Keeping new seed moist (best techniques?)

14 years ago

Most people agree that new seed needs to be kept moist, but not wet, until germination. I've seen many people say that the best way to do this is by lightly watering the soil up to 3x a day.

I'm struggling to understand how much water makes the surface moist vs. wet. Would it be sufficent to walk around my yard with my hose gun set on "flat" or "verticle" and literally just moisten the top layer of the ground 3x a day?

Let's use a 10 foot by 10 foot area as an example. How long would I want to put a hose on this area if I was going to do it 3x a day? (10 seconds on "soak"?)

SECOND QUESTION: I haven't watered 3x a day every day because many days we've had some slight rains. Is it safe to say that if the bare soil looks damp, that I don't really need to water at that time? Thanks for any help!

Zone 8, Tall Fescue, shady lot

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Comments (6)

organicnoob
14 years ago
You don't want to water it so much that it puddles. You want to try and keep the soil looking dark and moist. If the soil looks damp you don't need to water. Since it's a shady lot you won't need to water it as much because there will be less evaporation.
theconstantgardeners
Original Author
14 years ago
Awesome! Thank you.
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andy10917
14 years ago
It's pretty easy on bare soil - the soil goes from dark to shiny just before it begins to puddle. Stop when you see shiny spots.

Be careful about assuming that a shady area needs less water - often where there is shade there are tree roots and some shallow-rooted trees are awesome competitors for the available water. I have a huge Norway Maple that can completely dry out a watered area in a couple of hours.
jeannie7
14 years ago
How much.....well, that's why the man upstairs gave us a brain.....to use common sense.

WE don't hose the lawn.....we sprinkle lightly over the area three times a day when the weather says it can be done, NEEDS BE DONE.....RAIN NOTWITHSTANDING.
And that is only for a time....you decide, a week...8 days....then its cut back to maybe twice a day...if and when it needs it.
Then it is cut back to maybe once a day...or once every two days....as it needs it...RAIN NOTWITHSTANDING.

We don't walk on it to measure.....we sprinkle from a dry lawn backing up as we sprinkle.
Billl
14 years ago
This time of year, you probably don't really need to water 3 times per day, but it really depends on your lot. If you get a lot of sun (or higher temps) or a lot of wind, you will need to water frequently. If you have some mild temps, overcast days, and not much wind, you may only have to water once a day and it will stay moist. Clay soil holds water well, so once you get it good and wet the first couple of times, it should be pretty easy to keep it moist.
theconstantgardeners
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks everyone. Andy, your comment about the ground becoming shiny right when its saturated was especially helpful.

Keeping new seed moist (best techniques?)

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organicnoob

theconstantgardeners
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Keeping new seed moist (best techniques?)

Comments (6)

organicnoob

theconstantgardenersOriginal Author

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