I know this has been echoed before but you clearly outlining each step down to ratios and such I’d say for the pre-germination method this video has been the most informative!
Hello, hope you and your family is doing well. I tried your pre-germination method using Turf Type Tall Fescue and KBG blend. I started the process on Wednesday @6pm and then followed your method of pre-germinating. After the 4th day (Sunday 29 Sep) I mixed my seed with Milorganite and then put down on my lawn. I set my irrigation system to water 5 mins per zone 3 times per day. With the weather helping me out due to Hurricane Helen remnants. On Tuesday/Wednesday (Oct 1/2) noticed baby grass growing in my entire lawn. So your method actually worked and I just want to thank you so much for your insight and help. Respectfully, Tim
Tim, thanks for taking the time to comment and letting me know this helped. Pre-germinating can definitely be an intimidating process! Keep it up and take pictures as you go!
Took out a pool and deck. I was really concerned about getting the grass to grow quickly because it is a steep slope This method worked like a charm!!!!
So when you said @6:46 the seeds have been soaking for "4-5 days" meaning you only really soaked the seeds for 24 hours and had them sit out the remaining days?
How did this fair for you? I soaked mine for 7 days, didn’t have germination yet, but decided screw it. Mixed it with milorganite last night and spread it. Curious to see how it does…
@andrealyn4263 mine haven't germinated yet. :/ but I have ran into colder temps over the last week and a half. Tomorrow, we jump back into the 70s and 80s by Sunday. Hoping to see something this weekend!!
That's what it took, the warmer weather. A couple of days later, I started seeing the sprouts. Phew! Staying on the watering schedule, however I'm doing 4 intervals of only 3 min. Just keeping an eye on it, cutting back or adding when necessary. Saturday was 80 and Sunday and Monday 85 so it's been doing very well. I'm excited to see the growth this week.
Been 3wks since planting. Would of like to been father along but i did have a cold week just after planting which I feel put me a wk behind. Tried timing this for a HS grad party :/ Put starter fert down on Thursday as to help hurry things along. Prob should of just did that from the start. Mowed for the first time this weekend (carefully) as the grass was long and that helped shape things up and I'm sure will help the growth. Going to cut back on watering a little bit to help dry things up. I bet the 45 day mark and it will look much better.
This is really helpful. I like how you emphasized the little details and went over everything. Also, I noticed the Killington hat. That's definitely a nice mountain.
Thanks. I was wondering about all those videos basically saying you should keep the seeds underwater for two weeks. That did not seem like normal germination conditions.
Good video - I am going to be talking about this on my podcast soon - I'm curious, how well did the Milo/seed mix actually spread from your spreader? Was it clumpy at all?
Thanks for reaching out! It wasn't clumpy at all. I felt like could have gotten away with even less Milo or another medium. Will definitely try it again.
@@TheLawnLabMDif all you're doing is patching small areas that didn't germinate in the fall, can you just spread the seed by hand or should you still mix it up with something?
Thanks for your video. However the trick is not clear to me. After the 24 hours soaking, how long should the seeds remain out of water before the 12 hours sections? Thanks for helping,
I think you’re supposed to dunk it for 24 hours, then dunk on water every 12 hours but only for like 5 minutes then take em to dry for another 12 hours and repeat till they’re ready
Thanks for the video…I tried this with tall fescue but keep soaking it after the 24 hours…started a new batch and am pulling it out after the first 24 hrs now…hoping this works…because keeping it submerged for 6 days did literally nothing!
Bruh same boat. TTTF been soaking for 5 days changing the water every 12 to 24 hours completely submerged..... nothing. Still holding onto hope considering he said TTTF typically take 7 to 14 days.
listen at 2:00 and you’ll get the better explanation. you just keep it wet. do not keep it submerged after the first 24 hours. dip in fresh water every 12 hours after the first day! good luck
@@codyjohnson3893 thanks for the update!!! Watching this video in hopes to find answers to this. I'm on day 7 and about to give up or throw it out in the lawn with some Milorganite and pray 😂😂
It should work for any grass seed. Bermuda is also established using sprigs - little clumps of grass that you spread over the area and then keep wet. I would go with the sprigs route. You don't have to wait for the seed to germinate and has a higher chance for success.
