Germination times KBG

18 years ago

I'm getting a bit concerned. I seeded a number of bare spots in my lawn about 4 weeks ago. I did renovate with the Mag3 last year. I had to kill off some quackgrass that survived my RU, so I had quite a bit of bare spots. I'm seeing decent germination just starting (1 week) on the sunny side of my yard, but very little to no germination in some of the more shaded areas. I know I need to be patient and am willing to do this, but I did have a few sub 30 degree evenings a week or so ago that have me concerned.

On the other side of the coin, it's been cold and not sunny at all. Maybe the seed will still germinate? Should I throw out more seed? Thanks in advance for advise. I still think seeding now would take up north here, because it won't get real warm until mid-summer.

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Comments (6)

jongoldman
18 years ago
Each day that goes by gives us a few more minutes of sun and the sun goes higher in the sky, so the areas not getting sun should be getting it within a few weeks. I think you're OK so long as the seeds don't get washed away. Just keep them moist and hang in there
User
18 years ago
but I did have a few sub 30 degree evenings a week or so ago

How sub-30? Although if the seed hadn't sprouted yet, it really didn't care. Ground temperatures of 50 are required for sprout, with warmer being better (to a point, but you won't go past that in May in Zone 4 or 5).

It's likely that the more shaded areas also have colder ground temperatures, so sprout hasn't gotten going there just yet.
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auteck
18 years ago
"Ground temperatures of 50 are required for sprout, with warmer being better (to a point, but you won't go past that in May in Zone 4 or 5)."

The first two are correct,what's incorrect is the past May in zone 4 or 5. KBG seed will germinate even faster at soils temperatures as high as 90+ degrees. That's why seeding in the Fall or late summer is so effective. The soil is warm/hot from the summer months, the nights are cool with dew.
bestlawn
18 years ago
Temps cosistently between 65Â° & 75Â° are required. Morpheus forgot and is thinking about crabgrass LOL. And I don't know where 90Â° came from.

That's another reason spring seeding can be so iffy. This spring is prime example. I don't think we in SE Michigan has reached 75 except a few inconsecutive days, and then drops back down for a while. So, you know soil temps have not reached anywhere near that, espeially in the shade.
zhotster
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks everyone. I'm going to wait it out. I really didn't have a choice when I was going to seed, I couldn't allow quackgrass to stay in my yard. I did RU 3 times and it didn't get it all.

I'm going to cross my fingers. I hope enough comes in that I don't have too many bare spots. I may need to reseed the whole darn thing this fall, that would be a very big bummer!

I'm crossing my fingers for about 2 solid weeks of good temps. It's not looking good this week unfortunately.
User
18 years ago
Morpheus forgot and is thinking about crabgrass LOL

Headdesk. Yes.

I did get a wee bit of germination with soil temperatures around 50, but most of it waited until over 60. Regrettably, the area I was doing tilts southwest, so it soared past optimal and went for sun-scorched pretty fast.