Anyone pre-germinate their grass seed?

[stevej37]

Filling in open spots in my lawn, I decided to try pre-germinating the seed for the first time ever.
Instead of spreading the seed out of the bag and watering three times a day for ten days.....I soaked the seeds for 6 days until it started sprouting. Then I mixed the sprouted seeds with Milorganite and spread it on my prepared lawn bare/open spots.

Two days later, the sprouts are already showing. Daily watering should finish the job.
I like this method....so much easier. (the soaking can be done in the garage or outside)

[masraum]

How did you soak the seeds? 5 gal bucket, just dump a bunch of water into the bag?

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by masraum

How did you soak the seeds? 5 gal bucket, just dump a bunch of water into the bag?

I used paint strainer bags....from Lowes for $5/4 (I only used one)
The seeds need to be lifted out of the water once or twice every 24 hours or it will rot.
It needs the oxygen to sprout.
I lifted it out and let it drip into my yard and then rolled the bag to get air to all the seeds and then back into the bucket for another 12 hrs or so.(with fresh water each time)

I only needed 5# of seed....so one 5 gal bucket worked great.

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[stevej37]

It can take longer than 6 days in the water....we had some unusually warm weather, so when the water was changed, I used the garden hose to refill and it was laying in the sun. So, it got real warm water each time.

When it does start sprouting, you need to be ready to spread it within hours. If you wait too long, it will turn into one tangled ball of sprouts.

[masraum]

Cool, lots of good info. I need to put down some seed. It's probably a bit late, but we'll see how it goes. And it sounds like your method may give the little guys a boost.

[stevej37]

^^^When you are getting ready to do it....search 'pre-germinate' on YT. There are lots of videos showing different ways to do it with great results.

One problem I had was finding pure grass seed. All the options here are treated....so I had to go with that.

[masraum]

< thumbs up >

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^When you are getting ready to do it....search 'pre-germinate' on YT. There are lots of videos showing different ways to do it with great results.

< /thumbs up >

[rwest]

I did it last year and it was great, will do it again. sure beats constant watering of the lawn and birds eating the seed.

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1182001-pre-germination-grass-seeds.html

[stevej37]

^^^ I missed that thread about it....but it's true. Hauling 150 ft of garden hose out for the spots gets old quick. (esp after 10 or more days of it)
With this method, I only had it out twice...then a couple rain showers gave it the final push.

I used 3 to 1 milorganite....which dried the seed enough to allow my hand crank spreader to work. Then watered it in good.

[stevej37]

Another question....

I have been using my Craftsman self-propelled mower since the seedings have started. (They are doing excellent now). The small mower is perfect for the first few mowings around and on those areas...it doesn't squash it like my John Deere will.

Anyway... this small mower is in my shed that has full sun all day long. I keep a 6 gal plastic jug of plain reg ethanol gas out there for it and a roto-tiller and weed wacker.

Every time I go to use the small mower, the gas is empty....completely evaporated.

My question is....would non-ethanol rec gas be less likely to disappear from evaporation? Or are they both prone to do the same thing?

[greglepore]

To update I bought a cheap drum type type peat spreader from vevor-https://www.vevor.com/compost-spreader-c_12458/vevor-compost-spreader-24-in-peat-moss-spreader-with-t-shaped-handle-for-yard-p_010821679319?, mixed the pregerminated seed and put it in that, and managed to redo some large dog damaged areas. It sure uses up the peat, but works great with pregerm, and even just normal seed if you water in and keep after it.

[stevej37]

I googled it and it's correct....ethanol evaporates much quicker than non ethanol.
Might have to switch all the lawn tools over to rec gas. It's just not easy to obtain here.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by greglepore

To update I bought a cheap drum type type peat spreader from vevor-https://www.vevor.com/compost-spreader-c_12458/vevor-compost-spreader-24-in-peat-moss-spreader-with-t-shaped-handle-for-yard-p_010821679319?, mixed the pregerminated seed and put it in that, and managed to redo some large dog damaged areas. It sure uses up the peat, but works great with pregerm, and even just normal seed if you water in and keep after it.

I had just various spots that needed filling in, so I used a hand crank seeder at the largest opening. Even with that, I had to pass over the spots about 3 times to get good coverage.
If I were doing a large area, that compost spreader would be perfect.

.

[Monkey Wrench]

I mixed my seed with gardening soil, threw that about, I think it dispursed the seed better than just casting it on its own because the seed was already dispursed with the soil, I put about half a bag into each bag of soil and used 4 bags of soil, I still did have to water for a week or so before it sprouted, but it is growing now, the added soil didn't hurt anything.. i suppose I could have wet the soil and let it sit a while. I had no issues with birds but my cat is on patrol .

[stevej37]

^^^ I used Milorganite...one 30# bag to the 5# of sprouted grass seed.
It dried the seed enough to let it go through my hand seeder easily.

I did notice the birds out there every morning picking for seeds. There is a nice mat of green growing now. I'm very happy with the results.

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