skip to main content

How to water and mow a new lawn with mixed seeds

10 years ago

We recently reseed the lawn with newly added loam. The seeds are a mixture of rye grass and blue grass. The reseeding was done about 10 days ago. About 4~5 days after seeding, the rye grass spouted and now the lawn is covered by grass about 3 inch long.

I know blue grass takes 2~3 weeks to germinate, my question is in this situation, should we continue watering the lawn twice a day (5 min each time) to assist the germinating of blue grass? Or should we reduce the watering frequency?

My second question is, should we mow the lawn or should we just wait for bluegrass to grow? If you suggest us to wait, what is the best time to mow?

Thanks in advance for your answer and help.

Comment (1)

dchall_san_antonio
10 years ago
'tis a delemma. Do you wish you had not mixed rye with KBG? Maybe you could have seeded the KBG first and waited 2 weeks to do the rye. This is always an issue when two or three seed types are mixed.

Continue watering 2-3x per day or you will have no KBG at all.

As for mowing you are really walking a tightrope. You can mow anytime up until the KBG seed sprouts. Once that happens you need to stay off of it or you will break the seedling KBG plants. And if the grass gets upwards of 5 inches in the mean time, the rye might provide too much shade for the new KBG seedlings. I would give it 5 more days and mow it back to 3 inches unless that rips the rye out of the ground. Continue watering like that until you have 80% germination of the KBG and it is at least an inch or two high. Then you can back off on the frequency and go up on the duration.

On the plus side, you only need a few KBG seeds to survive, because it will eventually spread to fill in any thin spots.

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES How to Plant a New Lawn From Seed

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Choose from more grass varieties and save money over sod by starting your lawn from seed

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Get Along With Less Lawn — Ideas to Save Water and Effort

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Ditch the mower and lower your water bill while creating a feast for the eyes with diverse plantings and gathering places

BEFORE AND AFTERS See 6 Yards Transformed by Losing Their Lawns

By Annie Thornton

Wondering whether a turf lawn is the best use of your outdoor space? These homeowners did, and they found creative alternatives

EARTH DAY The Case for Losing the Traditional Lawn

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Work less, help the environment and foster connections by just saying no to typical turf

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 15 Great Ideas for a Lawn-Free Yard

By Laura Gaskill

End the turf war for good with hardscaping, native grasses and ground covers that save water and are easier to maintain

GARDENING GUIDES How to Prep Your Ground for a Healthy New Lawn

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Seed or sod that falls on weedy, lumpy soil is a wasted effort. Follow these steps to ensure that your new lawn will thrive

MOST POPULAR Meet a Lawn Alternative That Works Wonders

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Carex can replace turfgrass in any spot, is low maintenance and adjusts easily. Add its good looks and you’ve got a ground cover winner

SAVING WATER Houzz Call: Are You Letting Go of Your Lawn?

By Annie Thornton

Many facing a drought are swapping turf for less thirsty plantings. If you’re one of them, we’d like to hear about it

GREAT HOME PROJECTS How to Replace Your Lawn With a Garden

By June Scott Design

New project for a new year: Lose the turfgrass for energy savings, wildlife friendliness and lower maintenance

SAVING WATER Xeriscape Gardens: How to Get a Beautiful Landscape With Less Water

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Conserve water and make gardening much easier with the xeriscape approach’s 7 principles

Sponsored

Peabody Landscape Group

8 Reviews

Franklin County's Reliable Landscape Design & Contracting

More Discussions

Am I seeing more Tall Coarse Fescue than what really exists?

3

Ran out of time, should I rake over grass seed the next day?

3

Sowed a month ago, but little to no germination

5

plastic netting implanted in lawn!

2

Every spring and fall with pre-emergent, but still lot weeds???

3