To water grass seed properly, follow these guidelines:
- Frequency: Water new grass seed 2 to 4 times daily during the germination period, usually the first 1 to 2 weeks, to keep the top 1.5 inches of soil consistently moist. In hot, sunny, or windy conditions, you may need to water at least 3 times a day
- Duration: Each watering session should last about 5 to 10 minutes, enough to lightly moisten the soil without causing pooling or runoff
- Timing: The best times to water are early morning and early evening when temperatures are cooler and evaporation is minimized
- Adjustments after germination: Once the grass starts to sprout (about 1 week), reduce watering frequency to once daily or every other day, but increase the watering duration to encourage deeper root growth (20 to 30 minutes per session)
- Long-term watering: After about 5 to 8 weeks, water less frequently (every other day or a few times per week), aiming for about 1 inch of water per week including rainfall, to maintain a healthy lawn
- Special cases: For bare spots, water the seeded patches 2 to 4 times daily with light watering while watering the rest of the lawn once or twice a week
Avoid overwatering, which can cause seeds to float and wash away or promote disease. The soil should stay moist but not soggy, and pooling water on the surface indicates overwatering
. In summary, frequent, light watering multiple times daily during germination, followed by less frequent but deeper watering as grass establishes, is the recommended approach to successfully water grass seed.
