I planted grass seed and only weeds grew, why?

Question

should i kill it all with round up and replant? and can i use horse manure as a type of fertilizer, i have a horse and was wondering if it would work, i was planning on planting fescue! will the manure kill the grass?

Answer 1

Any grass seed planted in the Spring rarely has enough time to establish a good root system by the time the summer heat hits.  So it usually dies out in the heat.  If you planted more towards the summer, well it is just too hot.  The best planting time is in September when temperatures begin to cool back down.  Rake up or turn up the soil so your seed gets good soil contact.  Make sure to keep the seed wet for about 3 weeks until it starts to germinate.  This means it needs to be watered everyday and if it's real hot you may need to water more.  But you don't have to water real deep.  You just want to keep the seed moist so it will germinate.  Once it starts growing you can gradually cut back the watering.  As far as the Round Up I would only use that if you have some type of grass in there that is not killed by regualr weed control.  Come Spring time you can start in on the weed control.  As the weeds die out the grass will spread out and become thicker as it grows.  And for the manure I think that may be a little harsh for new seed or plantings.  If you want to use a fertilizer then try a "starter" type.  It is a little more gentle than manure.  But actually you could just get the grass going and then in about November put down a winter fertilizer treatment.  Another one in Spring along with some weed control should get your new patch of grass going good and have it stronger by the time the really hot weather hits.  

Answer 2

Manure has to hang around at least a year before you can incorporate it into soil.  It slowly breaks down.

About the grass and weeds.  If it really is mostly weeds, and little grass, I'd say either you got a incredibly bad batch of seed, or you didn't water enough after planting.  Weeds are much more drought tolerant.  If the weeds greatly outnumber grass, yes, nuke it all, wait a week, and try again.  However, if the weeds to not GREATLY outnumber the grass, I'd go with broadleaf weed killer, that will kill most weeds and leave the grass alone.

Answer 3

Lawnboy is right about the seed and watering, but horse manure is the best all around ferilizer. It's not hot and you know how fast it dries out.

You said you have a horse and you clean his stall/corral everyday, then you have a pile of free fertilizer just waiting for you. The only precaution is what type of bedding is your horse in?  If it shavings from a treated board (poison) no you can't use the manure. Take some manure, put it in a large bucket, fill it with water and let it soak for a 1/2 a day or so.  Then pour off/filter the liquid, put it in your sprayer and spray your lawn. If you have roses or other plants, straight, bottom of the manure pile fertilizer is perfect, because it has had time to breakdown.  Fill up the beds or whatever with horse manure.  It a great fertilizer and a mulch all in one plus you have recycled and deminished your manure pile at the same time.

Answer 4

No, manure is great for lawns and establishment.  What happened was that you basically sewed your grass seed along with alot of weed seed.  All bare ground contains a "seed bank" of seeds that are awaiting good germinating conditions- water and food.    So, when you planted your seed and watered it well, you now see that you are growing your grass seeds AND a bumper crop of weeds!

Next time.  When you plant seed. Go ahead and "pre-germinate" the weed-seeds in the ground BEFORE you plant your grass seed:

1. Water the area you wish to plant EVERYDAY for 7-10 days.  Once these weeds sprout and start to grow, spray them with round-up or till them up before they go to seed.

2.After spraying or hoeing the weeds down, you are then ready to plant in relatively clean soil.  Go ahead and plant your grass seed and keep moist for 7-10 days.  

3. I promise you you will have more success.  

"Manure needs to sit for a year...."   lol