How to Make Grass Spread Faster

A dense green lawn that feels soft underfoot—it's every homeowner's dream. But, despite your best efforts, your grass is sparse, and the bare patches are more prominent than ever. You've spent much time watering, mowing, and nurturing your lawn, but the patchy, thin grass is a far cry from the lush, green carpet of grass you've always wanted.

You're eager to accelerate growth and fill in those unsightly gaps. The good news is that, with a few strategic steps and some commitment, you can make your grass spread faster and transform your yard into the lawn you envision in time for your summer activities.

Fertilize Your Lawn to Make Grass Grow Faster

One of the most effective ways to get your grass to spread faster is by setting the right conditions for optimal growth, starting with your soil. Ensuring your lawn has the essential nutrients is key to cultivating a lush, healthy turf.

Lawn fertilizers provide a balanced mix of essential nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These elements are formulated to encourage new grass to grow dense and strong, which consequently increases its resistance to pests and diseases. A thick, healthy lawn also crowds out weeds that can compete for water, sunlight, and nutrition.

For newly planted grass plugs, reach out for NutriPod® grass fertilizer. With an NPK ratio of 17-1-10 and a slow-release formula, NutriPod® ensures a gradual and steady supply of nutrients, accelerating grass plug growth up to two times faster than unfed grass plugs. Using NutriPod® is simple: simply drop a pod into the planting hole before inserting the plug. As the granular fertilizer slowly dissolves, the nutrients are released directly into the root zone, where the grass can easily access them as it adapts to its new environment.

NutriPod® is designed for precise, mess-free, and convenient fertilizing, with effects lasting up to 45 days. This reduces the risks of over-application and nutrient leaching often associated with fast-release fertilizers like liquid fertilizers, thus contributing to rapid and sustainable grass growth.

6 Best Lawn Maintenance Practices to Accelerate Grass Growth

Cultivating a fast-spreading lawn requires a multi-faceted approach that goes beyond fertilizing. Proper watering, mowing, and ensuring optimal soil conditions are crucial for supporting healthy, rapid grass growth. You may also want to evaluate whether you have the right type of grass for your specific growing conditions and replace it with a more suitable variety if it's not growing as expected.

Plant Grass Plugs

Grass plugs offer versatility, whether you're filling in sparse areas in your lawn or replacing an existing grass with a variety better adapted to your local conditions. They provide a cost-effective way to establish new grass than traditional sod and a more reliable method than seeding to accelerate green growth.

At SodPods®, we provide high-quality warm-season grass plugs specifically cultivated to excel in lawns. As said earlier, we recommend supplementing your new grass plugs with NutriPod® to speed up growth and maximize results. Read here for a step-by-step guide on how to plant grass plugs.

Prepare the Soil

Preparing your planting area ahead of planting grass plugs will ensure the successful establishment of your new grass. Remove any existing weeds, debris, or remaining grass to create a clean and conducive environment for the new grass plugs to take root and thrive.

When using weed treatments, wait at least three weeks before planting grass plugs. This waiting period helps ensure that any weed control measures, such as herbicides, have dissipated from the soil and don't interfere with the grass growth.

Treat Pests and Diseases

When preparing your soil, take the opportunity to inspect the area for any underlying issues that might be causing slow or patchy growth. Dry, bare patches in your lawn may suggest a pest infestation or fungal disease.

By accurately identifying these issues, you can take targeted action to resolve them. For example, if you discover signs of pests, like grubs, you may have to apply an appropriate pesticide to manage the infestation and prevent it from recurring. Overall, it helps ensure the overall health of your lawn.

Water Sufficiently

It is crucial to keep your newly planted grass plugs adequately watered during the initial establishment stage. This means keeping the soil moist for the first 10-14 days by watering daily. As the grass plugs take root, you can gradually taper down the watering frequency. Once the grass is fully established, which can take up to a month, aim for 1-1.5 inches of water per week, either from rainfall or irrigation, to aid the spread of your new grass.

For optimal lawn health, it's best to water deeply but infrequently. This practice encourages deep root growth, essential for a resilient lawn. In contrast, frequent, shallow watering leads to a shallow root system, which weakens the lawn.

Mow Properly

Wait until your new grass reaches three inches in height before mowing it for the first time. When you mow, adjust your mower blades to the highest height possible, and never remove more than one-third of the grass length at a time. Mowing too early can dislodge the plugs while mowing too low can scalp your lawn, which can equally impede the growth of your new grass.

Despite seeming counterintuitive, regular mowing at the correct height stimulates grass growth and encourages the development of stronger roots. This results in a denser, faster-spreading lawn.

Fertilize Regularly

NutriPod® is to be used only at the time of planting. After the initial fertilizing with NutriPod®, you can continue fertilizing your lawn throughout the growing season to sustain grass growth as needed. Choosing the right fertilizer is key to providing your lawn with the nutrients it needs for healthy growth.

While optional, a soil test can provide valuable insights into the soil pH levels, nutrient composition, and soil structure. This information can help you make informed decisions about the type and amount of lawn fertilizer or amendments necessary to balance soil pH and improve soil structure, such as improving absorption and drainage.

With proper maintenance and fertilizing, you can cultivate a thriving lawn that reaches its full potential.

Ready to get started? Shop for a wide range of fertilizer pods at the NutriPod® website today!