I wouldn't. Those nutrients aren't really going to be used by the seed. Once it has a root down and a leaf growing and it's doing photosynthesis, then it needs the fert. I usually advise to fertilize 2 weeks after you see germination. Don't be afraid to walk on it!
I was soaking too long. You say to only soak 24hrs, then drain. Question, how long to you let it drain then use? Do you soak with a garden hose for a few more days to keep it damp. I think thats what I heard. Thanks!
After the first 24 hours of the seeds being submerged you can just dunk the bag in fresh water for a few minutes every 12 hours (just enough to wash off the old water and potential toxins that were released). Let most of the water drain off & then let it drain in a dry bucket or bucket with holes so water can drain out in a warm area. Seed doesn't need sunlight just heat. When I've used perennial ryegrass I could spread within 5 days.
Thanks for the informative video. Do you need to water as much after spreading pre-germinated seed? I have a large 15,000 square feet without irrigation so I would have to move sprinklers around. Thanks.
There has been some different explanations on this on UA-cam indeed, the full water method also seemed to work for some. Currently I'm also trying your way. At the end it would have been nice to see when it was germinating exactly
Great video, thank you! You didn’t mention it, but did you see any sprouting of roots in the seeds before mixing with Milorganite? Also I might have missed it, but ideally, how many days should we do this cycle before it’s ready, 4-5?
I saw some seeds in the process of opening up. One variable I did not discuss was temperature. What kind of grass seed you are using and temperature are main factors in how long it will take. I did this video in early April, so the seed was soaking in relatively cold water - I let the seed soak in the garage and lows were in the high 40s. If I did it in August/September, the timeline would be a lot shorter. With all that said, I always tell people to err on the side of caution and put the seed down early, because worst case scenario with that is you just have to water for an extra few days. If you pre-germinate for too long you'll struggle to get it down effectively and ruin your project.
In this video I believe it was 4 or 5. Air temp plays a huge role. When I filmed the video temps were in the 50s. Around now (mid-September) it is much warmer and that will speed germination up significantly.
Here's my question, if the seed is germinated and little sprouts are coming out, are you not doing them any harm when you start to spread the out and mix them up?
Hi Kevin, Ideally, you would do it the seeds begin to open and germinate. Realistically, you may only get a few days in the bucket before spreading, but this will still shorten the time you spend waiting for germination significantly.
Can I use boxes to create sod doing this process? I have terrible soil in my area. It’s a lot of rock- I figured if I created sod using your concept it might be a good fit. I wanted to put good top soil in boxes then add this process. Thanks 😊
I’m overseeing with Johnathan Greene Ultra. I’m pretty sure germinating with your method of not keeping the seed always submerged for 3-4 days, I’m changing the water 2times, then just keeping it wet in the bags in the buckets for 3 more days. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
What spreader setting did you end up with? Milorganite says 4:1 with seed but if I want to make sure I'm getting the right amount of seed down the setting would be too high for milorganite.
I drain the water, then put the wet seed back in the empty bucket. I rinse the seed once a day by filling the bucket back up with water and then draining it after 5-10 min.
I have Tall Fescue grass seed. I’ve soaked my grass seed for 4 days let it dry drain for 12 hours then I dipped it back in clean new water then drained it again. I did this for two days. And I do not see the seed beginning to germinate yet. I thought I’m supposed to see a tiny sprout begging to come out of the seed. And that’s the sign to lay the seed down. Should I just go ahead & lay the grass seed down? Or still do the germination process until I see the grass seed starting to open up?
In a perfect world, you would see a tiny sprout and then seed. But I think it's just fine to seed before the seed opens up. You still get the benefit of already getting it wet
@@TheLawnLabMD Thanks...It may be a little too late but we're still having highs in the mid to low 90s and lows in the upper 60s to mid 70s so I'm hoping it'll work...I trying it right now with a pound of Zoysia seeds for a 500 sq ft area. We just redid a small retaining wall which pretty much destroyed everything that was in the area. They say 1 lb can do up to 1000 sq ft so I think I'm good with just trying it on this small area.
Me, myself, and I was wondering how long should we wait after the letting it hang out in the bucket for a few days ? 2 days, 3 days ?? Thank you for informational video..
