One Hastings, MN homeowner did almost everything right. They nailed the watering, followed after care instructions and their new hydroseed lawn came in beautifully. But then something strange happened. Dark green squiggles appeared shortly after their first round of fertilizing. The truth, an honest and harmless mistake, but one that can be easily avoided.
What Are Those Dark Green Spots In My Lawn?
Those dark green spots or streaks you see in your lawn are caused by uneven fertilizer application. Wherever granular fertilizer overlapped or landed heavily, that grass absorbed more of the nitrogen and grew a darker green. It’s completely cosmetic, harmless and evens out on its own in time.
For our Hastings homeowner, the squiggles you see in the photos are the direct paths the spreader took, where it overlapped or paused and where more product was applied, leaving behind those dark green streaks on their new lawn.
What Causes Dark Green Lines In Grass
This homeowner followed our aftercare instructions perfectly. They waited the correct four weeks after their hydroseeding to fertilize, but this is where a common mistake occurred. Their granular fertilization was applied unevenly. It happens a lot more than people realize, especially when you are doing hand-spreading or use an uncalibrated spreader. The mistake was of no fault to the homeowner as it can happen to anyone, but they did what any reasonable person would do and called us to see what was happening. We were happy to tell them it was nothing to worry about and explain why it happened.
The Good News – Those Dark Green Spots Blend By Themselves
Have no fear, those dark green streaks in your lawn will eventually blend by themselves. As your lawn keeps growing and getting mowed, the color will eventually even out. Those heavy dark green spots will slowly fade over time as it is strictly a cosmetic oops and not a serious cause for concern.
One thing to watch out for is if you see yellow, brown or dead strips of lawn – that is fertilizer burn. If you see this, call us right away!
How To Avoid Streaking When Fertilizing My Lawn
First, make sure that your spreader is calibrated and operating efficiently before you start spreading fertilizer. We often recommend homeowners to utilize a calibrated broadcast or drop spreader versus hand-spreading and to always test it prior to fertilizing. Then keep your spreader moving at a steady pace, as pausing drops excess fertilizer and moving too fast leaves poor coverage areas behind. Spread in two passes at a half rate, crossing directions to get the best, most even coverage of your lawn.
When Should You Fertilize A New Hydroseeded Lawn?
Most new hydroseeded lawns are ready for their first fertilizing about four weeks after seeding, but the ideal schedule depends on your seed type and how green you want your lawn throughout summer. For our Hastings homeowner, they waited four weeks after initial seeding to fertilize, but for your lawn, the right fertilization schedule depends on your unique lawn. Ask your Hydroseeding Professional Today!
Questions About The Care of Your New Lawn?
Is your new hydroseeded lawn doing something you didn’t expect? Or are you worried about the right schedule and care for your hydroseed mix? That’s what we’re here for! Our 24/7 Care Line is here to answer your questions, call or text and we can get you the answers you need.
Common Fertilizer Questions For New Lawns
Will the dark green streaks in my lawn go away?
Yes, those darker green streaks will eventually go away as the grass grows, gets mowed and evens out over time.
Do fertilizer streaks damage grass?
No, these dark green streaks are completely harmless and are strictly cosmetic.
How soon after Hydroseeding should I fertilize?
Typically, you can fertilize your newly hydroseeded lawn four weeks after seeding. However, it depends mainly on your seed type so ask your Hydroseeding professional before fertilizing.
What is fertilizer burn?
Fertilizer burn appears as yellow, brown or dead streaks and is caused by too much salt or nitrogen over-application. This dehydrates the roots and scorches your grass.