How to Care for New Grass Seed

Planting new grass seed is a cost-effective way to improve your lawn, but to create a beautiful and lush outdoor area, it's important to take proper care of new grass seed. Young seed is vulnerable, and if it isn't cared for, it won't germinate or grow. You'll find that taking care of your grass seed is relatively easy, even for those with little lawn care experience.

Once you've planted your new grass seed, the best way to make sure it germinates and grows is to rake it into soil. Drag a rake lightly over the surface of the seed. Try to rake around 85 percent of the seed into the soil, and remember that it's normal for some seed to remain on the surface. Once you have raked the seed in, push a lawn roller over the new grass seed to ensure that the seed makes good contact with the soil.

Use a light spray wand or a hose on a fine spray setting to water new grass seed. Be patient and water slowly to avoid moving grass seed. Keep the top 4 to 6 inches of the soil moist and avoid creating puddles. To further improve germination, allow the soil to dry out during the day and water only when necessary. Once the seed has germinated, you can water more regularly.

16-pound bag of 24-25-24 fertilizer (for 5,000-square-foot lawn)

Broadcast or drop spreader

Broom or blower

Two weeks after seeding, fill a drop or rotary spreader with the correct amount of 24-25-4 starter fertilizer for your lawn. For a 5,000-square-foot lawn, use a 16-pound bag of starter fertilizer.

Set the spreader to the rate on the fertilizer bag. Set a drop spreader to 6 or a broadcast spreader to 3 1/4 unless otherwise recommended.

Push the spreader across the newly seeded lawn to distribute starter fertilizer evenly. Be careful not to disrupt grass seed.

Water the grass seed as usual and keep the soil moist.

Keep the fertilizer in a safe area out of reach of children and pets.

If eye contact occurs, thoroughly flush eyes with water for 15 minutes.

Avoid using this product near storm drains, drainage ditches, or water drains. Avoid using this product if heavy rain is in the forecast.

Avoid applying fertilizer until two weeks after seeding.

Mulching is another way to protect your new grass seed and keep it moist, protected and in place so it can germinate and produce a thick carpet of grass. Evenly spread one bale of straw per 1,000 square feet of seeded area.

New grass seed takes six to 12 weeks to establish itself. During that time, avoid practices that will weaken your new grass seed. Keep children and pets off the lawn to avoid damage. Avoid using herbicides until you have mowed your new lawn at least five times, and avoid overfertilizing as it will weaken a new lawn in the long run. Finally, avoid mowing your new grass until it reaches a height of at least 2 to 3 inches, depending on the type of grass.