Can You Overwater Grass Seed?

It should come as no surprise that new grass seed requires regular watering. But too much water can be a bad thing. This brings us to the following question: can you overwater grass seed?

Yes, you can overwater grass seed and it will eventually ruin your lawn. Too much irrigation will create puddles, runoff, fungus, and other problems. Continue reading to learn when and how much you should be watering.

For best results, try planting grass seed during the fall. This is when soil temperatures are warm and air is cooler. These conditions are also optimal for germination.

When to Stop Watering New Grass Seed

Puddling – This is one of the first signs of overwatering new grass seed. To put it simply, puddles indicate there is too much water for the soil to absorb. And when this happens water will puddle up on the surface and have nowhere to go.

Runnoff – Runoff is similar to puddling, in that it means there is too much water than land can absorb. If your lawn has even the slightest slope, gravity will push this water downhill. This can be a major problem, because runoff will wash new grass seed off the soil.

Fungus – Another sign of overwatering grass seed is fungus. This issue is more likely to happen at night, due to a lack of sunlight. Fungus growth will not only prevent new seed from growing, but it can also damage existing grass on your lawn.

Watering Based on Time

Before we begin, let’s talk about why you shouldn’t water based on time. After all, you might have people tell you to water for 10, 15, or 20 minutes a day.

The problem with watering based on time is that it doesn’t factor in how much water your irrigation system disperses. There are three main types of sprinkler heads – spray sprinkler heads, rotary sprinkler heads, and drip systems.

• Spray Heads – This type works well on medium-sized yards. Spray irrigation heads are normally installed around 15-20 feet apart with some overlap. This layout allows for full coverage on the entire lawn to avoid dry spots. They can also spray large amounts of water quickly – in a heavy mist.
• Rotary Heads – This type works best on larger yards. With a higher amount of PSI, they can also be spread apart further. Rotary heads work best on soil that takes longer to drain. They will also disperse water in a stream (unlike spray heads) at a much slower rate. In other words, you will need to run them longer.
• Drip Systems – This type of irrigation system is better suited for landscapes with plants and crops. The name comes from their slow moving water output – where water is dripped down below. This is one of the biggest downsides to drip systems. But they can be extremely efficient, as very little water gets wasted.

Without confusing you even more, there are also other factors (such as PSI) that will impact how long you should run your irrigation system. The fact is, there are many things to consider when watering based on time – which is why you shouldn’t do it.

How to Water Grass Seed

Even though it’s possible to overwater new grass seed, the reality is that most people don’t water enough. The good news is there are some practices you can follow, that will ensure you’re irrigating correctly.

So, what’s the proper way to water grass seed if you shouldn’t water based on time?

The first thing you can do is touch the soil. Does it feel wet? The surface of your lawn should feel wet to the touch. But there should also be moisture about 1/2 an inch below the dirt (if you were to start digging).

If you continue watering this amount, new grass should begin to grow between the first 5-10 days. Once the germination process has begun, you will need to change the watering method on your lawn.

In the first couple of weeks, getting the seeds to start growing is very important. This why it’s crucial to water in the beginning. But after germination, the focus now shifts towards photosynthesis.

When to Increase the Amount of Water

Now the strategy is all about creating healthy roots so grass blades can grow. Once grass starts to grow on its own, it won’t need to rely so much on the nutrients from the seeds.

This is when you can increase the amount of watering. That’s because water can better travel to the root once new grass is established.

The grass acts like a slide that brings water from the top of the blade to the root. Turning up the irrigation level will only help more water penetrate further into the soil.

Tuna Can Method

The first step to watering correctly is figuring out how much water your soil needs. Every lawn is different based on temperature, elevation, soil conditions, and a number of other factors.

The easiest way to measure your irrigation system’s output of water is the tuna can method. This is an old school watering technique that utilizes objects you can find around the house.

All you need to do is place an empty tuna can in each zone of your irrigation system. Run your sprinkler system until the can fills up with 1/2 an inch of water and mark down how long it took.

Now you know exactly how long it took to get 1/2 an inch of water from that specific sprinkler zone. Just remember that your lawn might require more (or less) water based on your soil type.

Final Thoughts

This article began with a simple question: can you overwater grass seed? It’s not only possible to water grass seed too much, but doing so can cause you problems down the road.

Overwatering can lead to surface puddling, runoff, and even fungal growth. The good news is, there is a simple rule of thumb you can follow to ensure that your grass seed is getting the correct amount of water.

All you need to do is check the soil each day. This can be done by using your fingers to move dirt around. As long as the soil is wet 1/2 an inch below the surface, your newly planted grass seed is getting sufficient amounts of water.

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