To maximize grass quantity, is it better to cut the grass while the seeds are forming on the blades? Or to wait for them to fall and spread? Or it makes no difference?
Big time YAY, but mow high. My mower is one notch lower than the highest setting. Seeding means your grass is very healthy, but also now is a good time to feed it some nitrogen, seeding takes a lot of energy from the plant
ZeusThunder369
It makes no difference. You’d need to let them grow over a foot tall before we’re even in the conversation of spreading from seed. Native plants will take over well before your grass ever has a chance to spread from seedheads
jusjar315
Seems to be a misconception on this sub that seedheads will cause new grass to seed/germinate/ then grow.
Im no expert so not really sure but if it seemed that easy sure everyone would do it verse planting seed
ElectronicAd6675
Cut away
Admirable-Lies
Cut. Typically turf grass seed is sterile.
DarciaSolas
I recently was considering the same thing, but like all seeding grass plants (like wheat), they have to turn brown and dry out to be able to be used as seeds. Which essentially means never cutting your grass and potentially killing your yard for the sake of seeds.
I also learned that a lot of commercial grass seeds are designed to not be able to have the seeds they produce germinate so you have to buy more. So it won’t even be worth the effort.
Long story short: Just cut it.
Ricka77_New
Those seeds are sterile…you should cut before they get that tall, but it doesn’t matter to cut with seed heads anyway,,
woodensofa1234
Very insightful advice lawncare team, thanks for clarifying.
27803
Cut away
oilboyhere
Don’t be surprised if the lawn looks a little strange while those seed stalks die off. As always make sure your blades are sharp! 👍
Helpful_Finger_4854
Bag it. That looks like Poa annua anyway
MattNis11
While seeds are blading
Okie294life
It doesn’t matter, I’d say if you’re letting go to seed though it’s probably too long. Most turf and seeded grass propagates through the roots anyway.
bad_card
So I have to take classes to keep my fert license and the one thing I remember most was the rep from Oregon seed company said it is better to let seeds sit for a while because they will form a “husk” that helps them survive. So there is that.
FUCKYOUINYOURFACE
Your lawn would need to turn into a jungle for those seeds to do anything.
So just cut them or wait another 90 days for those seeds to be viable. Your lawn will look like shit.
Pali_Vali
Yay, because it’s just a hair too long. Looks great, tho.
CleMike69
Cut and try to mulch back into soil
pzoony
That’s not turfgrass that’s Poa Annua, fyi. 😂
aaronchase
I was/am very curious about this myself, I did some research.
Different types of grass seeds mature at different rates but most take 4+ weeks to mature. The seeds will become yellow and dry out then fall off, but this takes a long ass time. If youre ok with your yard looking more like a meadow for a couple months I’d be very curious how that works out
DDuck57
Yep, cut high, leave high, all summer. If you can see the ground, so can the sun. Don’t bag while while grass seeding but all other times do so
A little trick I learned from the Master:
In late Jan through Feb, right before it snows 5 inches or more, seed the lawn. Then fertilize. You will be extremly happy you did come April
Soggy-Speech2735
Discharge, mulch or bag?
MAELATEACH86
They will not seed your lawn. Cut em.
stents3
Use mulching deck.
jtuckbo
If it’s growing seeds it’s way past due to be cut. Cut it. Those seeds are just weeds
SmallTitBigClit
Makes no difference. Most turf grass seeds are inert and spread from rhizomes. If anything, you’ll find thicker growth if you save the grass the energy used to make those seeds. I’d mow.
25 Comments
Big time YAY, but mow high. My mower is one notch lower than the highest setting. Seeding means your grass is very healthy, but also now is a good time to feed it some nitrogen, seeding takes a lot of energy from the plant
It makes no difference. You’d need to let them grow over a foot tall before we’re even in the conversation of spreading from seed. Native plants will take over well before your grass ever has a chance to spread from seedheads
Seems to be a misconception on this sub that seedheads will cause new grass to seed/germinate/ then grow.
Im no expert so not really sure but if it seemed that easy sure everyone would do it verse planting seed
Cut away
Cut. Typically turf grass seed is sterile.
I recently was considering the same thing, but like all seeding grass plants (like wheat), they have to turn brown and dry out to be able to be used as seeds. Which essentially means never cutting your grass and potentially killing your yard for the sake of seeds.
I also learned that a lot of commercial grass seeds are designed to not be able to have the seeds they produce germinate so you have to buy more. So it won’t even be worth the effort.
Long story short: Just cut it.
Those seeds are sterile…you should cut before they get that tall, but it doesn’t matter to cut with seed heads anyway,,
Very insightful advice lawncare team, thanks for clarifying.
Cut away
Don’t be surprised if the lawn looks a little strange while those seed stalks die off. As always make sure your blades are sharp! 👍
Bag it. That looks like Poa annua anyway
While seeds are blading
It doesn’t matter, I’d say if you’re letting go to seed though it’s probably too long. Most turf and seeded grass propagates through the roots anyway.
So I have to take classes to keep my fert license and the one thing I remember most was the rep from Oregon seed company said it is better to let seeds sit for a while because they will form a “husk” that helps them survive. So there is that.
Your lawn would need to turn into a jungle for those seeds to do anything.
So just cut them or wait another 90 days for those seeds to be viable. Your lawn will look like shit.
Yay, because it’s just a hair too long. Looks great, tho.
Cut and try to mulch back into soil
That’s not turfgrass that’s Poa Annua, fyi. 😂
I was/am very curious about this myself, I did some research.
Different types of grass seeds mature at different rates but most take 4+ weeks to mature. The seeds will become yellow and dry out then fall off, but this takes a long ass time. If youre ok with your yard looking more like a meadow for a couple months I’d be very curious how that works out
Yep, cut high, leave high, all summer. If you can see the ground, so can the sun. Don’t bag while while grass seeding but all other times do so
A little trick I learned from the Master:
In late Jan through Feb, right before it snows 5 inches or more, seed the lawn. Then fertilize. You will be extremly happy you did come April
Discharge, mulch or bag?
They will not seed your lawn. Cut em.
Use mulching deck.
If it’s growing seeds it’s way past due to be cut. Cut it. Those seeds are just weeds
Makes no difference. Most turf grass seeds are inert and spread from rhizomes. If anything, you’ll find thicker growth if you save the grass the energy used to make those seeds. I’d mow.