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Soaking grass seeds in water before seeding is called pre-germinating. It’s not necessary but can be very helpful in some cases. Some grasses like are very slow to germinate, and basic seeding on the ground is unlikely to be effective—that’s especially true of cool season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass, rye grasses, and Bermuda grass. Soaking these seeds in a bag or bin of water for one to four days beforehand can give the grass the start it needs to survive.

If your lawn and general landscape are struggling, consider calling a local landscape specialist to suggest lawn amendments, local plants, and hardscape changes to boost the long-term health of your outdoor space. While you may be able to take on small projects yourself—such as reseeding your lawn or testing the soil—a professional can help you build a plan to bring a struggling yard back to life quickly.

When stored under ideal conditions, grass seed lasts anywhere from 10 to 18 months from the testing date without any real decrease in the germination rate. You can still use the seeds after this timeframe, but the germination rates drop 10% to 20% each year. 

If you’re just embarking on an overseeding project, using seeds that have been in storage for a few years isn’t too big of a deal. However, if you’re planning on redoing your entire landscape, your best bet for a healthy, luscious lawn is to use new seeds.

The first step in re-doing a bad lawn is correctly diagnosing the problem. That’s why we recommend calling a licensed and trustworthy lawn care company that can help turn your damaged lawn around. Once the problem is diagnosed and fixed, you’ll want to keep up with lawn maintenance by watering, mowing, and feeding your lawn the proper nutrients.