grass is establishing. Sod can be walked on or played on by kids and pets in as little as three weeks whereas seed applications can take many months to become wear resistant.
After your lawn has been overseeded, it is recommended that no one walks on the lawn for at least 2 weeks. The seedlings will still be fragile and can be damaged before they take root and grow. The seedlings will be vulnerable to any disturbances.
Try your best not to walk on newly seeded lawn areas for atleast 2-3 weeks while moving your sprinkler. the plan! As above, it should be repeated. 2 or even 3 times each day is appropriate if the weather is hot enough to require it.
The area that you're seeding should be fenced off for at least 6 weeks to protect the new grass from the dog. The dog eating seed isn't the worry here. It's the dog ruining your hard work.
You can just throw grass seed onto the ground, but you will see poor germination rates if the ground is hard. To get good germination, prepare the area and ensure better contact between the seeds and the soil by following the steps outlined above.
Remember, lawn grass seeds only need to be lightly raked into the soil, or even just scattered directly on the soil surface. Any seeds buried more than the length of the seed will have a hard time germinating successfully.
Even with this heavy watering, overseeding has an average successful germination rate of just 30%. Pro Tip! If your thatch layer is more than a ½-inch thick, dethatch your lawn first to greater exposure of the soil.
Some homeowners say you can mow the grass even after four days. However, the general opinion is to wait at least 10 days after spreading the new grass seeds to avoid severe damage.
Grass seeds might be small, but they can pose a real threat to our pets, especially during late spring and summertime. They're attached to the tops of long grass stems and can easily brush off onto your dog.
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. If the seeds still look the same as when they were initially planted or are covered in mold or a fuzzy texture, something has gone wrong, and they might not germinate properly.
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.
Avoid walking on new turf (except when watering) for at least four weeks after laying it. If laid during cooler months of the year, wait at least six weeks before walking on it. Once the roots have taken, therefore, when it is difficult to lift the edge of turf from the ground, then you can walk on it.
Mowing new grass helps it grow by prompting the grass to spread and come in thick. It also prompts the roots to grow stronger and deeper. You should wait until the new seed has grown and rooted before mowing, usually about 8 weeks.
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.
Yep, walking on it could be hurting your grass.
Walking that same path over and over throughout the winter can really take a toll on your lawn. Come spring, you'll notice that it's the last area to green up, and might even struggle to thrive all season.
Believe it or not, you can actually see core aeration and overseeding results on your commercial property in as little as 7 to 10 days. This is when the soil plugs will break down and the seeds will begin germinating and you'll start to see healthier, thicker grass develop.
Brand new grass hasn't yet had a chance to establish roots, which means it's more vulnerable to spots being killed by dog urine. You can give your sod the best chance to survive by keeping your dog off the lawn for the first two months when it's most susceptible.
Newly seeded areas should be restricted from foot traffic for a least a month after the seed has germinated or until the new lawn has been mowed at least a couple of times.
If your dog has a grass seed in their paw, bathing in salt water or epsom salts will help to clean the wound and may also help to draw the seed out. Home care after a vet procedure to remove grass seeds: Keep any bandages your dog comes home with from the vet dry and clean.
After you've overseeded your lawn, it's crucial to let the new seeds establish themselves without disturbance. Generally, you should avoid foot traffic on the lawn for at least two to three weeks. This time allows the seeds to germinate properly and begin to establish roots.
Day 1 - Morning: Apply seeds to the entire lawn. Water immediately with a fine mist or gentle spray to settle the seeds without displacing them. Aim to keep the soil consistently moist.
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.
While you don't want to bury the seeds deeply, they do need good soil contact. Use the back of a plastic leaf rake to gently work the seeds into the top 1/8 inch of soil. Make short, light strokes to avoid redistributing the seeds unevenly.
The problem is that a weed control treatment won't be able to distinguish between weed seeds and grass seeds, so it will hinder both from developing. Either way, you should hold off on overseeding in spring because you'll end up having to do it again later in the year thanks to weeds germinating during this time.
Most homeowners won't need to overseed more than once a year. If you have a lawn that stays thick and strong, then you may not need to overseed yearly. You can probably overseed once every other year (or even every two to three years).