How to grow grass fast: 6 steps to a new lawn

Key points

• Grass can germinate in as little as 10 days, depending on grass type, soil conditions and weather.
• Apply a balanced fertilizer with a 3:1:2 or 4:1:2 nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium ratio to stimulate grass growth.
• Regular weeding can preserve grass health.

The lackluster lawn — an expanse of faded greens and browns — is no one’s dream. Neither are bare patches where emerald blades should be. If you want to learn how to grow grass fast, you’ve come to the right place.

A new lawn can be within reach in as little as 10 days as long as you take the right approach to soil amendments and fertilization. “Whether you are aiming to revive a tired lawn, address bare patches or simply maintain your vibrant green expanse, with a little bit of care and attention, it is totally achievable,” said Jeff Rietveld, vice president and divisional merchandise manager overseeing seasonal products at Tractor Supply Company.

Prior to reseeding, dethatching, aerating and applying grub fertilizer are necessary steps for a greener lawn. “All three of these will help the lawn to breathe and will ensure that the lawn establishes solid root structure, which is critical to growing grass,” said Ron Saddler, owner and operator of Saddler Lawn Care in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

Follow the steps below, and your grass seed should flourish with new blades — just in time for the mowing season.

How can you make your grass grow faster?

The fastest way to new grass is to initiate late-spring fertilization with a balanced fertilizer rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. “Nitrogen stimulates leafy growth, phosphorus encourages root development and potassium enhances overall plant health,” said Zahid Adnan, CEO of The Plant Bible and a gardening expert based in Greenwood Lake, New York.

Contrary to commonly held belief, achieving a lush lawn — whether with ryegrass or Bermuda grass — isn’t just about reseeding your lawn and patiently waiting a week or two for green grass to sprout up and take over your space.

“While reseeding is beneficial, it’s crucial to complement it with proper fertilization and consistent care measures for optimal results,” Adnan explained.

You must prepare your soil diligently before planting grass seed in a new area and applying fertilizer. You can do this by clearing debris, integrating organic matter and leveling the surface. “Use a sharp garden tool to remove existing plants, weeds, rocks and stones,” Rietveld continued, noting that you can enhance water retention by incorporating organic material and smoothing the soil with a rake.

A note about fertilizer application: Be sure you’re applying the fertilizer evenly over the prepared soil, as this will help improve germination and support grass growth. “Ensure thorough distribution for optimal coverage,” Rietveld added. “Following fertilization, sow the grass seed evenly according to instructions.” Rake the seed into the top eighth-inch of soil for proper establishment.

Additionally, Rietveld said to consider using slow-release fertilizers for sustained nourishment throughout the growing season.

How should you care for your lawn to help grass grow?

To further expedite grass growth, Adnan stressed the importance of adopting a comprehensive approach that includes regular watering of your grass seed and growing grass.

Many homeowners incorrectly believe that they just need to apply seed and the rest will take care of itself, failing to understand that several factors play into growing grass, Saddler said.

Reseeding alone may not suffice because it only tackles the surface problem of sparse grass coverage, neglecting underlying soil health and environmental factors. “Without proper soil preparation, moisture and ongoing maintenance, new grass seeds may struggle to germinate, establish strong root systems and compete with weeds and pests,” Rietveld elaborated, pointing out that this can result in deficient growth and resilience for your grass seed.

Depending on the size of your lawn, this project should take anywhere between half a day to a weekend to complete, said Sara Bendrick, landscape contractor and owner of Sarita Landscape Design in San Diego. Germination should take place between seven and 21 days, depending on the type of grass.

Below are six steps to help you grow grass fast. Whether you hire a professional lawn care company or DIY the green lawn, a verdant pasture is in your near future.

Fertilize

Fertilization is a key part of the grass-growing process. “Choose a balanced fertilizer suitable for your grass type and apply it according to package instructions in early spring and fall for cool-season grasses or late spring and summer for warm-season varieties,” Rietveld said.

Bendrick said you can fertilize your lawn every few months as needed, but the best time to fertilize depends on where you live. She added that it is ideal to spread fertilizer every three months with a spreader one to two days after mowing when the lawn is dry.

