Planting grass

[Eric Wettschreck]

Yesterday I was out raking up the rocks and damage to my lawn from the snowplow. It's a mess. Anyhoo, I was wondering how early a guy can plant grass seed with any hopes that it will survive?

[LwnmwnMan2]

You can try dormant seeding if we get another snowstorm. Get out just before it starts to snow and throw the seed down.

When the snow melts, it'll push the seed down into the soil.

It's not going to germinate before it gets warm enough.

Other than that, when the soil temp gets to be about 50-55 degrees get out there and start throwing it down.

If you have alot of area to repair, a bag of starter fertilizer will be good. If it's just a handful here and there, then just the seed, no fertilizer.

What about taking the pieces and just putting them back???

[Eric Wettschreck]

Dude, I'd like to put the sod back, but you gotta see it to realize that's not gonna happen. Difficult to splain it, but re-seed is about the only way I'm going to be able to fix this.

Thanks for the tips.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Next dumb question- Do I toss this seed on top of the existing ground (it's all black dirt) or should I till first?

[reelemin]

you don't have to till it. But I would rack it hard, to loosen the soil. Throwing down barley or rye ( stuff you get at the groc. store in bulk )will help hold the seed in place.

[LwnmwnMan2]

The reason I said to wait and see if it snows again, is the snow will cover the seed, which will keep the birds from eating it.

If you don't have anything to cover it with, then there's the chance that your seeding will literally "go to the birds".

One other thing. If it's just skimmed off the top, where the root structure isn't affected, I wouldn't worry about it, it'll come back.

If it' chunks out of the soil then you're going to have to redo it.

Just becareful not to damage what existing root structure there is still left behind.