Seeding

[lawnkid]

I know this is a hardscape forum but I wanted to get your guys' thoughts on seeding times. I just prepped two pretty large lawns at the end of last week from jobs we finished in the fall and I was wondering if you guys thought it's still too early to seed. The initial weather report said lows in the upper 30's for a couple days, and highs in the high 40's and mid 50's but now they're saying mid 30's possible as lows for a few days and I'm afraid that the ground temps might still be too low for seed to germinate. I'm using a 50/50 rye and blue mix in my hydroseeding tank with either 100% wood or 70/30 wood paper. Thanks.

[Grn Mtn]

i forgot to look at your location but its still early, if you covered the lawns with frost blankets that would help, but seed really likes 70* daytime ground temps to germinate. if you do get germination and then a quick overnight frost hits those little shoots are gonners.

[kootoomootoo]

Soil temps are still low..I seeded one a couple of weeks ago...letting the seed lay dormant until temps rise. I hydroseeded one march 28th a few years ago ...it turned out fine.

[4seasons]

wait until april then your good to go,

[Dvmcmr]

i forgot to look at your location but its still early, if you covered the lawns with frost blankets that would help, but seed really likes 70* daytime ground temps to germinate. if you do get germination and then a quick overnight frost hits those little shoots are gonners.


Ya, and re seeding would be necessary.

It's too early for seeding just yet for your location.

[kootoomootoo]

I seeded one in January this yr. fyi.

[Dvmcmr]

I see you're in Cleveland now.

[Mbella]

I guess you can seed whenever you like, but it's early. Weather depending of course, but we usually use tax time as a general rule.

[kootoomootoo]

You guys understand the dormant seeding concept...

[Mbella]

You guys understand the dormant seeding concept...

What is that?

[kootoomootoo]

I know quite a few commercial installers who will dormant seed...its also about getting paid. Having said that Studies have proved that February is the peak dormant seeding time for cool season grasses....also has shown that dormant seed is thicker in summer than traditional April 15th seeding.

The seed lays dormant until soil temps (not ambient temps) reach 55 degrees or so. Feb /March snow keeps seed in place. Wet spring ....bingo.

[SCgreenscapes]

I don't know much about that. What I though was right is that if you take a seed and wet it, then allow it to dry out completely, it will die and rot. You have to keep it moist to grow. if this is correct, it seems like you could cause a lot of problems if you don't keep it watered correctly. I know that if you put out seed before the snow falls, when spring rolls around and the snow melts, your seed will do quite well.

[NCSULandscaper]

no, it wont die............most of our seeding we do is dormant seeding. If all seed got wet and then died, then there wouldnt be any plants or grass in nature............it works well