Login | Sign Up
TechSideline

All Hokie, All the Time. Period. Presented by First Bank & Trust Company

The Lounge
◀ ▶
MP4VT2004
Joined: 09/09/2007
Posts: 24,522
Likes: 26,027
MP4VT2004

Do you still have the bag for the seed that you used?

If so, check the label on the back (usually a sticker or tag) that stipulates when the seed should be sold by. Not sure where you purchased your seed, but I know that Lowe's has a really bad habit of leaving seed on the shelf long after it should have been sold. Otherwise, does the seed have good soil contact? Or is it just sitting on top of bare ground? I typically use some seeding mulch or other type of topdressing (such as peat moss) to provide a thin layer of cover after seeding bare areas, which helps keep the seed moist and promote good germination. That aside, I have had pretty terrible results with multiple brands of seeds over the past few years. Most recently I've used the cheapest stuff I could find at Lowe's, which was Sta Green tall fescue. I actually seem to have had better results with that than Scott's or Pennington products, but even so it seems like ~50% germination and has required several rounds of seeding.
Posted: 04/12/2026 at 12:59 PM ET
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)

Thread Replies (35)

Full Thread →
Ok lounge lawn gurus...a little help please....
JoesterVT • 04/12/26 11:53 AM ET
The air is 70, but the dirt is 45. Those cold nights are keeping the seeds
VTVOICE • 04/13/26 10:23 AM ET
@Spudnut mentioned aeration as well. Ok to do that now?
JoesterVT • 04/13/26 10:33 AM ET
Yes, but Fall is optimal for regular lawn maintenance. You can rent an
VTVOICE • 04/13/26 10:45 AM ET
obviously a "plug" type is best, but will the spike variety do in a pinch?**
JoesterVT • 04/13/26 10:48 AM ET
Spikes are okay if your soil is already somewhat loose, but in a
VTVOICE • 04/13/26 10:58 AM ET
I'm working on a relatively small area for now, and I don't mind using...
JoesterVT • 04/13/26 11:04 AM ET
Since it’s a small dog-traffic area, don’t be shy with the holes. Aim for a
VTVOICE • 04/13/26 11:09 AM ET
thanks**
JoesterVT • 04/13/26 11:11 AM ET
If you have a probe type kitchen thermometer, check the ground temperature.
Galenahokie • 04/13/26 09:50 AM ET
hmm...could be the problem...
JoesterVT • 04/13/26 09:52 AM ET
Who in the Lounge has not been sold some bad seed in the past...???**
great2bahokie • 04/13/26 09:32 AM ET
Maybe I could have explained "bare ground" better
JoesterVT • 04/12/26 09:16 PM ET
Found it's best to seed in the fall, allows the grass to put down roots
7Hokie1 • 04/12/26 08:57 PM ET
That's a no go for me because of the heavy traffic
JoesterVT • 04/12/26 09:13 PM ET
“I put it down on bare ground”. There’s 90% of the problem. Ground is
DonHo-kieHi • 04/12/26 08:46 PM ET
Asking the lounge advice on bad seed?
Coach McGuirk • 04/12/26 05:04 PM ET
Patience**
Stork • 04/12/26 02:13 PM ET
I'm hoping....how long?**
JoesterVT • 04/12/26 02:14 PM ET
Need to plant seed in the fall to establish the roots
Spudnut • 04/12/26 04:59 PM ET
Yeah, it was a beautiful patch of grass in November...
JoesterVT • 04/12/26 09:31 PM ET
One like this per my post below**
Spudnut • 04/13/26 09:31 AM ET
Get a hand aerator. Punch lots of holes
Spudnut • 04/12/26 10:05 PM ET
Usually 7-10 days. Those coatings they put on those seeds, also sometimes
Stork • 04/12/26 02:18 PM ET
We'll see. Oddly, I don't see any "coating" on the seed.
JoesterVT • 04/12/26 02:44 PM ET
They coat almost all seeds these days. It’s a giant racket. They say it’s
Stork • 04/12/26 03:33 PM ET
While I don't disagree, Stork...
MP4VT2004 • 04/12/26 03:43 PM ET
Try Titan RX seed from Southern States
Spudnut • 04/13/26 01:45 PM ET
I’m probably more dedicated than most when it comes to watering. So I don’t
Stork • 04/12/26 05:22 PM ET
I'm with you; however, I have a "poor man's" irrigation system...
MP4VT2004 • 04/12/26 05:27 PM ET
That ground should already have enough nitrogen in it.**
IB4TECH • 04/12/26 01:05 PM ET
No sh@t! Or on this case, yes Sh@t....**
JoesterVT • 04/12/26 01:27 PM ET
Do you still have the bag for the seed that you used? ◄
MP4VT2004 • 04/12/26 12:59 PM ET
No, I chucked the bag. But yeah it was from Lowe's
JoesterVT • 04/12/26 01:26 PM ET
I never had lasting success with that stuff. **
ColoVT82 • 04/12/26 12:53 PM ET
I bought some of that once. Tried to use it twice. Same outcome as you.
PhotoHokieNC • 04/12/26 12:46 PM ET