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Grass seedling or weed in new lawn?

7 years ago

I'm 2 weeks in for a new 500 sq ft lawn in the front of my house and clumps of this thicker lighter green popped up scattered throughout. Is it a type of grass (scotts dense shade mix) or weed?

The area was dirt and weed before. I pulled or spot sprayed the weeds. Added some topsoil then seed mix and broadcasted some compost. I neglected to put any starter fertilizer down, which I've now come to read that it's well recommended to add a starter fertilizer. Should I add anything at this point of growth since I missed that opportunity at the onset ? I'm in Connecticut. Thanks

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Comments (5)

denbigh97
7 years ago
The thin bladed seedlings are grass that you planted. The lighter and wider bladed ones are probably from the straw that you laid. I can see alot of seedheads on the wheatstraw that you laid. I wouldn't worry too much about the wheatgrass. It will die after a few mows. Next time, use peat moss for cover instead of straw. Straw is notorious for having tons of seeds.
User
7 years ago
If you let it be, you'll have a nice wheat crop next year!
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I see. Temperatures won't be as high this week nor next week. The highest it's gotten is 80F and the lowest is in the mid 50's. I read the instructions and it said germination is better when seeding between 60F-80F. Today it hit 76F and we'll have showers tonight at 52F. Tomorrow rain all day and the max will be in the low 70's and min in the low 60's. Hopefully it'll grow. It took me a lot of sweat and blisters to remove all that dirt, bring in new one, rake, make it flat, rake, add new topsoil, add starter fertilizer, spread the seeds and add a thin layer of compost. Birds were having a field day but hey, it's okay. They need to feed. Believe it or not, just today, more seed germinated. I did not know they could grow that fast in a single day. More is filling up. I'm doing what I can to water. I can't water on odd days. I'm allowed to water on even days but from 6pm-6am. Even then, I bought a 2gallon spray pump to soak it once i saw dryness or when I'm not allowed to water my lawn by the town.
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It might sounds discouraging. I did the same thing as you did last April. The new grass grew so fast through May. However, when June came, the crabgrass took over. Even though I tried to pull out weed everyday, the crabgrass was uncontrollable. I researched in this website, people said its best to sow grass seed in October.
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denbigh97
7 years ago
Wheat is an annual, so if OP stays on top of mowing and don't let the wheat go to seed, it shouldn't be a problem. It'll be gone by spring.
donedeal511
Original Author
7 years ago
Dang! Peat Moss it is next time. Thank you. Are soil amendments, fertilizer or compost recommended at this point or prior to onset of winter? I plan to dormant seed as well to help thicken
denbigh97
7 years ago
If you do any soil amendments or fertilizer now, you'd risk trampling the seedlings. I would personally just wait another 2 weeks and put down some starter fertilizer. At that time, you'd probably have to mow anyways so no harm done if you fertilize at the same time. I'd skip the compost. The compost pieces are too big to fall in between the new seedling blades and will just sit on top and crush the seedlings. You wouldn't be able to rake the compost either since it will pull the seedlings out of the ground.
donedeal511 thanked denbigh97

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