Ideally, you would soak it, then keep wetting the seed until the seed started to sprout, then you'd get that grass on the ground ASAP. More realistically, I would soak it, then hose it off once a day for 3 days or so. Then get it down. Waiting until germination in the bucket is ideal, but if you mess up then you're SOL.
Are you waiting until it germinates to mix with the milorganite and spread it? I’ve been soaking mine and changing water for 7 days with Bermuda seed and it hasn’t germinated yet so I’m not sure if I should spread the seed or let it sit outside in the shade not submerged.
Ideally you would wait until you see germination. But... in my opinion, getting a few days of soaking and then getting it on the ground is a solid strategy. Shaves days off and prevents you from not being able to spread it (germinated seed getting stuck in the bags)
I don't believe so. Everything the seed needs for the first few weeks of its life is self-contained. There have been studies that oxygenating the water with an aquarium pump and adding things like gibberellic acid, but at that point... this isn't rocket surgery.
I’ve watched 3 videos of people exhaling this and NOONE made it clear you were supposed to remove the grass from the bucket after 24 hours. I’ve tried this twice and both times the grass never grew. Now I know why.
You mentioned peat moss before you applied the mixture. When and how did you put down the peat moss? Did you add it to the seed mixture or did you apply it after spreading the seed? Thanks:)
I put down the peat moss after the seed. I just grabbed handfuls and dusted it over the seed. It will help retain moisture and indicate where your irrigation is lacking.
I'm using 100% Kentucky blue grass. Making sure I understand the process, I soak for 12 hours. Drain, soak for another 12 hours. Drain and let sit in bucket but keep moist for 21 days (approximate germination period for Kentucky Blue Grass) or until I see seeds start to sprout. Is this correct?
In a perfect world, yes. When you drain the seed, it's still pretty darn wet. That's enough water to keep the process going. Just fill it, let it sit for a few minutes, and then drain every morning. Then it's just a game of chicken between you and the seed, don't be afraid to get the seed down before you see germination, you're already cutting a ton of time off and I've seen KBG germination in 7 days.
I’m going to be seeding TTTF in new England also this weekend (assuming the killington hat means you’re up this way also) After the first 24 hours, are you watering the bags at all after once or twice a day to keep moist? How many days total was your process?
Ski the Beast! I'm actually in MD. After soaking, I dump the water out and fill the bucket back, letting it hang out for a few minutes, just as a rinse basically. Then, dump that water out. That leaves you with a wet bag of seed in an empty bucket. The residual water in the bag of seed is enough to keep the seed going in the process. Then, do the same thing 24hrs later. Fill it up, let it hang out for 5-10 min, and then dump it out again. Keep doing this until you either have germination or decide to throw the seed down. I tell people to err on the side of seeding prior to true germination in the bucket because if you screw it up you've just wasted a lot of time and money.
trying this at the moment - one question though ..... after the 24 hour soaking, shouldn't it be left in the dark between each 12 hour wetting, to replicate the condition of it being planted under soil ???
I did it for a week, changed water every 12 hours and it started to smell really bad and even after a week it didn’t germinate why? Maybe like 20 seeds did
You may have needed more time- my tall fescue easily takes 2 weeks or more to germinate. Rye grass may start to germinate in a week. Its a process for sure, but compared to keeping your lawn wet 3-4 times a day, worrying about birds eating all your seeds and worrying about thunderstorms washing it away, it’s a good alternative. Even with the jumpstart you got by soaking it for 7 days, you reduced the amount of water you’ll have to soak you yard with.
Thanks for the video. Did you show the lawn before the seeding or was the intent to show you can mow the lawn after about two weeks of seeding? Asking for one of the three guys watching the video.
I did this last year for an over seed project. The day after I put it down it got hot and muggy. The heavy application of Milo smelled horrid. My wife and neighbors hated me. Next time I will mix it with something else.
I’ve been soaking my Kentucky blue grass seed and changing the water every 12 hrs for almost almost a month now and not even a single sprout. Where could I have gone wrong?
