UC Healthy Lawns—Grass development

UC IPM Online

The UC Guide to Healthy Lawns

Grass development

Back to start

How long does establishment take?

You will need to take special care of your lawn until it is established. Establishment time varies depending upon planting method.

Sod — 2 to 3 weeks
Sprigs, stolons, plugs — 3 to 6 weeks
Seeded lawns — up to 2 months

Grass seeds can take a week or more to germinate.

Germination times of grasses planted from seed

How do different grasses grow?

Once out of the seedling stage, grasses may grow primarily upward (bunch type) or outward (creeping type).

Bunch-type grasses

Creeping-type grasses

Cool-season and warm-season grasses

Cool-season and warm-season grasses actively grow at different times of the year. This affects when you should mow, irrigate, and fertilize your lawn.

Seasonal growth pattern of grasses

Click on each label for more information about how grass plants develop.
Illustration of overall plant

| Home | Manage Pests | Resources | Research | Search |

Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
All contents copyright © 2004 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. FOR ALL OTHER USES or more information, read Legal Notices. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. See How to manage pests, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. /TOOLS/TURF/ESTABLISH/develop.html revised: January 28, 2004. Contact webmaster.