How to Seed Winter Grass

The idea behind seeding your lawn in the winter is to have the seed in place so that first thing in the spring when the conditions are right, the seed will germinate and grow quickly, making a lush lawn early. If you live in an area where snow cover is a guaranteed event, then winter seeding or dormant seeding might be a good option for you. However, if you simply cover your lawn with the seed and no snow covers it, birds, mice and squirrels are likely to eat the seed, leaving you with a lawn that requires reseeding in the spring.

Instructions

1. Wait until the weather has cooled off permanently for the winter but before the ground has frozen. A warm period might send the seed into germination, and deep cold that follows will kill the new grass.

2. Select a grass seed such as ryegrass and bluegrass that will grow quickly in the spring.

3. Broadcast 1 pound of seed for every 1,000 square feet of space, spreading half in one direction and the other half in the other direction so you get good coverage.

4. Cover the seed lightly with hay or straw to keep the seed in place on bare areas, but do not rake the seed or even water it at this time. It must remain dormant until spring.

References

• University of Illinois Extension: Late Fall and Winter Preparation
• North Dakota State University Agriculture: Turfgrass Establishment and Maintenance for Home Lawns and Athletic Fields
• Purdue University: Seeding