Strange thing just happened. Had Monaco Bermuda seeds wet for 2 days in the buckets always submerged then in the lawn for 7 days for the first visible leaf (back yard) 9 days total. Had the Monaco in the buckets for 6 1/2 days, let them drip dry every 24 hrs, then in the yard for 9 days to see the first green leaf (front yard), 11 days total. So 2 days of priming the seeds out did 6.5 days of pre germinating SMH, just dont get it, it was warmer outside also for the front yard. All coming in great, just thought this was weird
I pre greminated more Monaco, this time let it germinate some in the bucket, 8 days this time before spreading the seeds. The very next day I see tiny grass blades!!!!!! I will push the limits every time from now on
Best thing I ever did was buy 20 pounds of annual ryegrass add 20 lbs Kentucky bluegrass make the mole together in a bucket spread it on my lawn 21 days later Kentucky Bluegrass moved in and have the most beautiful lawn in the neighborhood easy peasy Long Island New York. Move to North Carolina can't grow weeds, or grass lol
Nowadays Gorgeous bag, however, for saving money and high-quality bags, try kislux the rest of the money goes to needy students at schools to pay for their education, not much, but do help them a little.
So frickin confused! So every 12 hours - changed water.. but every 24 ours, caned water, soak for ten minutes, remove and let sit outside of water... for how long before putting it back into a 12 hour soak? "After 24 hours , change water, let sit for 10 minutes, walk the dog, then empty the water and let it sit". For how long before soaking again?
Sorry for the confusion! Put the seed in the bag, and then put the bag in the bucket. Soak it for 12 hrs. Dump that water and replace with fresh water. 12 hrs later, dump that water and fill it back up (here's the key) then dump that water too. The seed will stay wet throughout the day in the bucket. Now each morning just give it a good rinse but leaving it back in the bucket (not submerged) until you're ready to seed.
Great info, had me laugh out loud when you said this is the moment all three of you have been waiting for 😂
I know this has been echoed before but you clearly outlining each step down to ratios and such I’d say for the pre-germination method this video has been the most informative!
Well done video. You've FULLY explained the steps involved, filling in the blanks left in other video presentations on this topic. Thanks.
Hello, hope you and your family is doing well. I tried your pre-germination method using Turf Type Tall Fescue and KBG blend. I started the process on Wednesday @6pm and then followed your method of pre-germinating. After the 4th day (Sunday 29 Sep) I mixed my seed with Milorganite and then put down on my lawn. I set my irrigation system to water 5 mins per zone 3 times per day. With the weather helping me out due to Hurricane Helen remnants. On Tuesday/Wednesday (Oct 1/2) noticed baby grass growing in my entire lawn. So your method actually worked and I just want to thank you so much for your insight and help. Respectfully, Tim
Tim, thanks for taking the time to comment and letting me know this helped. Pre-germinating can definitely be an intimidating process! Keep it up and take pictures as you go!
@@TheLawnLabMD you’re welcome Sir and thank you again.
My KBG germinated in 4 days usjng thus method. 1 week later grass is growing and 10-14 days my backyard is fully grown. Wow
!
Awesome!
Took out a pool and deck. I was really concerned about getting the grass to grow quickly because it is a steep slope
This method worked like a charm!!!!
16 days and you've got a lush lawn. That's great. Thanks for the info.
Good video, honestly was surprised you didn’t have more subscribers judging by the quality of the video.
This dude is right. I like the fact be day full soak, then keep damp. Makes sense.
So when you said @6:46 the seeds have been soaking for "4-5 days" meaning you only really soaked the seeds for 24 hours and had them sit out the remaining days?
I just soaked mine for 3 days, changed water every 12hrs the mixed with milogranite and spread. Hoping for good results.
Report back! I'm about to do the same to my lawn in about a week before the hotter temps start creeping in.
How did this fair for you? I soaked mine for 7 days, didn’t have germination yet, but decided screw it. Mixed it with milorganite last night and spread it. Curious to see how it does…
@andrealyn4263 mine haven't germinated yet. :/ but I have ran into colder temps over the last week and a half. Tomorrow, we jump back into the 70s and 80s by Sunday. Hoping to see something this weekend!!
