Lawns can be re-sown on their own, and most grass varieties take two months to produce seed heads. These heads disperse naturally or with the help of a lawn mower, and take between 7 and 30 days to germinate with sufficient humidity, sunlight and heat. Plants in the grass family (Poaceae) are propagated from seed under the right conditions Understanding how grass grows and reproduces can help you maintain a healthy lawn, and knowledge is essential if you want to produce your own turf seed. Regularly mowed lawns don't usually sow by themselves because the lawn can't produce seeds unless it develops flowers.
However, many turf species are capable of vegetatively spreading from lateral shoots that grow above or below the ground. Let the grass grow long and tall until small oval seed heads develop on the tips. This can take one to two months, depending on the type of grass on your lawn. Sometimes you just don't want to get the lawn mower out.
Mowing lawns 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.
Letting your lawn grow and turn into seed is a simple way to rejuvenate your lawn. Allowing the lawn to be re-seeded will only allow it to grow thicker and richer in the next growing season, without any extra effort on your part. Some grasses don't sow until they're about 12 inches tall, which may not be allowed by your HOA or your city. As unsightly as it may seem, there is no real way to prevent grass from becoming seed during this time.
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. Letting grasses such as Bermuda bluegrass or Kentucky turn into seeds can cause more bare spots on lawns. Every year, usually from May to mid-June, many lawns begin to show signs that grass is going to be sown. Another common question people ask themselves is whether this seed will fall off, grow and help fill bare areas or not.
The simple answer is NO, most of the seeds produced come from hybrid varieties, meaning they are sterile and will not germinate or grow. The next time you think you're going to let your lawn go to sow during your vacation, or you're tempted to let your front yard turn into a prairie, remember these three dangers. This can be unsightly for a while as the grass gets tall, but it's a way to make sure you fill the lawn with the same type of grass. 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.
You want to allow the thick, seed-rich grass of the later growing season to develop, so mowing the lawn early will keep your lawn manageable. While the idea of free grass seeds naturally produced from unmowed grass seems intriguing, it's actually not a good idea and should be avoided. In most cases, these flowers begin to develop seeds once they are fertilized with pollen from a genetically compatible grass flower. Applying fertilizer before the lawn gets too long will allow a rich, thick root base to develop and a thicker, richer lawn to grow.
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. .