Aerate

Even though you only need to aerate your lawn roughly once a year, it’s an oft-overlooked chore and a lawn care practice you shouldn’t ignore. “Use a lawn aerator to perforate the soil, allowing air, water and nutrients to penetrate deeper and promote healthier root growth,” Rietveld said. 

You’ll want to aerate in late spring for warm-season grasses and in the fall for cool-season grasses.

Bendrick pointed out that aerating your grass can be done even less frequently unless your lawn has to deal with “compaction events, such as having a big party on the lawn, especially if the soil was pretty moist.” In that case, manual aerators are a good option and easy to use, she added.

Dethatch

Like aerating, dethatching should be done once per year when the thatch layer exceeds half an inch in thickness, typically in late spring or early fall. “Remove accumulated thatch using a dethatching rake or machine to prevent it from suffocating the grass and hindering nutrient uptake,” Rietveld advised.

Bendrick recommended dethatching warm-season grasses, such as Bermuda, St. Augustine and Zoysia, in late spring or early summer and cool-season grasses, such as Kentucky Bluegrass, fescue and bent grass, in early spring and fall.

Weed

Fire up your favorite podcast and start weeding. Work by hand if you have a smaller yard. “Regularly inspect your lawn for weeds and employ appropriate control methods, such as hand-pulling, herbicides or natural remedies, to prevent weed infestation and preserve grass health,” Rietveld advised.

Does it seem like too daunting a task with the amount of space in your yard? “In bigger yards, I recommend getting ahead of the weeds with a preemergent which will prevent weed seeds from germinating,” said Bendrink, who is a fan of using organic preemergent herbicides when tackling this lawn care project.

Water

Whether you have a sprinkler system or prefer to water a small area of tall fescue or buffalo grass with a hose, you’ve got to give your grass seed and grass H2O — especially during hot summers. 

Saddler tells his clients to water daily for 10 days in the morning and at night (if possible, right before sunrise and sunset). “Avoid middle-of-the-day watering as the water will evaporate prior to getting to the roots,” he said of the time of day with full sun. 

Stay off the grass

Protect those emerging seedlings. To let nature do its thing and seed germination to transpire, steer clear of your lawn as much as possible. Foot traffic on your lawn when trying to grow grass is a no-no: “It’s best to stay off the grass when the soil is soggy to prevent compaction and harming the soil structure,” Bendrick said.

As grass seed germinates it’s a good idea to stay off new sod for at least two weeks and at least three weeks after overseeding a lawn.

Can you grow grass in 10 days?

A seeded lawn may germinate within 10 days under prime conditions, but the complete establishment of new grass can take a bit longer. “Grass roots typically take several weeks to penetrate the soil and anchor firmly, with visible growth and density developing over the course of several months,” Rietveld said. True establishment of a lush lawn requires patience and consistent care over an extended period.

According to Bendrick, the sod will start rooting into the soil in about 10 to 14 days, and even though it is not fully rooted until about two to six weeks, it will look great from the start. “Grass started from seed will start to root around seven to 21 days,” Bendrick said. “It will be quite sparse at first but should be ready to mow in another three to four weeks.” 

That said, some lawn care pros are a bit more optimistic about the timeline. “Grass can be grown in 10 days,” Saddler added. Once the grass is established, he lets the new growth areas go for two weeks. When he makes his first lawn mower cut he does so very high, with the following cuts being progressively shorter. “I maintain a lawn height of 3 1/2 to 4 inches because it will help protect the roots from burning during the hotter months,” Saddler said. 

Bendrick added that a mulching mower is a good idea to bring nutrients back to the lawn, but any lawn mower is better than no lawn mower for managing large areas of your yard.

What’s next?

Now that we’ve gone over how to grow grass fast and the key steps to support grass growth in your lawn, keep in mind that overfertilizing, neglecting aeration, insufficient watering and improper mowing height can wipe out all your hard work. 

Rietveld recommended committing to ongoing lawn maintenance, ongoing weed control and regular monitoring for pests and diseases. 

Saddler cautioned homeowners from getting too eager with mowing and sticking to a flexible schedule. “Some people want their lawn cut every week on the same day, and it’s doing damage,” he said, adding that he is a fan of a flexible 10- to 14-day schedule to cut.

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