Q: What should I do if my seeds aren’t sprouting?

• <div><p>If it&rsquo;s been a few weeks and you haven&rsquo;t seen anything pop up, double-check your seed packet and make sure you didn&rsquo;t miss any steps. Did they need cold stratification (putting seeds in the freezer and then transferring to water before planting)? Do they have an exceptionally long germination period? </p><p> If you&rsquo;ve followed all of the directions closely, you may just have had a bad batch of seeds. (Sadly, it happens.)</p></div>

Question 1

What is the difference between overseeding and reseeding a lawn?

Accepted Answer

•

Although these terms sound similar and are sometimes used interchangeably, overseeding and reseeding your lawn are very different processes. Overseeding, the simpler of the two, involves a few steps to restore thinned or patchy grass by raking, aerating, and seeding uneven areas of turf to promote regrowth.

Reseeding a lawn is a more drastic and involved process, often necessary if the lawn is diseased, more than a third dead, or very overgrown with weeds. Unlike overseeding, it requires removing most of the existing lawn and starting a new one from scratch, a much bigger and more time-consuming job.

Question 2

Is it OK to water new grass seed at night?

Accepted Answer

•

Morning and late afternoon are the best times for watering new grass seed. The seed gets a healthy balance of water and sunlight, and the excess water evaporates. If you water the grass long after the sun goes down, the air is too cold, and there's no sun to make excess water evaporate. This keeps the grass damp for too long, increasing the chances of over-watering.

Question 3

What should I do if my seeds aren’t sprouting?

Accepted Answer

•

If it’s been a few weeks and you haven’t seen anything pop up, double-check your seed packet and make sure you didn’t miss any steps. Did they need cold stratification (putting seeds in the freezer and then transferring to water before planting)? Do they have an exceptionally long germination period?

If you’ve followed all of the directions closely, you may just have had a bad batch of seeds. (Sadly, it happens.)

Question 4

What is the best type of grass for shade?

Accepted Answer

•

The best grass type for shady areas depends on your region, your preferences, and your yard’s microclimate. Overall, the best cool-season grass for shade is ryegrass or tall fescue, while the best warm-season grass for shade is St. Augustine. But again, this can depend on what you’re looking for in the grass. The best grass for your shady yard might be one that looks good to you, one that tolerates high foot traffic, or grass with other characteristics that make it fit your lawn needs.

Question 5

Should I fertilize soil before planting grass seed?

Accepted Answer

•

Properly preparing the soil for planting grass seed may include applying fertilizer several weeks before spreading the seed if you plan to overseed the lawn. However, in most cases involving a brand-new lawn, spreading a starter fertilizer along with the grass seed will give it the best chance of taking root quickly and growing strong.