Sometimes gardeners sow grass seeds in fall and they do not sprout for a longer time. But ever wondered how long can grass seed lay dormant? The grass seeds do not start germination until they get the optimal conditions. Fall/winter is the perfect time to propagate grass growth for spring.
The grass seeds have enormous resilience against winter conditions, so they opt state of suspended growth in that weather. This guide reveals the period of grass seed dormancy, the step-by-step guide to dormant seeding, and its benefits. So stay connected to know the full journey of dormant grass seeding!
How Long Does Grass Seed Take To Lay Dormant?
Plant seeds are the most reliable and viable for growing grass because they give water and nutrients. Grass seeds are hardy seeds that can last longer. Most of the grass seeds are repaired and patched in the lawn plentifully. The soil is warm in spring, so most grass seeds are planted in this season. This season’s weather provides fair conditions and helps them to germinate quickly.
Many professionals and gardeners also grow seeds in winter, so this seeding is called dormant seeding. The lawns are overseeded in winter because the weather is frigid and the cold soil prevents the seeds from germinating properly. If the temperature falls below 50 degrees F, the grass seeds lay dormant for about three months or more.
Grass seeds can survive winters for about three months and stay dormant. At that time, the dormant seeding helps to repair the blading patches and thicken the lawn. When the temperature remains continuously below 50F, dormant seeding happens. The grass seeds stay dormant and do not germinate until they get warmth and the appropriate temperature.
Why Do You Have To Do Dormant Seeding
Dormant seeding is not new, gardeners and professionals have used it for many years. Professionals say there are various benefits of dormant seeding. There are some disadvantages, too, but you should focus on the benefits more. Now, we will discuss what benefits you will get by dormant seeding:
1. Minimum Watering
Like other plants, dormant seeds also need water to germinate and grow. Water is an essential part of seeding for repairing lawn patches. The dormant seeds make better contact with the soil as the snow melts.
In this method, you wait for the spring rains to let the seeds get moisturized from the wet soil. By doing this, you will have to water the seeds less. Unfavorable weather or dry spells will make you water the seeds, but it will be much less than the normal seeding cycle.
2. Good Soil Contact
In winter, the frost opens, causing cracks in the soil. By dormant seeding, the seeds make good contact with the soil and will not let it crack. When there is rain or you give water, the seeds get moist, go deeper, and make better contact to grow and germinate.
3. Germinating In Early Spring
Many beautiful things happen during the spring. You are lucky if the dormant seeds are already pre-laid out from the ground without getting enough warmth in the weather. Because the seeds will germinate in early spring.
The conditions during the winters may have remained helpful for seeds to grow instead of waiting for the warmth of suitable conditions. In that case, you will see beautiful green grass on your lawn in early spring.
4. Attractive Lawns
According to research, professionals, and expert gardeners, dormant seeds are healthier and make your lawn more attractive than spring seeds.
This is because the dormant seeds have a lot of time to establish themselves in the ground and get the proper moisturization. So when the harsh heat of summer arrives, these seeds are pretty mature to bear the environmental conditions.
5. Better Growth
Dormant seeds germinate best in shady places because the seeds are waiting for spring to come and have established themselves in the ground. The germination process needs light, so in early spring, when all the leaves fall, the seeds get all the light they need. They comfortably germinate before all the leaves grow again.
How Long Is The Dormant Seed Viable
Like many other people, you may also keep a bag of grass seeds to use to repair your lawn patches. Grass seeds can last longer, and their germination viability or process can slow due to the particular weather conditions of your area. According to the research, each grass seed needs almost 10 to 20% moisturization to grow and germinate properly.
If not even 10 to 20% moisture is in the soil, the few varieties of grass seeds may die due to the lower moisturization or dry soil. If there is too much rain or water on the lawn, the over-moisturization will also damage the seeds, and they will not germinate well. The seeds will be good until the temperature is above freezing point or under 50F. If the temperature crosses 100F, then the seeds will be unplantable.
A sealed plastic bag or container is best for storing the grass seeds. It will prevent them from absorbing extra moisture. It is also good to store them indoors, and if there is space in your refrigerator, you can also store them in it. This will lengthen the grass seeds’ viability.
If you store grass seeds at an appropriate temperature or in good conditions, they will last longer than five years. However, it later results in the decline of their viability over time. So, if you want to use grass seeds next spring for dormant seeding, make sure to store them in good condition.
Which Grass Seed Must You Choose For Dormant Seeding
There is a variety of grass seeds that you can use for dormant seeding in your lawn. Some grass seeds best as cool-season grasses are turf-type tall fescue, bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass. If you want to use different seeds simultaneously, you can use a mixture of two to three seeds for dormant seeding. It’s best to observe your weather conditions first and determine which grass seeds will prevail in your yard.
After observing the weather, you can plant any seeds in your lawn that can withstand the conditions. If any other types of seeds can be dormant in that condition, you can mix those two types of seeds and plant them in your lawn.
How Will You Dormant Seed Grass
Dormant seeding is a simple process in early winter or late fall. It involves scattering all the selected seeds on your lawn. A few tricks will help in springtime to make your lawn seeds grow better and more adequately. The details of which are discussed below:
1. Mowing The Lawn
It will surely be your last mow of the season. Thus, make sure to mow it lower than the standard height, like 2 inches above the ground. It will help grass seeds make better contact with the soil.
2. Loosen The Surface
You must loosen the soil surface to help the grass seeds burrow themselves into the ground for better germination. Using the rakes will help remove dead or dried leaves from the grass. After losing the soil surface, scatter the seeds into the lawn. You can oversee it, as some seeds will not germinate properly, and overseeding will help your lawn look thicker.
3. Watering The Lawn
The primary step is to water the grass seeds. Remember to water them well but not too much. Rain or cold temperatures will lower the watering of your lawn because the grass will naturally get moistened by the moist soil.
Conclusion
Different grass seeds have different dormancy periods because they are hardy and tough, so they take different times for germination. If you want better germination and growth of grass seeds on your lawn, you need to remember a few things. We have unveiled how long grass seeds take before germination and how long they stay dormant. Furthermore, the beneficial aspects of dormant seedings and the way of laying dormant seeds are also discussed. Stay connected for more information!
FAQs
1. How Long Will My Grass Seeds Stay Dormant?
Many seeds can last longer if they are stored properly. If you provide them with an appropriate atmosphere and temperature, they will last years beyond their recommended date.
2. If You Throw The Grass Seed On The Ground, Will It Grow?
Yes, grass seeds can germinate if you throw them on the ground. However, the success rate of germination will be much lower than that of the actual seeding process.
3. What Is The Most Prolonged Seed Dormancy?
There are different opinions about different seeds. Some plant seeds do not germinate for hundreds of years; some remain in the soil for 50 years before germination. Some seeds have a very long viability period; based on radiocarbon dating, the most extended dormancy until now was 2000 years.