How Much Grass Seed Do I Need for 1 Acre?

Table Of Contents show

Planting the correct amount of seed is essential in making sure the lawn grows well and looks great for years to come.

Because of this, many people wonder, “How much grass seed do I need per acre?”

Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links – that means we may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on these links. This is at no extra cost to you.

The amount of grass seed you’ll need for one acre depends on the species you are planting. These amounts are usually listed on the bag in terms of pounds per square foot.

To get an idea of approximately how many pounds you’ll need, you’ll need to convert these measurements into pounds per acre.

Keep reading to learn more about measuring seed, the correct way to plant grass, and tips to help it grow.

How to Measure How Much Grass Seed You’ll Need

When planting grass, it can be difficult to gauge just how much seed you’ll need. Here’s how to measure how much grass seed you’ll need to cover your space.

In most cases, bags of grass seed will list how many pounds you will need to cover an area of 1,000 square feet.

While you could measure the exact square footage of your yard, it might be easier to convert the measurements to acres if you already know how many you’re dealing with.

One acre is equal to 43,560 square feet. Therefore, you’ll need to multiply the recommended pounds per square 1,000 feet by 43.56 to determine how many pounds you’ll need for each acre.

Kentucky Bluegrass, for example, has an average seeding rate of three pounds per 1,000 square feet.

To convert this into acres, you would have to multiply three by 43.56, which means you will need just under 131 pounds to seed the entire acre.

If you’d rather work with square feet, you’ll need to do a little bit of extra work. First, measure the entire length and width of the area you need to cover.

Then multiply the length by the width to get the square footage. Using the same example of Kentucky Bluegrass, a 12,000 square foot lawn would need 36 pounds of seed to cover.

Average Seeding Rates of Common Grass Types

Like every other plant out there, different types of grass require different seeding rates to grow correctly. Here are a few common types of grass and the seeding rates for each.

Kentucky Bluegrass

Kentucky bluegrass is a popular cool-season grass.

Despite its name, it has a deep green color and grows rather quickly into soft, broad blades. As mentioned, the average seeding rate for Kentucky Bluegrass is approximately three pounds per 1,000 square feet or 131 pounds per acre.

Perennial Ryegrass

Ryegrass is another cool-season grass, and it’s relatively low maintenance. It can tolerate heavy foot traffic, so it’s ideal for families with children that like to play or ride bikes outside!

However, Ryegrass requires significantly heavier seeding than other varieties.

The average seeding rate per 1,000 square feet is 10 pounds or about 436 pounds per acre.

St. Augustine Grass

St. Augustine grass is a warm-season species of grass with a carpet-like appearance.

It’s drought-tolerant, which makes it ideal for warmer, dryer climates. It has a very low seeding rate of just about ½ pound per 1,000 square feet or about 22 pounds per acre.

If you don’t want to purchase hundreds of pounds of seed to cover your entire lawn, this might be your best bet.

No matter what type of grass you choose to plant, make sure to follow the instructions on the bag.

Overseeding can cause too much competition for soil space, while underseeding will lead to a patchy-looking lawn!

What Time of Year Should I Plant Grass Seed?

Some people are very particular about planting their grass seed, while others just choose to lay it whenever! However, it’s essential to know exactly what time of year is best for planting this seed.

For best results, seeding should be dome with a seed spreader rather that by hand as this will ensure an even spread of the seed and prevent a patchy lawn.

The best time of year to plant your grass depends on the species, just like seeding rates.

As you might expect, cool-season grasses will need to be planted later in the year than warm-season grasses.

Make sure you know whether your seed is warm or cool-season before you lay it on your lawn.

Warm-season varieties, such as St. Augustine grass, Bermudagrass, and Zoysia grass, should be planted during late spring or early summer.

Cool-season species, including Bluegrass, Ryegrass, and Fescue, should be laid during late summer or early fall. Just make sure to do it at least 45 days before your area’s expected first frost date!

After laying your grass seed, water it 1-2 times per week during the early morning hours. It will only need about 1” of water each week, so be careful not to over or underwater!