Question
QUESTION: I planted grass seed this weekend (maybe a bit overanxious) and it's turning cooler and so won't germinate for a while. I know watering is crucial, but should I start the watering regimen now while it's still cool or wait for warmer days?

ANSWER: Okay -- let me clarify then.  The old Gardener's Saying about April Showers: April Showers bring May flowers?  All this rain -- no water needed.  You do NOT have to water until April is over.  Unless we have a severe drought in April, unless it does not rain at all, unless you live in the Nevada desert, April is going to give you ALL THE WATER YOU NEED.

So although as you point out 'watering is crucial', that job is done.

May is another story.  The germinating will have begun (unless you are in Canada or north of Siberia -- sorry but you did not i.d. your location) by then.  At that point you can water CAREFULLY.  Water in the morning so the leaves are dry by nightfall.  This is especially critical in the Spring, when Fungus spores abound and temps favor certain pathogens.

Sorry I was not clear about that, sir.  Better late than never.  Thanks for writing.


You are in the Northeast, sir?  You know that Old Gardener's Saying about April Showers...

Given the temps, I would hold off on regular irrigation.  Get your Lawnmower blades sharpened, send in your Soil test if you haven't done that yet, and see how it looks in a month.  DO NOT OVERWATER -- remember, this is just as bad as under-watering and I guarantee that if you do you'll be writing in desperate help of a quick solution to an overnight Fungus problem that is eating your new Grass alive.

Also remember: Nitrogen fertilizers boost top growth at the expensve of bottom growth.  This grows WEAK new Grass and makes it MORE VULNERABLE to Fungus, while damaging the good-microbes population that keeps pathogens under control.  Building up your Soil is the best way to build a healthy Green Lawn.

Keep me posted.  Thanks for writing.

L.I.G.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for that clarification. And sorry for not thinking to say so, but I live in eastern Tennessee, nowhere near Siberia. But I don't get how normal rainfall is enough given how every article I read about new grass seed stresses keeping it wet, water daily or twice a day, etc. Our regional drought aside, we can go several days without rain even in April (March is our wettest month historically). I'd love to hear that wetting the seed every three days would be enough: much easier to do!

Answer
OK - at the risk of comletely destroying my reputation I'll elaborate, because I'm obviously not making any sense STILL.

Your Seed will have to germinate, right?  Moisture ALREADY IN YOUR SOIL (due to the 'April showers' mentioned earlier) will make that happen.  The Grass Seed will now be baby Grass.  You DO NOT HAVE TO WATER IT.

If you do, it will be vulnerable to Fungus.

Why does everyone say water-water-water-water-water?

Because it's much easier to say that than to go into a lot of detail about the dangers of watering too much -- I think.  I don't read minds but you could ask them and get a good answer.  This is not a season to water your Grass.

Lots of people will tell you to put Fungicides down.  A few years ago, that was state of the art.  In 2008, it's no longer state of the art.  It's ignorant.  It won't stop them from talking about.  And a lot of people will still do it.  But we know a lot about microbiology and botany that we didn't know when most of the world's books on Grass were written.  And as I have said many times here, most of the world's homeowners know only what they've learned from Lawncare companies, the biggest being Scotts Miracle Gro.

On top of that, most articles written about Lawn care were written by writers who don't have a Lawn.  Gardeners are another breed.  But Lawn care is for homeowners, and writers don't make enough to buy a house with a Lawn unless they move to the sticks.  I know because I know a lot of them.  Add to that the new science you need to understand, the organic and inorganic chemistry, the Soil biology and you are getting into some dense territory.  It's not marketable even if you do understand it.  Because Scotts is a major advertiser; ditto, Monsanto; ditto various others.  The economic forces do not make it wise to publish articles about Lawn care unless it is going to supporter the advertisers.

In April, it rains a lot -- usually.  If it does not rain in Tennessee, then you WOULD water it.  I've checked the weather for Tennessee.  In Nashville, severe Thunderstorms are forecast -- that says RAIN to me, and you would not water the Grass Seed.  May is the wettest month in Nashville.  At the other end of the state, in Knoxville, it will be dry -- watering is in order unless the ground is still damp; oddly, March is statistically the wettest month there, April being much drier, so you will have to monitor moisture and humidity, and water your Seed if needed.

If this is still not clear, you're welcome to ask my colleague Amin a question or two and I'm sure he will have a clearer answer than '2'.  Best regards,

L.I.G.



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As a New Yorker, I had no idea Tennessee was not close to Siberia -- we are geographically challenged here on Long Island.  Thank-YOU for clearing that up for me.  You learn something new every day!

Since I have the opportunity to add even more on the subject of your baby Grass project, I'd just like to point out a few details you probably have a vague idea about.

1.  Different Grass is prone to catch different diseases.  Resistance is a nice feature when your species is vulnerable to a pathogen.  Try to remember exactly what you've seeded with -- the number of the strain, the name they sell it under, anything to i.d. it, and see if it gets sick.  You'll know what not to buy, what your newer Grass might get, and what resistance matters most to you.  Because old pathogens never die.  They just lie dormant.

2.  Not ALL 'Fungus' disease needs moisture -- because not all 'Fungus' is Fungus.  Mildew is a mold; its spores will germinate in the absence of H2O surprise surprise.

3.  But most Fungus is Fungus and most DOES need water to trigger active growth.  Ditto, Bacteria -- lots of these will make your Grass sick.  Incidentally, you don't know how lucky you are NOT to have a Fungus problem, but if you ever do, you'll wish you'd avoided it.  Never shrug off Fungus.  Keep your Grass healthy, your Soil Fungus-hostile, and leaves free of Bad Bacteria and Bad Fungi.

4.  For future reference you might try filing this cheat sheet on Fungus and other Lawn Diseases prepared by North Dakota State University Agricultural Extension:

www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/landscap/pp950w.htm#slime

A lot of your watering schedule is going to tie in to your humidity, your air and Soil temperatures, your precipitation.  DEEP watering is the key.  After all, water uptake goes thru roots.  By watering deep, you get roots to grow deeper to reach more water, where it's slower to evaporate.  And you keep the blades dry, which is nice -- Fungus never has a chance.  Water less, and water deep.  Do not compromise on this.

Now I think I'll try to locate that country Canada on the map,

L.I.G.