help with planting grass

[Jbbies]

OK... Im frustrated, I have planted some grass in my hopefully future back yard, i have a sprinkler system in and could not get the first seed to grow it was a kentucky bluegrass mix... well I thought maybe I got some bad grass seed and went and got a different seed mix that was suppose to be better for my area... again here we are two weeks have gone by and nothing... what in the world is going on... I have put in some compost before the seed roto-tilled... I cannot figure this out what could I be doing wrong? I am watering it 4 times a day for 7 min... could this be two much? I tried to put some straw day as I was told to do this and it just blows away. I have read that it is possible when they built my house they removed alot of the good top soil? would this cause this much of an effect.

Thanks B

 

[s219]

What are the temperatures? Bluegrass doesn't normally want to germinate this time of year, at least in the eastern part of the country. It's a cool season grass, and they generally like soil temps around 55F for optimal germination.

 

[Fossil Farm]

yep, pretty hot to try and grow bluegrass. Might want to throw some oats down to hold the soil and plant your lawn in the fall. If you do suspect the seed you bought, put some in a pot with potting soil and keep it in a cool place like a basement or root cellar to see about germination. Other ways to test germination too, but that is a pretty easy way. Is bluegrass what you normally grow as a lawn in Colorado ?? Good luck.

 

[Deere Dude]

Ryegrass and fescues and oats help hold the base while the bluegrass takes root. Putting straw over it is important to me as it helps hold in moisture while the rooting process. Make sure the bluegrass mix has some of the other seeds like I mentioned. Also if it is hot like in Wisconsin right now, don't waste your time planting as you will be watering very often. Generally I water every couple days for 20 minutes in a spot with a regular lawn sprinkler but a built in sprinkler dumps a lot more water than those do. Seven minutes a few times a day is probably alright. If your hay blows off, maybe there is a matting you can use that don't blow around to hold the seed down.
Top soil is good but I don't think grass needs much to grow in. Did you run a roller over the seed to stick it in the ground.

My son had a contractor plant his grass and they didn't put straw on and he is still struggling with it and over seeding it 3 years later. I planted bluegrass and ryegrass mixed with a good coat of straw and it popped right up and is super think.

Good luck.