New Lawn Watering: How Often Do I Need to Water Grass Seed?

Starting a new lawn from seed needs  extra care and attention to achieve lush grass. The seed must be watered adequately for proper germination and root formation. This brings us to the question: How often do I need to water grass seeds?

When starting a lawn, water the soil for about 6 to 8 inches a few days before planting grass seed. Water again for about 2 inches after planting the seed. Water twice daily for 3 to 4 weeks until the seed germinate. Factor in weather conditions such as rainfall and temperature for proper watering.

Watering Grass Seed – How Often?

It’s important to water your seeded lawn regularly to encourage germination. Water is among the necessary conditions required by seed to germinate. Here is my go-to watering schedule that has proven effective.

Before Seeding

Several days before planting your seeds, water the area to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. It helps to create hospitable conditions for the incoming new seed. During this period, you can also incorporate little compost into the soil to make it richer. Allow the area to dry partially before spreading your seeds.

So, how do you know that you have watered 8 inches into the soil? It is easy to measure the depth of water infiltration into the soil. You simply use a long screw driver. Insert it into the soil, it should be able to push with ease to a depth of 8 inches. If there is some resistance, then you need to water the soil appropriately.

Immediately After Seeding

Immediately after spreading the seeds on the soil, water up to a depth of 2 inches or for about 5 to 10 minutes. Continue watering   whenever the soil becomes dry. Dip your index finger into the soil to check the moisture content. If the soil feels dry, it’s time to water. 

When watering, be sure not to over-water. Watering excessively can wash away seed,  floating them into clumps and bare spots. Additionally, seeds sticking to muddy shoes when moving the sprinkler and soft sinking soil leaves behind a trail of footprints.

After Germination

When the grass seeds germinate, they develop roots and shoot. For the next one month, you have to check your lawn regularly and water it lightly whenever the soil feels dry. It is recommended to water lightly twice daily or more depending on weather conditions.

Check the lawn more often especially during dry spells as it requires more water. Pay more attention to sun-soaked areas than the shaded areas. Be sure also not to over-water newly germinated seeds as they are still vulnerable. 

After Establishment

Once your new lawn is established, it’s time to reduce the amount of water and frequency of watering as well. Generally, giving your lawn an inch of water once per week is good to keep it  going. This encourages the grass to develop deeper roots into the ground and be more tolerant to drought.

However, this process needs not to be spontaneous. Reduce the amount of water and frequency of watering gradually. For instance, if you were watering your lawn twice a day, it can be reduced to once for a few days then twice per week and finally once after every 7 days.

Missed a Day of Watering Grass Seed – What happens?

As I said, it’s important to water a newly seeded lawn daily. Water is essential during this stage of development. Missing a day of watering will not kill the seed but can delay the process of germination. In most cases, when the soil is dry, the process of germination will definitely stall until water is provided.

If you forgot to water your seeded lawn, do it immediately the moment you remember. When watering the following day, be sure to water deeply and evenly. Newly seeded grass seeds can remain inactive in the soil for a couple of days if they are not provided with ideal conditions for germination.

If you are a forgetful person like me, there are various tools to make your work easier. Set an alarm on your phone to remind you of the watering schedule, use a timed sprinkler or irrigation system, or hire a lawn care company to manage everything.

How Long Can Grass Seed Go Without Being Watered?

Newly seeded lawn will take about 3 to 4 weeks to germinate when provided with a constant soil moisture. If not watered daily, most of them dry out and  die. Seedlings can survive a day or two without water but won’t last longer than that. 

Here is how to ensure that your newly seeded lawn is not lacking water.

1. Cover the seeded area with mulch

Immediately after planting your seeds, cover the soil with mulch prior to watering. Straw is the best material for mulching your seeded area. Mulching helps to conserve soil moisture content as well as preventing the seeds from being splashed away by water. Remove the mulch once the seeds have started to germinate.

2. Avoid sowing the seeds in the hottest season 

It is not ideal to sow your grass seed in the hottest season of the year. High summer temperatures increase the rate of evaporation. Therefore, the soil is likely to dry out fast. However, if you have no choice, be sure to water your lawn deeply and frequently.

3. Do not use cheap sprinklers

Most of the cheap sprinklers in the market do not distribute water evenly. Some may leak to cause puddles in your lawn. It’s always said that cheap is expensive. Oscillating sprinklers are the best choice for a new lawn. 

When to Stop Watering New Grass Seed

You cannot stop watering new grass seeds completely unless you want them to dry off. However, you can stop watering your grass daily once it has germinated. One month after the seeds have germinated or when the grass blades are measuring 1 inch, you can gradually reduce watering to approximately 1 inch of water once or twice per week. 

On the other hand, if you water excessively, the seed will drown in the pool of water. They may as well be washed away if your lawn is on a slope. So, watering lightly whenever the soil feels dry promotes a healthy growth of your new lawn. 

Generally, grass seeds will take a month or more to germinate depending on variety. The first month of germination, the seeding is quite delicate and requires extra care and attention. During this period, your new lawn needs the right amount of water at the correct time. 

Final Thoughts

Generally, it is ideal to water your new lawn twice a day for about 5 to 10 minutes. Early in the morning and late in the afternoon to reduce the rate of evaporation. It also gives the grass blades ample time to dry out before the nightfall. Watering late in the evening can promote growth of fungal infections.