Seed production In most grass species, seeds develop once the ovaries of the flower are fertilized with pollen. Insects or wind usually transfer pollen from male flowers to females. Some grass species produce seeds through a process known as apomixis. The cold-season lawns growing in Michigan have been in full-fledged seed head production mode in the past week.
Common grass grasses, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial roe, and tall fescue produce seed heads as do some herbaceous weeds such as annual bluegrass (Poa annua). The production of seed heads requires energy from the plant, so it is likely that the lawn will not only look like a stem due to the stems of the seeds, but the lawn can even thin out. Sometimes, you just don't want to get the lawn mower out. Lawn mowing can be tedious and time-consuming, and it's tempting to let the grass grow, grow and grow.
Unfortunately, the lawn will eventually turn into seed and the long blades will not only be hard on the lawn mower, but will also be hard on your entire garden. Letting your lawn become seed will not be the same as planting new grass seeds that create a lush new lawn. There are three specific hazards to letting grass become seed. Some grasses don't sow until they're about 12 inches tall, which may not be allowed by your HOA or your city.
If much of the seeds that develop from mature grasses are not fertile, the filling patches may take longer than expected. Once a turf plant grows large enough and starts producing seeds, most of that plant's energy shifts from rooting and spreading to seed production. Lawns can be re-sown on their own, and most grass varieties take two months to produce seed heads. With all the correct parameters, the grass grows tall and produces more leaves, leading to flowering and sowing.
Wait as long as you can to mow the tall grass, at least four to five days, so that the seeds have time to stabilize in the ground. Rake your garden with a garden rake with long, flexible tines to ensure that all seeds fall between existing grass blades rather than on top. This can be unsightly for a while as the grass gets tall, but it's one way to make sure you fill your lawn with the same type of grass. Another reason not to let the grass go to seed is because it could actually thin it rather than thicken it.
Much of the grass seeds that appear on the tips of the leaf can be sterile, so don't expect the bare patches to miraculously fill up. If you cut the cutter blade through the tender grass and cut more than a third of the stem, it will significantly weaken your lawn. While the idea of free grass seeds naturally produced from uncut grass seems intriguing, it's actually not a good idea and should be avoided. The next time you think you're going to let your lawn go for sowing during your vacation, or you're tempted to let your front yard turn into a prairie, remember these three dangers.
As unsightly as it sounds, there is no real way to prevent grass from becoming seed during this time. Letting grasses such as Bermuda bluegrass or Kentucky turn into seeds can cause more bare spots on the lawn.
