Prepare Your Lawn For Spring NOW: Dormant Seeding 101
If you want to avoid a sparse, dull, and unattractive lawn when winter’s last snow (finally) melts away, dormant seeding is for you. Dormant seeding is perfect for the laid back property owners out there that don’t want to put in a ton of thought or effort, but still want to enjoy a well-kept landscape. Do we have your interest yet?
What is dormant seeding? Dormant seeding refers to the practice of intentionally over-seeding lawns during the cooler seasons — any time during late fall and winter. The reason for this is that the key to dormant seeding is ensuring that the soil’s temperature is too cool to cause germination, aka 50 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
Why should I practice dormant seeding? Dormant seeding is an easy, cost-effective, time-efficient way to make your lawn look better. What’s more, is that the dense, healthy growing of grass crowds out and helps prevent the growth of weeds and invasive species. In addition to simplicity of this practice, this method has been proven to be the most effective in comparison to any other grass growth enhancing practices.
When should I practice dormant seeding? For all of our Midwest readers, this means that application wise, your ideal time to practice dormant seeding is between late November and early March. It is imperative to ensure all debris have been removed from your lawn before applying the grass seed.
How should I practice dormant seeding? First, select your type of seed. We recommend grasses such as bluegrass, turf-type tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass as we’ve seen that they work best for dormant seeding. To further guide you, Macho Mix fescue seed, Estate Mix bluegrass seed, Premium Shade Mix, and Stadium Special perennial rye are four different brands of cool-season grass seed blends that we know will perform well for you. After selecting your seed type, wait for a frost or a light snow. Grab the bag(s) of seed you purchased, and take a nice slow stroll through your property. Grab a handful (or several) and spread the seed by hand in any areas that are looking sparse and could benefit from some thickening up. And… there you have it! We told you it was easy. Let mother nature do it’s thing, and enjoy the view come spring.
Have questions regarding dormant seeding, lawn or property care? Our team of professionals at LandEx Company are always ready and willing to help. Hit the button below to get in touch today.