That's what it took, the warmer weather. A couple of days later, I started seeing the sprouts. Phew! Staying on the watering schedule, however I'm doing 4 intervals of only 3 min. Just keeping an eye on it, cutting back or adding when necessary. Saturday was 80 and Sunday and Monday 85 so it's been doing very well. I'm excited to see the growth this week.
Been 3wks since planting. Would of like to been father along but i did have a cold week just after planting which I feel put me a wk behind. Tried timing this for a HS grad party :/ Put starter fert down on Thursday as to help hurry things along. Prob should of just did that from the start. Mowed for the first time this weekend (carefully) as the grass was long and that helped shape things up and I'm sure will help the growth. Going to cut back on watering a little bit to help dry things up. I bet the 45 day mark and it will look much better.
This is really helpful. I like how you emphasized the little details and went over everything. Also, I noticed the Killington hat. That's definitely a nice mountain.
Thanks. I was wondering about all those videos basically saying you should keep the seeds underwater for two weeks. That did not seem like normal germination conditions.
Good video - I am going to be talking about this on my podcast soon - I'm curious, how well did the Milo/seed mix actually spread from your spreader? Was it clumpy at all?
Thanks for reaching out! It wasn't clumpy at all. I felt like could have gotten away with even less Milo or another medium. Will definitely try it again.
@@TheLawnLabMDif all you're doing is patching small areas that didn't germinate in the fall, can you just spread the seed by hand or should you still mix it up with something?
Question I just did rye seed 6 hr then threw it down because a rain was coming . What will it do . Did this before I saw yours .
Great video, thank you!
One thing is the fluctuation of audio volume should be fixed.
Yeah, no kidding. Couldn't hear the dude for the whole video, so put on earbuds. Then at the end, it's blowing out my eardrums with the music!
"The step all 3 of you watching this video have been waiting for" 🤣
Thanks for your video. However the trick is not clear to me. After the 24 hours soaking, how long should the seeds remain out of water before the 12 hours sections? Thanks for helping,
Initial soak for a day, then periodically dunk when it gets dry.
I think you’re supposed to dunk it for 24 hours, then dunk on water every 12 hours but only for like 5 minutes then take em to dry for another 12 hours and repeat till they’re ready
Thanks for the video…I tried this with tall fescue but keep soaking it after the 24 hours…started a new batch and am pulling it out after the first 24 hrs now…hoping this works…because keeping it submerged for 6 days did literally nothing!
Bruh same boat. TTTF been soaking for 5 days changing the water every 12 to 24 hours completely submerged..... nothing. Still holding onto hope considering he said TTTF typically take 7 to 14 days.
listen at 2:00 and you’ll get the better explanation.
you just keep it wet. do not keep it submerged after the first 24 hours. dip in fresh water every 12 hours after the first day! good luck
warm water in the first 24 hours helps as well
Update, day 9 and I've finally got some germination!
@@codyjohnson3893 thanks for the update!!! Watching this video in hopes to find answers to this. I'm on day 7 and about to give up or throw it out in the lawn with some Milorganite and pray 😂😂
Top tip keep the water to spray on the seedlings after planting,
It has very important hormones in to promote growth
Some other folks so it’s actually toxic? Because the grass seed produces some toxic chemical when it starts to germinate.
Actually, he says it - 4:30ish.
Just make sure to water it down maybe 1:1 as it can burn if too strong , and not watered in.
@@getAlife666 ahhhh. Makes sense. Prolly a good weed deterrent eh?
Not the dirty water that the seeds were soaking in, you should dispose of that water.
Great informative video. Will this work on bermuda seeds for warm season grass
It should work for any grass seed. Bermuda is also established using sprigs - little clumps of grass that you spread over the area and then keep wet. I would go with the sprigs route. You don't have to wait for the seed to germinate and has a higher chance for success.
Great video. I was wondering if it would be ok to mix in some starter fertilizer with that mix?
I wouldn't. Those nutrients aren't really going to be used by the seed. Once it has a root down and a leaf growing and it's doing photosynthesis, then it needs the fert. I usually advise to fertilize 2 weeks after you see germination. Don't be afraid to walk on it!
Great video. Do you need to spread peat moss over the germinated seeds?
It should mix well with the milorganite so you should only need to keep it wet. It probably wouldn't hurt if you live in a windy dry place like I do.
