Will Grass Seed Die After Being in the Ground & Not Growing?

Dormant Seeding

• Dormant seeding is a good way to reseed bare patches or "thicken up" thin lawns. The best time to do this is in late fall, when the ground is not yet frozen but is cold enough to ensure that little chance exists of the seeds germinating before winter. Dr Zac Reicher, turfgrass extension specialist at Purdue University's agricultural extension, recommends dormant seeding after Thanksgiving with 80 percent Kentucky bluegrass and 20 percent perennial ryegrass. Water the seeds well, but avoid oversaturation.

Bermuda Grass

• Bermuda grass seeds planted during late summer and fall may not germinate. This type of grass is unable to store food reserves to last through the winter and will starve and die. You can use the method of winter "dormant seeding" if you use unhulled seeds. These seeds have the protection of the hulls and are better able to store reserves, but an unexpected warm spell may cause them to germinate prematurely. If this happens, the grass is likely to die when the cooler weather returns.

Risks

• The greatest risk to dormant seeds is the weather. A heavy downpour of rain could cause soil erosion and wash the seeds out of the ground, leaving them on the surface to dry out and die or blow away. The best winter option for dormant seeds is to have a reasonable snowfall that covers and protects the seeds during the cold weather. A severe frost in early spring after the snow has melted could cause the ground to freeze and kill the seeds.

Spring

• When spring arrives, give the seeds time to germinate and start to sprout. You may still need to seed bare patches if some of the seeds don't grow successfully, but wait and see how well the dormant seeds grow before you do so.