Watering grass seed?

10 years ago

Does anyone have a recommendation on how much water needs to be put on? I use oscillating sprinklers that water an inch every 6-7 hours (depending on heat, time of day, etc). I'm planting new grass soon (legacy fine fescue mix from outsidepride) I don't plan on covering the seed, just stepping them into the ground, and I'm just not sure on a good watering schedule. My soil is very sandy and tends to dry quickly (reason for fescue).

My original plan was 30 min per zone 3X a day at 8, 12, and 4. That would put about an inch per week still. Or should I do one hour 3X a day?

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Comments (5)

User
10 years ago
The seed just needs to be kept moist. If you see that 30 minutes every 4 hours is not sufficient , increase the frequency, not the duration (30 minutes at 8, 11, 14 and 17).

My cup tests have shown that around day 3 fescue seed begins to drop roots as deep as 2 inches, if it can penetrate the soil. A half an inch of water applied all at once around day 3 may make it easy for the seed to be able to do that.
tristin_idaho
Original Author
10 years ago
So I understand increasing the frequency, a bit unfortunate as my sprinkler timer only does 3X a day (but I can do a manual activation each night).

But explain a little more on the roots please. So on day 3 I should put a half inch all at once to try and get soil soft enough for roots to penetrate, and then resume 30 min schedule?

On a side note, have you heard of not covering the seed? Literally all the videos I've watched show people covering seed, but this company specifically said not to cover the seed.
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User
10 years ago
But explain a little more on the roots please. So on day 3 I should put a half inch all at once to try and get soil soft enough for roots to penetrate, and then resume 30 min schedule?

That's exactly right.

On a side note, have you heard of not covering the seed? Literally all the videos I've watched show people covering seed, but this company specifically said not to cover the seed.

Yes, and I have done it. In tests I have run, seed on the surface germinated just as well as seed that was lightly covered. That finding was confirmed when planting outside as well.

Now if you do not have an irrigation system and you're not there 24/7 to keep an eye on it, covering the seed can help retain moisture in between waterings. Another case where a seed cover would be helpful is if you're seeding on a slope, it holds the seed in place.

I think they recommend not covering because a lot of people use hay or straw, which come full of weed seed most of the time.
tristin_idaho
Original Author
10 years ago
I will do all of that, thank you for the advice. And I tried to plant a mix of fescue and kentucky bluegrass (mostly bluegrass) this spring AND covered it in straw. Well only fescue came up after 6 weeks, the straw molded, and I got a bunch of new weeds I didn't have before :) hopefully this try will be better!
PSU4ME
10 years ago
Yeah straw stinks IMO. Broadcast it or slice it in, both work well and as stated, slicing it in works well where you're concerned about it running on a slope