How to Grow New Grass Fast

Many homeowners take growing grass very seriously. A well-kept lawn is a great way to easily improve the curb appeal of your property. Perhaps you have bald spots in your lawn or have an event coming up for which you'd like your lawn to look its best. There are several options to choose from, but the important thing is to know how much time you need for your grass to be ready and what you are willing to spend. Knowing your options will help you make the best decision for you and your budget.

Sod

Grass seed

Hydroseed

Choose what kind of grass you want to grow. Talk to your local garden center and find a grass seed that is right for your local climate. You can choose from varieties among cool-season grasses, warm-season grasses, and transitional grasses (areas in which you can grow both types of grasses at different times of the year).

Buy grass sod and install it on your lawn. Sod is grass that is already grown with roots and soil attached, sold in squares or rolls. You can do it yourself or pay a company to do it for you, but it is the most expensive option. Prices range from 30 to 60 cents per square foot of sod, depending on the type of grass you choose. The bonus is that you will have an instantly beautiful green lawn.

Hydroseed your lawn. Hydroseeding is a mixture of grass seed, water, fertilizer, a gluey "tackifier" and green-colored wood fiber that is sprayed on with a high pressure hose. The mixture dries and creates a crust over the ground, protecting the growing seed from erosion or being picked at by birds. Hydroseed works because the seeds are mixed with water and fertilizer, so you get a fast growth. You can usually get a beautiful hydroseed lawn in 2 to 3 weeks. Prices range from 6 to 12 cents per square foot.

Plant grass seed. Rake the area to be planted with a metal rake to create little furrows in which the grass seed can gain purchase and grow. Spread a layer of potting soil over the area (this is impractical for large lawns, you'll need loam for that). Spread some climate appropriate fast-growing grass seed (check with your local garden center). Spread another thin layer of potting soil over the top or a thin layer of manure. You can see grass growth within a week, but for lushness, it can take up to a month. This method takes the longest to grow, but is the most inexpensive method.

Keep the grass well watered (for sod and seed) in the morning and night or when you notice the topsoil looks dry.

If you're planting sod, make sure to ask if there is a growth guarantee if the sod dies within a particular period of time after purchase. Sometimes sod can have plant diseases in it, so you want to make sure you get your sod replaced for free if this turns out to be the case.

If you spread seed and get heavy rain, you may need to find where all the seed and soil washed and rake it back in place.