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Can Grass Seed Survive the Winter?

Seeding Winter
4 min read

Grass seed can survive the winter, and planting during the winter season is known as dormant seeding. If you put down grass seed in November or December, the seed will just lay dormant until the soil starts to warm in spring. While this comes with risks, it can also be beneficial and save you time on seeding in spring.

Dormant Seeding

Putting down grass seed in winter is done in much the same way as putting it down in fall or early spring. You should prepare the soil as best as possible and rake the seed into the soil. This technique works best if done at a time when snow will soon cover the ground and ideally before the ground is too frozen to work with. If snow covers the seed, it will protect the seed and keep it in a dormant state.

The risk to this method is if the weather warms up during the winter.  If the weather warms enough to melt the snow it may also warm up enough for the seeds to sprout. Newly sprouted seeds are not strong enough to survive the frost. The dead seedlings will need to be cleared before new seeding can be attempted.

While dormant seeding can be risky, it can save you the process of seeding in the early spring and waiting for the ground to thaw. The seeds will start to sprout as soon as the ground warms up to a consistent 55 degrees and the soil will have all the nutrients needed to support seed growth.

Which Seed to Pick

As important as when you plant your seed is which seed you plant. At Jonathan Green we have been perfecting grass seed over 100 years. Since 1881, six generations of the Jonathan Green family have experimented with the best varietals of cool season grass to create a seed blend that is unmatched. Black Beauty grass seeds are specially formulated to be disease and drought resistant.

Black Beauty grass seed grows grass that has four-foot deep roots, much deeper than other brands. Black Beauty grass also has a waxy coating that protects each blade of grass from drought and disease. It is favored by sod growers across the U.S. for its superior color and quality.

How to Care for Your Lawn

Once the lawn has germinated, proper care is necessary to keep the grass lush and growing year-round. Jonathan Green has a proven method of lawn treatment that not only prevents weeds and feeds the grass but helps prevent disease. Our New American Lawn Care Guide has simple to follow steps to keep your grass looking fantastic.

Early Spring is the when you want to stop crabgrass before it starts and feed the grass to prepare for the spring growing season. Treat your grass with Green Up with Crabgrass Preventer. This product not only prevents new crabgrass but it will treat existing crabgrass as well.

Late Spring is the perfect time to apply Green Up Weed and Feed. This will address any weeds that may be encroaching on the lawn and give the grass the nutrients it needs through the summer growing season.

Summer is when the pH of the soil needs to be refreshed to ensure it is the right level for growing grass. For pH that is too low or too high, there is MAG-I-CAL. This special formula rapidly adjusts the pH of the soil to the correct level between 6.2. and 7.

Fall is the time for the final treatment, Winter Survival. This will feed your grass and help it fend off any disease through a hard winter.

For more tips on how to help your grass seed survive the winter and how to care for your lawn, visit Jonathan Green online or your local retailer.

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