I was soaking too long. You say to only soak 24hrs, then drain. Question, how long to you let it drain then use? Do you soak with a garden hose for a few more days to keep it damp. I think thats what I heard. Thanks!
After the first 24 hours of the seeds being submerged you can just dunk the bag in fresh water for a few minutes every 12 hours (just enough to wash off the old water and potential toxins that were released). Let most of the water drain off & then let it drain in a dry bucket or bucket with holes so water can drain out in a warm area. Seed doesn't need sunlight just heat. When I've used perennial ryegrass I could spread within 5 days.
Thanks for the informative video. Do you need to water as much after spreading pre-germinated seed? I have a large 15,000 square feet without irrigation so I would have to move sprinklers around. Thanks.
Thanks for the video. How do you know when the seed is germinated and ready to be spread?
You will see little white sprouts. You have to plant it at that time because it will overgrow strainer bag really fast.
I didn't see sprouts on your bag of seed 😕
There has been some different explanations on this on UA-cam indeed, the full water method also seemed to work for some. Currently I'm also trying your way. At the end it would have been nice to see when it was germinating exactly
Did this method work out for you?
@@Aecon31 Yes, the hard part is to have sand or some carrier and mix the germinating seeds with, and spread it nicely.
@@Arietjethat’s great news. How many days did you wait until you put down the seed?
@@Aecon31 I waited untill I saw some germination out of the seeds, for me this was on day 6, small white stems coming out of the seeds.
Great video, thank you! You didn’t mention it, but did you see any sprouting of roots in the seeds before mixing with Milorganite? Also I might have missed it, but ideally, how many days should we do this cycle before it’s ready, 4-5?
I saw some seeds in the process of opening up. One variable I did not discuss was temperature. What kind of grass seed you are using and temperature are main factors in how long it will take. I did this video in early April, so the seed was soaking in relatively cold water - I let the seed soak in the garage and lows were in the high 40s. If I did it in August/September, the timeline would be a lot shorter. With all that said, I always tell people to err on the side of caution and put the seed down early, because worst case scenario with that is you just have to water for an extra few days. If you pre-germinate for too long you'll struggle to get it down effectively and ruin your project.
For blue resilience, how many days from the initial soak to planting the mix?
In this video I believe it was 4 or 5. Air temp plays a huge role. When I filmed the video temps were in the 50s. Around now (mid-September) it is much warmer and that will speed germination up significantly.
Here's my question, if the seed is germinated and little sprouts are coming out, are you not doing them any harm when you start to spread the out and mix them up?
Great info
When do I actually start the mixing and spreading process? Is it when I start to see some sprouting?
Hi Kevin,
Ideally, you would do it the seeds begin to open and germinate. Realistically, you may only get a few days in the bucket before spreading, but this will still shorten the time you spend waiting for germination significantly.
Can I use boxes to create sod doing this process? I have terrible soil in my area. It’s a lot of rock- I figured if I created sod using your concept it might be a good fit. I wanted to put good top soil in boxes then add this process. Thanks 😊
I’m overseeing with Johnathan Greene Ultra. I’m pretty sure germinating with your method of not keeping the seed always submerged for 3-4 days, I’m changing the water 2times, then just keeping it wet in the bags in the buckets for 3 more days. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
How did it work for you? Same seed I am about to use.
I have this same seed and going to try this method. How did it work for you?
Great video, I’m going to overseeing with Johnathan Green Ultra. How many days prior to mixing it with Milorganite would you suggest I pregenerate it?
Starting this process with JG BBU as well. How did it turn out for you? Was 3 days of pre germination enough?
What are the bags that you're soaking the seeds in?
Paint strainer bags
What spreader setting did you end up with? Milorganite says 4:1 with seed but if I want to make sure I'm getting the right amount of seed down the setting would be too high for milorganite.
So the 1st 24 hours,seed is under water, then you just leave in the bucket?are you adding water?and how long before you put it down?
I drain the water, then put the wet seed back in the empty bucket. I rinse the seed once a day by filling the bucket back up with water and then draining it after 5-10 min.
How much seed should i use if i have 12k sq feet? And then how much milorganite with that amount. Thanks.
What kind of bags are you using?
