Seeding and Watering Guidelines for New Lawns

If you've recently renovated your old lawn or are planting a new lawn, the most important thing to remember for your grass to succeed is to KEEP IT WATERED!

DOWNLOAD OUR SEEDING + WATERING GUIDE HERE

Preparing Your Lawn For A Slice Seeding

Weeks 1 + 2 Watering Guidelines

Keep your lawn wet for the first 2 weeks by watering each zone daily. It should feel moist and not dried out. Morning or afternoon is the best time to water. If necessary, evening watering is acceptable, until grass germinates.

• MANUAL SPRINKLER
  You can leave the sprinkler in one place for up to three hours, but move it if you see water running off the lawn or big puddles starting to form. 
• AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM
  Start with 30 minutes per zone and run through the zones multiple times per day as needed to keep the lawn wet. If you see puddles or washout, decrease the amount of time per zone and increase the number of times you run through the zones daily.

Weeks 3 + 4 Watering Guidelines

Increase your watering time per zone by 50%. Water every other day. It’s best to water in the morning or afternoon, not the evening.

• MANUAL SPRINKLER
  

  Soak each zone every other day for up to 4 hours. Relocate the sprinkler if excess water runs off the lawn or collects in puddles.

• AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM
  Double the amount of time per zone you are watering, but water every other day, instead of daily. Decrease your watering time if you see extra water running off or puddles forming along the edges of the lawn or in any depressions. 

Weeks 5+ Watering Guidelines

Water once per week with about 1 inch of water per day to help develop deep roots and prepare the lawn for Winter. Depending upon your system this could be 60-120 minutes per zone per day. You can stop when we’re getting regular rainfall.

Newly Seeded Lawn Common Questions

1. WHAT ABOUT THE STRAW?
   If we used straw, don’t worry, it will naturally decompose on its own. If we didn’t use straw, we used a mixture that holds the seed in place, naturally decomposes, and improves the soil.
   
2. EXPLAIN THE CLIPPINGS?
   One of our machines digs into the soil and brings Heavy Thatch to the surface. The resulting clippings may look like they need raking. However, they actually hold moisture and help your new seeds germinate. If the appearance bothers you, mow the clippings with a mulching mower at 3 inches before watering.
3. ARE THE BIRDS A CONCERN?
   We put down enough seed to account for the birds consuming a bit. Know that this will not negatively impact the seeding process.
   
4. WHEN CAN I START MOWING AGAIN?
   You can start mowing immediately after our seeding to break up the clippings, just don’t bag them. Wait 2-3 weeks, or until the grass is 3-4 inches tall, before mowing again. After that, mow as you normally would, gradually decreasing the grass height to 2.5 inches in the late Fall, when the grass stops growing.
5. WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?
   While seed germination time varies, you can expect to see some little sprouts in the first 3-4 weeks. Many seeds take longer. Some of the seeds won’t germinate until next Spring. Keep watering and we will monitor your lawn.
   
6. HOW SHOULD I TAKE CARE OF MY LAWN NEXT SEASON?
   Once next season rolls around, do not water more than once per week. If you water deeply and infrequently, weeds and undesirable grasses will have a difficult time competing with your hearty new grass.

DOWNLOAD OUR SEEDING + WATERING GUIDE HERE