First time trying to grow new grass and it's coming in a bit patchy - is that normal?

[purbeast0]

My neighbor cut down a big tree in their backyard that makes it so we now get sunlight in the back corner of our backyard and I tried planting some seed there about 2 weeks ago. It's on a pretty big slope so I put some of those mats that cover it so it would hold the seed in place. I also put some fertilizer there.

After about 2 weeks, there is a decent amount of grass starting to come in. It however appears to be somewhat patchy. I'm just wondering if this is normal being that it's still very early in the growth stages. Unfortunately I don't have pictures right now but I can post one later today when I get home from work and the gym.

EDIT:

Here's an image of it. Don't mind the bottom part and how the "grass" near where I planted it looks like shit, I know it does and this is my first go at growing grass as a test run. I have plans to help with drainage (where you see at the bottom of the hill it ripped up the mat stuff during a storm) and then basically try to redo my entire lawn if this works out.

 

[Exterous]

Is it a mix of seeds? There are germination time differences - Rye will come up in as little as 5 days while you won't see Bluegrass until day 20 at the earliest.

 

[purbeast0]

It's just a tall fescue mixture.

 

[Gardener]

The key to germination is never letting it dry out.

 

[purbeast0]

I have been watering it for like 30 minutes a day on the days it hasn't rained. And it's not that it isn't growing at all, as I mentioned it's just sort of patchy. I'm just not sure if the amount of patchyness I see is normal or if being patchy at all is even normal.

 

[Gardener]

It is normal for it to look patchy early on, so continue to baby it.

 

[purbeast0]

Okay cool will do. I'll post an image later on when I get home and remember.

 

[mxnerd]

Yep. It's normal.

Growing grass with seeds depends on a lot of conditions: temperature, watering & soil.

I seeded Ryegrass along the garden bed outer trench on a trial basis and it grew very good, probably over 80% germination. It's in a month of time frame when California rained about everyday in the past winter. When I try to try another spot in the backyard this spring, even though I watered at least 3 times a day for 3 weeks, covered with mulch/topsoil and it's completely patchy. The germination rate is less than 20%, I don't know exactly why.

Then I tried to put the seeds in a plastic box of water for a week, then transfer them to the soil, and the germination rate is again about 80 - 90%.

I think watering is crucial and make sure the seeds stay where they are.

I probably have to do it again this fall/winter when rain is coming.

 

[purbeast0]

Here's an image of it. Don't mind the bottom part and how the "grass" near where I planted it looks like shit, I know it does and this is my first go at growing grass as a test run. I have plans to help with drainage (where you see at the bottom of the hill it ripped up the mat stuff during a storm) and then basically try to redo my entire lawn if this works out.

 

[nitsuj3580]

I was in a similar situation last year and was unsuccessful. Turns out, I didn't throw nearly enough seed down. I was told to over seed the area, 1/2 inch of fresh top soil on top, and of course, water it and it looks great now.

 

[Soccerman06]

It will take many applications until its full, I will end up putting over 300lb of seed in my back yard (about 1/8 acre) until its in full due to a variety of factors including lots of shade, loads of large old red oak trees, and lack of water and nutrients from said trees. My next application will include a layer of topsoil when the weather dries up.

 

[highland145]

300lb of seed

centipede is ~$35/lb.

 

[Soccerman06]

centipede is ~$35/lb.

Yeah Im in the 5a zone, Im using red creeping fescue, $2 a lb. A deep shade northern grass.

 

[purbeast0]

I was in a similar situation last year and was unsuccessful. Turns out, I didn't throw nearly enough seed down. I was told to over seed the area, 1/2 inch of fresh top soil on top, and of course, water it and it looks great now.

Yeah I thought I put a lot of seed down but maybe I didn't. I also am pretty sure the soil quality over there is awful. This is my first go at this and I plan on doing another seeding in the fall, as well as doing it in other places after I rip up some drainage under my lawn and extend it so it runs off elsewhere.

 

[mxnerd]

centipede is ~$35/lb.

Why would anyone use seeds that are so expensive?

By the way, my yard is full of centipede & sedges and I hate them!

 

[highland145]

Why would anyone use seeds that are so expensive?

By the way, my yard is full of centipede & sedges and I hate them!

1 pallet of sod is ~$450 for 500 sqft. 1lb of seed, I was told, should cover ~2K sqft.

 

[mxnerd]

1 pallet of sod is ~$450 for 500 sqft. 1lb of seed, I was told, should cover ~2K sqft.

Really? Because centipede keeps spreading using it's runners?

 

[highland145]

Really? Because centipede keeps spreading using it's runners?

No idea. My 1st time seeding.