The months of spring, that is March to May, are the best suited for the growth of grass, as in this time there are pleasant temperatures along with sunshine, which facilitates the process of photosynthesis and also ensures adequate water supply from the ground.
Establish grasses during the period of most active growth: late spring or early summer for warm-season grasses and fall or spring for cool-season grasses.
While Summer months see your lawn grow at a faster rate, during Winter your growth rate tends to slow down.
Grass grows fast in late spring and early summer due to the nice warm temperatures and available sunlight. Mid-summer can bring short periods of dormancy during drought conditions, but grass can also grow well if it has adequate water and sunlight.
Temperature – Soil temperature plays a major role in the growth of grass. When soil temperatures reach 50 degrees, grass will start to come out of dormancy and grow. Between 50 and 75 degrees, cool season grasses will grow most vigorously.
Winter is often referred to as the 'dormant' period. Reduced amounts of daylight, and lower ground and air temperatures slows the grass plant's growth rate down completely, and in most cases, at some points during the winter, the plant will stop growing completely.
Grass needs full sun to grow best.
Grass grows best in full sunlight. As soon as the grass seeds sprout, the tiny leaves begin using that sunlight to make energy that grows deep roots and lush leaves. If there's plenty of light, grass plants grow full and fast. If there is too much shade, the lawn will grow sparsely.
Daytime temperatures around 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit typically mean the soil temperature is between 50 and 65 degrees and perfect for seed germination. If the soil temperature is much lower than 50 degrees, however, the seeds will lay dormant and not germinate.
Sunlight helps grass process nutrients and encourages strong growth, meaning the lawn will withstand stress better. For instance, you can trample a lawn growing in full sun without as much concern as you might have walking on a shaded lawn, which may show damage from your frequent footsteps.
If the grass is too wet, you shouldn't mow and if it's too dry you shouldn't either. Remember, mowing is a stressful event for your lawn. If you mow when it's already under stress, such as during dry spell or drought, then it will become even more stressed. You don't like to be stressed and neither does your poor lawn.
To ensure that the seeds are growing at an optimum rate, be aware that germination can take between five and 21 days and check on the progress of the seed accordingly. This depends a lot on the grass variety you've chosen for your backyard or lawn. New grass should be fully established in another four to ten weeks.
Some turf grasses power through the cold of winter and continue to grow throughout. Others slow right down but continue to require mowing every so often. Then there's some that appear to completely stop growing in some climates and only start growing again when temperatures increase again.
During daylight hours, grasses make and store sugars as they take in water, sunlight and carbon dioxide (photosynthesis). Plants use sugar to fuel growth overnight. So plant sugars are higher in the late afternoon and lower in the early morning.
Most grass seed will start growing in about 10-14 days, but sometimes it can take up to 30 days. When you're planting new grass seed in your yard, it can seem like it's taking forever to start sprouting.
Their growth slows quickly and dramatically in early autumn as the light levels fall, temperatures cool and chlorophyll production starts to decline. The upside, of course, is they usually grow very well when the weather warms up again.
WARM SEASON GRASSES include couch grass, kikuyu, and buffalo grass. They grow best in temperatures between around 20 to 32 degrees celcius. They have better heat and drought tolerance than cool season grasses and are suited to warmer regions e.g. New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.
Cool season varieties include Fescue, Ryegrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, and Bent grass. These grasses grow in far South areas of Australia where temperatures can get quite low.
Australians love a lush, green lawn in summer and now is the time to plant WARM season grasses. Plenty of lawns go in at this time of year and they'll thrive if you choose the right seed and follow some simple steps to get it to germinate and survive in the early weeks of establishment.
Bermuda grass is the fastest-growing warm season grass, germinating in as little as 10 days. Ryegrass, which grows in cool climates, also germinates that quickly.
Zoysia Grass
In fact, it's known as being one of the easiest turfgrasses. That's because it can withstand drought conditions and survive in poor soil conditions with little maintenance required. Zeon zoysiagrass is especially popular for its superb qualities.
A well-fed lawn is healthier, which means it has a better root system to combat heat, cold, drought, mowing, foot traffic, and other stresses. While feeding your lawn once a year will improve its condition, feeding it 4 times a year will make it even healthier and more beautiful.
Iron deficiencies are typically the cause of yellow spots, especially in spring. This occurs when plant or organic matter with a high carbon content is added to the soil. Also, organisms take nitrogen from the soil to break down carbon which can result in nitrogen deficiencies if the nutrients aren't replenished.
Lawns also turn brown during summer due to insect activity. To determine if root-munching insects are present, pull firmly on brown grass. If it slips from soil and few or no roots are present, White Grubs may be to blame.
If you have some flexibility in your schedule, your lawn can really benefit from a well-timed cut. Mid-morning (between 8 and 10 a.m.) tends to be the best time of day for mowing your lawn. It allows enough time for dew to dry, resulting in strong, perky blades of grades, while avoiding the hottest periods of the day.