How to Grow Grass Fast

These 5 tips will help speed up the lawn growing process.

Want to grow a lawn without having to wait forever for it to fill in? If you're hoping to grow grass fast, we're here to help! Just follow these 5 basic steps and you'll be on the fast track to growing a beautiful lawn:

Choose the Right Seed
Prep the Soil
Seed and Feed
Water and Protect the Grass
Mow the Right Way

1. Choose the Right Seed

Depending on where you live, you’ll either be shopping for cool season or warm season grasses. Cool season grasses grow best where there are large temperature swings during the year–the Northwest, Midwest, and Northeast. The best time to plant them is spring or early fall (usually the 2 weeks before or after Labor Day). Warm season grasses thrive in warm weather where there's less of a temperature difference–the Southwest, Deep South, and Mid-South. They should be planted from late spring (after the last frost) through early summer. (If you're not sure which type you need, read this article.)

Once you've figured out which grass seed is best for your area, it's time to choose your seed. The Scotts® Turf Builder® line of grass seeds offers premium grass seed for most popular lawn types. For a fast-growing lawn, choose one of our Scotts® Turf Builder® Rapid Grass products (Sun & Shade Mix, Tall Fescue Mix, Bermudagrass, and Southern Gold® blend for Tall Fescue Lawns). These products combine grass seed with fertilizer and grow 2X faster than seed alone (when applied at the new lawn rate, subject to proper care).

2. Prep the Soil

We know it's exciting to get out there and throw some grass seed down, but there are a few important things to do first:

Start by removing any existing grass, weeds, large rocks, and other debris from the area you're planning to plant.
Fill in low spots with soil (such as Scotts® Turf Builder® LawnSoil™). If your existing soil is really compacted, use a digging fork to loosen it up (or consider renting a rototiller for large seeding projects).
Finish by using a rake to even everything out—then give yourself a huge pat on the back, because soil prep requires the most elbow grease!

3. Seed and Feed

To apply both grass seed and fertilizer easily and efficiently, you'll want to use a spreader. Not sure what to use? We've got recommendations based on your lawn size and needs here.

One of the most effective ways to get your grass to grow quickly is to fertilize right after you plant. For use on all grass types, Scotts® Turf Builder® Starter® Food for New Grass helps new grass grow up to 70% thicker and 35% quicker (on average vs. unfed lawns).

4. Water and Protect the Grass

It's critically important to keep your seeded area watered, but you want to do it incrementally as the grass develops. Wondering how often to water new grass seed? Use a “mist, lightly water, then water deeply” approach like this:

After seeding and fertilizing: You'll want to keep the top inch of soil moist until the seeds start to germinate (aka sprout). This means misting the area once a day, maybe twice if it's unusually hot—but don't let the area get soggy or leave puddles of water.
After seeds begin to germinate: You'll need to keep the top 2 inches of soil moist with light watering until the grass is about 3 inches tall. Start to let the soil dry down slightly between waterings.
Once grass is 3 inches tall: Your grass is developing its root structure, so you want to begin watering deeply and less frequently so that the moisture reaches down through the top 6 to 8 inches of soil. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings.

As you're watering and the grass is growing, you'll want to keep foot traffic and pet action to an absolute minimum (avoid rousing games of fetch and tag, for example). Plan to keep people and pets off the grass for at least a month, during which time your other yard spaces or nearby parks will become your best friends.

5. Mow the Right Way

When that new grass is 3-4 inches tall, you can start mowing. Remember to adjust your mower to a high setting and never remove more than 1/3 of the grass blades. If you mow too low, you'll be inviting weeds in—and we're guessing that's not part of your lush lawn vision.

Seems pretty simple, right? That's because it is! If you follow these five steps, it won't be long before your yard is transformed into a lush oasis of green.