Grass Seed Is Idle.??....

[JDGreenGrass]

I used screened top soil (loam) to fill in some holes left from chipping out stumps. I then roughed up the surface and seeded and then lightly hand raked it in..

Trouble is it has been about 10 days and the seed is dormant. I don't think one seed has germinated.??

Tall fescue....haven't had any rain except for a soaking the day after I seeded.

It should be soo simple.!!!

What's going on here.??.......

 

[MMagis]

Give it time. I'm guessing the temps up your way have been on the cool side. That and no rain equals little to no growth.

 

[brin]

You only had one rain...on new grass seed you need to keep the soil moist until seed germenation...you don't want a crust on top of the soil...keep it moist or no germination.

 

[SARG]

Yes..... wait a bit. It has been too cool.

I had two areas I tore up and seeded. When nothing happened in two weeks I tore it all up again....fetched some better soil and did it all again.

That's when I found out it has been too cold and the expected rules don't apply.

It is that patience thing that has always gotten me into trouble.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Thanks for the replies.

We are getting a good soaking today with sunny, warm temps to follow.

Patience is the virtue I guess.

So....we wait.

 

[CHDinCT]

10 days is not long for most fescue seed. The soil temp is key and in Maine, I'd say it's still a little cool for germination. With some rain/moisture, I bet you see a lot of green shoots by next weekend.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Geez, I never gave it a second thought.....Did I throw the seed down to early.??

We've had an early spring with warm temps...did I seed to early.?? I have mowed twice.

I'm in central Maine, btw.

 

[sld]

The spring takes twice as long as seeding in the fall to get germination.

 

[beenthere]

I'm having the same frustration. Looked at the calendar today, and it was 4 and half weeks ago that I seeded a good size area. Had some germination after a week. Then since, seems it has been real slow. Have been watering it daily, usually a bit mornings and evenings. But the temps are to push into the low 80's this weekend, so in goes the AC and maybe up comes the grass.
I've mowed the lawn about three times already. The dandelions had no trouble coming up early this year.

Some assurance here that I'm not alone, and not the only one a bit impatient. But I'm not going to tear it up.

 

[Wesdor]

SID is right - spring takes a lot longer - the ground temperature is not as warm.

Sounds like you had just a small area, so my suggestion is to keep it watered and just wait. It will come along eventually.

For future reference, I have always been told that fall (late August) is the best time to plant grass seed here in the mid-west. The ground is the warmest it will get and we usually get a good amount of rain in September. If we don't get enough rain, it does need to be watered.

One trick I have used is to plant some oats along with the grass seed. The oats seems to sprout immediately and once you mow it off, it is pretty well gone.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

I wish I could water but, too big of an area.

If the grass would grow in things would be looking real nice. As it is now, it looks like ****.!!

We got a big soaking yesterday and the sun and high temps are back for a stretch now.

It is very tempting to rake it out and start again.....DON'T DO IT.!!!!!!:laughing:

 

[DanD78]

I have always had good luck with raking in the seed, Put on a light cover of straw or grass hay then go over it just once with the roller. Works very well for spring planting and the straw keeps the moisture in and the sun from making a hard crust. The grass will grow up through the straw/hay and will go away on it's own. Don't be tempted to mow too soon.

Dan

 

[JDGreenGrass]

I am beginning to see the new grass in small areas. Last night I went over much of it with a garden rake, watered by hand with buckets w/spouts and put more hay down. The ground is cracking due to dryness in some areas. Today and tomorrow are going to be up near 90 degrees. Hopefully a thunder shower will swing through tomorrow evening when the cold front moves through.

At least this proves to me that the seed is good. I thought I had bad seed.:confused2:

I really hope we don't have a dry summer. Rain every third or fourth day is a God send.!!! We all need it.

 

[shownuff]

Im in new york too and last tuesday planted 50 lbs of ryegrass seed this past mon 6 days later its comin up strong but just found out first time it hits 90 degrees its gonna die out ..what a waste