The Art of Dormant Seeding

Dormant seeding is the process of putting down grass seed in the months of December through February. The grass seed thrown down at this time needs to have good soil contact. The same rate of grass seed is used in the winter as in the fall or spring. KC Marathon is 6 to 8 pounds per thousand square feet. After the seed has been thrown out, lightly pack down the area to make sure the seed has a good soil contact. The rest of the process is all dependent on the weather. Getting the grass seed down before a nice snow is the best time.

Dormant seeding works because the grass seed will sit on the ground until the spring warms up the earth. The seed will start growth as soon as the ground temperature is warm enough for it to survive. The cold does not harm the seed; it infact helps the seed. With the moisture going into the seed, it causes the seed to freeze and thaw cracking the grass seed's hull. Cracking the seed hull helps the germination speed in the spring.

Getting the seed growing in the early spring allows the lawn to get established. The more established a lawn, the less space weeds have to grow in.

Any of the cool season grasses can go through this process, Bluegrass or Fescue. We recommend KC Marathon for a nice mixture of the two.

Fertilization can be put down at the signs of life from the grass seeds. A great fertilizer to use would be Fertilome New Lawn Starter.

Do not use a pre-emergent like Barricade on the areas with the grass seed (or any area that has yet to be seeded) until it has been mowed twice!