Paint strainer bags that you can get at your local hardware store or Amazon.
I have Tall Fescue grass seed. I’ve soaked my grass seed for 4 days let it dry drain for 12 hours then I dipped it back in clean new water then drained it again. I did this for two days. And I do not see the seed beginning to germinate yet. I thought I’m supposed to see a tiny sprout begging to come out of the seed. And that’s the sign to lay the seed down. Should I just go ahead & lay the grass seed down? Or still do the germination process until I see the grass seed starting to open up?
In a perfect world, you would see a tiny sprout and then seed. But I think it's just fine to seed before the seed opens up. You still get the benefit of already getting it wet
Does this work with warm season grasses such as Zoysia or Bermuda?
Yes it does, but I don't have much experience with seeding those grasses.
@@TheLawnLabMD Thanks...It may be a little too late but we're still having highs in the mid to low 90s and lows in the upper 60s to mid 70s so I'm hoping it'll work...I trying it right now with a pound of Zoysia seeds for a 500 sq ft area. We just redid a small retaining wall which pretty much destroyed everything that was in the area. They say 1 lb can do up to 1000 sq ft so I think I'm good with just trying it on this small area.
Me, myself, and I was wondering how long should we wait after the letting it hang out in the bucket for a few days ?
2 days, 3 days ??
Thank you for informational video..
Ideally, you would soak it, then keep wetting the seed until the seed started to sprout, then you'd get that grass on the ground ASAP. More realistically, I would soak it, then hose it off once a day for 3 days or so. Then get it down. Waiting until germination in the bucket is ideal, but if you mess up then you're SOL.
@@TheLawnLabMD
Great, thank you so much for the information..
Are you waiting until it germinates to mix with the milorganite and spread it?
I’ve been soaking mine and changing water for 7 days with Bermuda seed and it hasn’t germinated yet so I’m not sure if I should spread the seed or let it sit outside in the shade not submerged.
Ideally you would wait until you see germination. But... in my opinion, getting a few days of soaking and then getting it on the ground is a solid strategy. Shaves days off and prevents you from not being able to spread it (germinated seed getting stuck in the bags)
Would there be any benefit to adding a small amount of liquid fertilizer to the water in the bucket?
I don't believe so. Everything the seed needs for the first few weeks of its life is self-contained. There have been studies that oxygenating the water with an aquarium pump and adding things like gibberellic acid, but at that point... this isn't rocket surgery.
I’ve watched 3 videos of people exhaling this and NOONE made it clear you were supposed to remove the grass from the bucket after 24 hours.
I’ve tried this twice and both times the grass never grew. Now I know why.
Same. I had luck with it once. Just did it again last weekend we’ll see how it goes.
You mentioned peat moss before you applied the mixture. When and how did you put down the peat moss? Did you add it to the seed mixture or did you apply it after spreading the seed? Thanks:)
I put down the peat moss after the seed. I just grabbed handfuls and dusted it over the seed. It will help retain moisture and indicate where your irrigation is lacking.
I'm using 100% Kentucky blue grass. Making sure I understand the process, I soak for 12 hours. Drain, soak for another 12 hours. Drain and let sit in bucket but keep moist for 21 days (approximate germination period for Kentucky Blue Grass) or until I see seeds start to sprout. Is this correct?
In a perfect world, yes. When you drain the seed, it's still pretty darn wet. That's enough water to keep the process going. Just fill it, let it sit for a few minutes, and then drain every morning. Then it's just a game of chicken between you and the seed, don't be afraid to get the seed down before you see germination, you're already cutting a ton of time off and I've seen KBG germination in 7 days.
I’m going to be seeding TTTF in new England also this weekend (assuming the killington hat means you’re up this way also)
After the first 24 hours, are you watering the bags at all after once or twice a day to keep moist?
How many days total was your process?
Ski the Beast! I'm actually in MD.
After soaking, I dump the water out and fill the bucket back, letting it hang out for a few minutes, just as a rinse basically. Then, dump that water out. That leaves you with a wet bag of seed in an empty bucket. The residual water in the bag of seed is enough to keep the seed going in the process. Then, do the same thing 24hrs later. Fill it up, let it hang out for 5-10 min, and then dump it out again. Keep doing this until you either have germination or decide to throw the seed down. I tell people to err on the side of seeding prior to true germination in the bucket because if you screw it up you've just wasted a lot of time and money.
