Whether you are fixing a patchy lawn or creating a garden from the grass up, you'll have one question on your mind: how long does grass seed take to grow? Understanding the grass seed germination timescale for your chosen grass species is a must. This will help you plan the best time to start sowing grass seed and when to expect maximum grass growth.
Thankfully, this is an easy question for our horticulturalists to answer!
So, how long does it take grass seed to grow?
On average, successful germination of your grass seed takes 1 to 2 weeks, with most seed mix emerging by day 10. New grass seed can't just be scattered onto the soil as soon as it arrives, however. To ensure grass seed growth success, you need to monitor it carefully - see aftercare below.
After germination, you'll see continued green growth for up to 2 months. Growing grass is best left alone, so don't walk on it and definitely avoid mowing it.
These time estimates for grass growth can vary quite considerably. Don't panic if your grass is behind schedule. How long it takes grass seeds to germinate and grow depends on:
- Weather - too much sun can dry out the soil, preventing germination. Meanwhile, too much rain may dislodge your grass seed. The optimum weather should keep the soil moist and at a minimum temperature of 8 ºC.
- Location - just like the weather, you might find that areas where your soil is drier, has poor drainage, or gets more shade than other areas, takes longer to germinate.
- Time of year - when to plant grass seed is an important question. Our horticulturalists recommend March (read more about why and alternative times below). The depth of winter and the heights of summer should be avoided.
- Type of seed - there are different grass seed varieties that you can choose. Some, like perennial ryegrass, are very fast-growing. Meanwhile, seed varieties like red fescue take a little longer to grow.
- Aftercare - after sowing grass seed across your lawn, how you take care of it determines how long grass seed takes to grow. Trampling over the grass seed will disrupt germination. You might find birds enjoy eating the grass seed, too. Soil moisture should also be maintained (use a fine spray to keep the soil moist daily).
Gardeners Dream tip: choose a high-quality variety and scatter the grass seed evenly over weed-free, gently raked soil. This will make aftercare so much easier. You can also reserve some grass seed to cover any missed patches once the lawn is established!
When to sow grass seed
With the question 'How long does grass seed take to grow from seed?' answered, let's talk about when to start the germination process. Soil conditions are what determines the time of year, particularly soil temperature and moisture levels.
The ideal weather should be sunny but not so hot that the soil dries out, with regular showers to keep the soil moist but not wet. As a general rule, mid to late spring and early autumn are the best times for most seed mixes. March is the earliest you should consider sowing grass seed. The warm summer months and chilly winter months are too extreme for good growth!
How long does grass take to germinate and grow?
We know how long grass seed takes to germinate, but what about growing fully? Once the grass germination process is complete after 1 to 2 weeks, it will be another six weeks until the ground is fully covered in a lush lawn. It may even be a bit longer before it's fully established - up to 2 months.
On average, grass will grow at a rate of 2cm per week in the UK. You can apply fertiliser if your soil quality is poor - find our recommended lawn fertilisers in our grass care collection.
How long does grass seed take to grow in winter vs summer?
Most grass species will not be happy with the growing conditions available in winter and summer... but sometimes that's unavoidable. Whether spring is unseasonably hot and dry, or your lawn seed hasn't germinated until too late in the autumn, you might be stuck trying to nurture a lawn at the wrong time of year. In most cases, a little patience and watering to maintain moisture levels should see your grass germinate slowly over the following weeks.
All grass, whether it is established or new, will be dormant in the winter and go brown under the summer sun. If you want to avoid this, you might think about cool-season grasses. These are lawns made from hardier grass varieties that prefer cool temperatures, however they don't do too well in the hot summer sun.
Gardeners Dream tip: We recommend choosing a perennial grass that's drought resistant, as this will ensure you have a green lawn in winter and grass that survives the summer. With the UK climate, you don't need to choose a cool season grass unless it's a personal preference.
Choosing grass seeds for your lawn
You have numerous options available for your lawn, so choosing a variety is the first step when sowing grass seed. We like to separate our seed mixes depending on the conditions of your garden.
- Perennial ryegrass - the most common grass seed and an excellent choice for any garden in the UK, north or south.
- Red fescue - usually added to standard lawn seed mixes to add hardiness. Look for higher proportions of red fescue for sowing seed in shady areas.
- Chewings - a variety that thrives in dry and windy conditions and is popular for golf courses, too.
Explore our full range of grass seed options at Gardeners Dream - did you know that we offer free delivery on all orders over £50 across the UK?
