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

When is the best time to plant?

Accepted Answer

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The best time to plant is between spring and autumn. Springtime weather is typically mild and is when nurseries start to bloom. When the summer weather arrives and it’s hot out, it’s best to avoid planting bare-root plants, but you can still plant many in-container varieties. The first sign of fall is another great opportunity to plant biennials if you live in southern states, or a lovely vegetable garden up north.

Question 2

Should I fertilize soil before planting grass seed?

Accepted Answer

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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.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

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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 relationship between power seeding and aeration, and should I aerate before power seeding?

Accepted Answer

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Power seeding and aeration are both excellent ways to improve lawn health, but they serve different functions. Aeration focuses on improving soil health by creating channels that allow more water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide to reach the roots. In contrast, power seeding is a method of planting grass seeds, often by creating narrow trenches in the soil. One service isn't better than the other; they are complementary. It is beneficial to aerate your lawn before power seeding, as this makes the seeding more effective by helping the germinating seeds access the resources they need. It's a good practice to aerate your lawn once or twice a year, regardless of whether you plan to power seed.

Question 5

Will my dry lawn come back?

Accepted Answer

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Treating dry soil can bring back a dormant lawn, but not a dead one. After nurturing a dry lawn back to proper moisture levels, you should closely observe whether your grass revives with the soil. If not, you may need to reseed your lawn or start fresh with new turf.