O.T.--Grass Seeding?

Jiles · Jan 11, 2011

Anybody recommend broadcasting grass seed over snow. I have heard of this but never tried it.
Seems like a good procedure since the snow is fresh and one could see where and how the seeds are placed.

formenwhogrow · Jan 11, 2011

You seeding a yard or a pasture? What about birds?

old · Jan 11, 2011

I do it with clover seed all the time but you do not do it till about the last snow of the season and you keep the seed good and warm till right before you throw it out. Late in the day helps keep the birds from getting as much of it. Or you seed it as it is snowing so it ends up deeper in the snow so the birds do not get to it. I have never tried grass seed but I would think it would work also

Jiles · Jan 11, 2011

(quoted from post at 17:22:10 01/11/11) You seeding a yard or a pasture? What about birds?

It is my back yard.
When the snow melts, probably tomorrow or next day,the ground will be "rotten" and the seed should penetrate the soil. Of course some may be lost to birds.
I have never tried it but some say they got good results.
The ground is almost bare from clearing small trees and my plan was to mix some rye grass seed with fescue and the rye grass should come up for winter coverage.
I know this is not as good as breaking ground and covering seed, but time wouldn't permit me to do this before winter.
I am just looking for a little protection and, as you stated, it may not be worth the effort.

Tom in TN · Jan 11, 2011

old,

I'm with you. I frost seed some clover onto my mixed grass hay field each year. The new clover is pretty small the first year, but it comes on well the second year.

I've never tried frost seeding fescue, but I might try that later this winter also. We had such a terrible drought last summer. I think my grass is going to be pretty sparse this year.

Tom in TN

NEsota · Jan 11, 2011

My thinking is that grass seed does best with maximum seed to soil contact, am not sure that you get that seeding on top of snow. There are USDA instructions which advise using twice as much seed if you broadcast as opposed to using a no-till drill.

old · Jan 11, 2011

In my area fescue is one thing that people do there best to get rid of. In my area it has been used for so many years it is more weed then grass and has been causing problems with grass tetna. I hope to find some sweet clover seed this year and see if I can get a good stand of it. Want to plant it in a few areas tat I do not hay more or less to help bring the deer in

Germ · Jan 11, 2011

We often dormant seed in after Thanksgiving and have good results. Don't worry about the birds. If you are seeding at the correct rate, you will be putting down several million seeds per 1000 square foot. More than enough for the birds. What does Ma Nature do? Wild grasses grow all summer, mature, and drop seed all winter long. Go ahead, you'll be fine.

jackinok · Jan 11, 2011

my understanding ,most grass doesnt do too well, clover on the other hand does good.I dont know what the difference would be, but maybe because clover is a early spring type grower???I dont know this for a fact ,but thats what ive always heard from the so called experts around here.

Sidekick · Jan 11, 2011

Make sure fescue is what you really want or need. Fescue has all but been declared to be a noxious weed around here. It's been overplanted, spreads like crazy and has practically zero use for wildlife.

jbp · Jan 11, 2011

Fescue is the only reason that Kentucky is not located in Louisiana. Its the greatest for stopping soil erosion.

Joe

Anonymous-0 · Jan 12, 2011

Don't put more than 10% annual ryegrass in the mixture, or ALL you will get is annual ryegrass. AR exhibits allelopathy, which is a 5 dollar word, but it means that it exudes a chemical that acts as a herbicide to other species of grass(when more that 10% of the mix). Any seeding will be better than no seeding, but the best time is in the fall, on a properly prepared seedbed.

DanR · Jan 12, 2011

I don't see the point. All seed needs a certain temp to germinate. Fall planted will germinate go dormant and come out in the spring as the soil warms. We all know this. But planting in the snow? You have too much time on your hands. Winter does that.

O.T.--Grass Seeding?

Jiles

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formenwhogrow

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old

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Jiles

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Tom in TN

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NEsota

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old

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Germ

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jackinok

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Sidekick

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jbp

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Anonymous-0

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DanR

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