How to Germinate Grass Seed Using Epsom Salts

Growing a lawn from grass seed is a good option when you don't have lots of time to sprout seed and you don't want to spend money on a quick, but expensive, "instant lawn" that laying sod provides. Starting grass from seed does not have to be a slow, ineffective method. You can give your new lawn a kick-start by using Epsom salts to speed up the germination rate and decrease the seed mortality.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Epsom salts
• Baby shampoo
• Tea
• Grass seed

1. Make a mixture of 1/2 cup of baby shampoo, 2 tbsp. of Epsom salts, and 2 gallons of weak tea.

2. Add the grass seed to the mix, and stir it around well. Place the container in the refrigerator and allow the seed to soak for 48 hours. The baby shampoo softens the seed, the tea and Epsom salts provide nutrients, and the time in the refrigerator simulates winter. All these factors make for faster and better seed germination.
   
   Use this time to prepare the planting area for seeding.

3. Remove the container from the refrigerator, pour out the water, and spread out the seed so that it can dry enough to be placed in a drop spreader.

4. Spread the seed over the planting area as prescribed in the directions for the seed that you purchased.

References

• Jerry Baker's Green Grass Magic
• The Best Grass Seed

Resources

• Planting by Seed