I live in Northern NJ and per my annual exercise at this point, I'm repairing my backyard that my dog destroyed from running on. In prior years I've sodded (obviously not sustainable year over year) or I've had my landscapers deliver top soil which I spread out and seed underneath and on top of. This year, I raked up all the dead stuff, loosened the soil, seeded, applied a thin layer of lawn soil and then seeded again. That was about a month ago and I've kept the grass wet almost the entire time since. The grass isn't growing as full as prior years but it is growing in most spots. The problem now is it doesn't seem to be getting any length to it. It's a good color green but is only about 1 to 2 inches in most locations and not growing any further. I know it could mean it's focusing on the roots but curious if there's a fertilizer that anyone recommends to help jump start it a little more? Hoping it isn't too late in the season to get it healthy enough to survive the winter. Any advice appreciated!
by imjuspiayin
8 Comments
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did you apply any starter fertilizer?
It’s fall. Things are winding down. It looks good. What grass seed did you use?
It does look pretty good. Since it’s fall temps, it’s natural for it to stop growing as fast, but you still have a little bit of time before freezing temps start. Depending on when you last put down fert and when the first freeze hits, you can put down some more fert to help push a little more growth. I’d make sure it’s a quick release fert, and be conservative with the amount you drop just in case.
Most of the energy is going into establishing roots. It will take off in the spring
Since you haven’t fertilized apply a low dose of starter fertilizer aiming for about .25-5lbs of N per 1Ksqft. You don’t have a lot of time so don’t overdo it.
Describe your watering. Soggy or wet soil can reduce growth or cause stunting. Once the seed is up you should reduce watering in increments allowing dry time between cycles.
Yeah my grass has grown maybe half an inch in the past two weeks. Whatever state the grass was in when the temps dropped is pretty much what you’ll get for the rest of the season.
‘Tis the season