On Sun, 03 Apr 2005 08:28:06 GMT, gray wrote:


I read somewhere that it's best to soak and rinse grass seed over a
period of days (I forget how long for), the idea being that you get
the seed to sprout a bit before you sow, and this apparently keeps the
birds off it, and promotes rapid rooting and growth.

Anyone tried this?

Ken Cohen

I tried this few years back, and kept the seed damp until just prior
to the seed sprouting. Damp but not wet, and keep warmish.

The problem then was that as the seed was damp it stuck together, and
you could not sow it. I then mixed it with dry sand, in a plastic bag,
and shook it about gently. This then dried the seed sufficient, for it
to not stick together.

I then broadcast sowed the sand and the seed, into a racked seed bed.

Worked fine but a bit fiddly, good for small areas, but not football
fields.

Why the hassle? Grass seed germinates when it is just sown, period. I
have seen it done, and have done it myself, too many times to know how
this works, as if by magic. Seems like some people just have an urge
to make life harder than it really is.

MM