You want to feel the grass of a new lawn beneath your feet as soon as you see the first green blades of grass poking out of the earth.
However, not long after planting grass seed can ruin your lawn’s soil bed and make it harder for grass seedlings to grow much further.
Patience is required to achieve a beautiful lawn, and all it takes is for you to follow some basic handling and care tips to get the most from planting grass seeds and your newly planted grass.
Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis ) germinate slowly, while Bermudagrass ( Cynodon dactylon ) germinates swiftly.
The roots are immature and delicate right after germination, and they stay that way until the blades are 2 to 3 inches tall. Spreading grass seed is just half the battle, and you must know how to care for your newly planted grass.
In our guide, you can learn how long before you can walk on new grass and how to care for your grass to get it into this condition using that water-filled roller thingy.
By the end, you’ll have enough information to ensure optimal growth and how you can plant the best grass species.
How Long Before You Can Walk On Grass After Planting?
It’s best not to walk on your newly planted grass seed or until you have had the chance to mow your healthy lawn at least 3-5 times.
It can take three months for your lawn to grow to the point where you can mow it many times and walk on it after you’ve planted grass seed. (Find the Best Fertilizer For St Augustine Grass)
Here are a few rules to follow:
Grass seeds take roughly eight weeks to grow to a height of 3-4 inches. This is a general guideline. It will be determined by the amount of water and sunlight the seeds receive. It also relies on the state of the soil.
You can mow your grass for the first time when it is 12-1 inches higher than you want it to be. However, be cautious because the roots have not yet taken hold. Your grass is still quite delicate.
You should mow your grass 3-5 times at this point. This happens once a week on average. Before you walk on it, do this.
What you don’t want to happen is for your weight to impact and hinder the growth of any grassroots. The roots develop stronger as the grass blades grow longer.
By mowing your lawn three times, you allow the once shallow roots to develop as strong as possible. Keep yourself and anyone else off your newly sown grass for as long as possible.
This strategy will aid in the uniform and thickening of your grass. Allowing your grass to develop for an extended period will allow it to reach its full potential.
When to Mow Newly Seeded Grass
It’s best to avoid walking and mow your lawn 60 days after you’ve planted your seeds.
Alternatively, wait until your grass has grown over 3.5 inches before starting your mowing sessions and you have light foot traffic on your baby grass for lawn care.
Remember that it can take up to 30 days for your new grass seed to mature into the grass. Even after 30 days, the shallow roots still require time to strengthen, so leave your grass to grow at its own pace.
Don’t rush; the better outcome seems to be better the longer you wait. Knowing how long after planting grass seed can you walk on it is half the battle. Here are a few tips on grass care for your new lawn or any existing lawn you have overseeded. (Read Avocado Plant Brown Leaves Guide)
Understand Proper Mowing Techniques
Is it true that mowing your lawn can help grow your new grass seed and help in the healthy growth of your grass as long as you use the proper lawn mower blades and practices?
When mowing your lawn for the first time, take caution not to make sudden turns or motions. Anything that moves quickly and violently might harm the grass blades and roots. Slow down as much as you can.
When grass blades are damp, they are more flexible. When they are coated with water, they tend to adhere to the blade. This might be a disaster waiting to happen. Your grass blades may be damaged because of the blade pulling on them.
A blunt blade will harm a newly seeded lawn and grass sprouts more than anything else. It kills the grass blades and the roots. It can wreak havoc on your grass’s growth pattern.
Why Grass Height is Important
Because of one factor, the roots, keeping track of the grass blade height is critical.
This is because the roots adapt to support the grass’s weight and nutrition/water intake for as long as the grass grows. As the grass blades grow more prominent, this causes the grass roots grow stronger and longer. (Find the Best Fertilizers For Zoysia Grass)
Allow your grass to grow to a height of 4 inches if you want strong roots and a newly seeded, healthy lawn. It is unnecessary to keep track of the height of your grass blades. However, it is a useful tool for determining how healthy your lawn is, the soil conditions, and how long after planting grass seed can you walk on it?
Helpful Tips to Make Your Grass Grow Faster
If you do everything you can to aid grass growth, it will grow faster. Follow these helpful ideas for rapid results whether you’re planting for a certain deadline or want to help your newly seeded grass grow faster.
Aerate soil
Your soil and roots require room to grow and function properly. Three inches deep piercing holes should be made in your soil to help deep roots and grass absorb more water and soil nutrients.
Use organic fertilizers
On grass, a thin layer of natural organic fertilizers works best when growing grass seed. This should be equally distributed on your lawn. Use a spreading tool if possible to get equal grass growth.
Any fertilizer on the grass blades will be washed off the blades to make soil contact when you give your seeded grass lawn a light watering.
Re-use Grass Clippings
Grass cuttings have a high rate of decomposition. As a result, they’re excellent tools for hastening grass growth.
After mowing your lawn, collect the grass clippings and scatter them about your grass. Alternatively, you can compost them in your container.
How long does it take for new grass to thicken?
New grass plants take around two months to thicken and replace bare places of poor grass growth.
The time it takes for grass sprouts to germinate varies based on warm-season grasses and cool-season grasses, and the type of grass, but it usually takes approximately two weeks.
Perennial ryegrass seed germination, for example, germinates in 5-7 days and is ready for mowing in three weeks to a month. Carpet grass sprouts in around 2-3 weeks and requires a two-month delay with the mower after seeding.
Turfgrass and lawn grass both require nutrient-rich soil. Lawn fertilizer is one approach to thicken the grass.
On seedlings, use a starter lawn fertilizer that promotes healthy root growth. Avoid using lawn fertilizer when overseeding established grass because the formula may be too strong as the grass starts to grow and sprout.
How soon after cutting grass should you water?
Carry out a watering session to maintain constant moisture after you’ve finished mowing it if it needs it.
Before the sun becomes too hot, do this in the morning is the optimum time to water lawn soil. Watering early in the morning keeps the soil cooler throughout the day, reducing stress on the grass.
Watering late and the water evaporates quickly and is blown from the turf by the wind. At night, wet grass is more prone to fungus and mildew.
How many hours should you water your lawn?
Water is required to grow grass and sprout seeds. In warmer weather, water them twice daily; otherwise, once daily should suffice. Keep the top 1/4 inch moist soil when overseeding to establish strong roots.
1 to 1.5 inches of water per week for a lush lawn Water established seedlings 2-3 times a week rather than every day. Watering for 20 minutes three times a week keeps an inch of soil moist. Hot days require more frequent irrigation to maintain a healthier lawn.
Can cutting grass too short kill it?
As you avoid walking on short grass, cutting your grass too short can cause it to die. It could be tempting to keep the lawn short, so you don’t have to mow it as frequently.
Although, when fresh grass is cut too short, most photosynthesizing grass leaf blades are removed, and the turf draws the energy stored in the roots, causing hunger.
When grass is trimmed too short with your lawn mower, the established lawn cannot protect fresh grass seed against developing weeds or heat stress. (Learn The Best Time To Mow Lawn)
Without the shade given by the ordinary lawn, the soil will dry out, and any new grass seed or grass blades are exposed to the elements. It is also harder to keep the soil moist.
Can you walk on grass seed after overseeding?
No, after overseeding, avoid walking on any lawns. New grass seedlings must build a robust root system in the soil, just like new plants. Wait until the lawn is around 2-3 inches tall before walking on it if you want a beautiful lawn.