Would love to try, but live in Phoenix and haven't been able to find seed that isn't coated yet. Anyone have any ideas for seeds that grow here?
Try sprigs of Bermuda
Damn that was quick!!!
Does this work for centipede and Bermuda?
trying this at the moment - one question though ..... after the 24 hour soaking, shouldn't it be left in the dark between each 12 hour wetting, to replicate the condition of it being planted under soil ???
I am not sure if it matters that much, but feel free to store the seed wherever you have the most control!
What ratio would you estimate of the pre-germinated seeds to milorganite if I didn't do any of the measuring?
I believe it’s a 4:1 Milo to Seed.
milorganite is not available here in Fl due to a fertilizer ban. what else can you use
Next time I do this I am going to either use sand, soil conditioner, or granular humate. Much better for the environment and just as effective.
You just stop my seeds from dying. Because they have been swimming in the water for four days😂.
Lmao same did yours started to have a smell?
I did it for a week, changed water every 12 hours and it started to smell really bad and even after a week it didn’t germinate why? Maybe like 20 seeds did
You may have needed more time- my tall fescue easily takes 2 weeks or more to germinate. Rye grass may start to germinate in a week. Its a process for sure, but compared to keeping your lawn wet 3-4 times a day, worrying about birds eating all your seeds and worrying about thunderstorms washing it away, it’s a good alternative. Even with the jumpstart you got by soaking it for 7 days, you reduced the amount of water you’ll have to soak you yard with.
Did you keep the seeds submerged after the 24 hours?
@@APinTheAK yeah this is the only video I seen that said to not submerge, I watched 5 videos earlier and everyone kept them submerged for a week
Just finished doing your process of pre germinating- added the milorganite - and grass seed mix is down! Excited to see the results!!
Sounds great! I hope it worked for you!
How did it turn out for you?
Thanks for the video. Did you show the lawn before the seeding or was the intent to show you can mow the lawn after about two weeks of seeding? Asking for one of the three guys watching the video.
Yes I did, in my project lawn series.
Does this process work with coated seed as well?
No
Yes because it worked well with my coated seeds
Coated seeds are harder to get end results with I've read from a lot of people
Good info but it would have only taken a moment to show what the sprouting seed looked like at the ideal stage for sowing.
Great point. At the time of seeding, I had very little sprouting and was limited to the time the customer gave me, but I will in the future.
No Milorganite in Canada....anyone know what Canadians can use to mix with the wet seed before spreading?
Humid acid
Acti-Sol
instead of milorganite (don't have that easily available in canada) could i just mix the seed with topsoil and spread it?
Yes
Look for Acti-Sol in Canada. It's hen manure so it might stink but it is a good alternative to Milorganite.
"this is the step all three of you watching this video have probably been waiting for" LOL. I few more have watched than that I see
How long will it take for kbg
KGB usually takes 3 weeks to germinate. Roughly speaking, every 12 hours you can soak it will shave 24 hours off germination.
Does it matter if you soak the seeed in chlorinated water?
I honestly have no idea. I would try to not use chlorinated water.
What are you mixing the seed with?
Hi Kevin, I am mixing the seed with Milorganite fertilizer.
@@TheLawnLabMD one more question? You only soak it for 24 hours? I have tall fescue so how long do I let it sit after that before I seed?
I did this last year for an over seed project. The day after I put it down it got hot and muggy. The heavy application of Milo smelled horrid. My wife and neighbors hated me. Next time I will mix it with something else.
Mix it with something else like what?
Hi, I am in Canada and milorganite is not available here and there are import restrictions as well. What will be the alternative to using Milorganite?
I heard humichar is another option in another video. Haven't tried it yet but it is being delivered and my seeds are currently soaking
I’m using soil conditioner from Amazon or Home Depot
Pretty cheap and does the trick plus makes your soil rich again
Acti-Sol
I’ve been soaking my Kentucky blue grass seed and changing the water every 12 hrs for almost almost a month now and not even a single sprout. Where could I have gone wrong?
After the first 24 hrs (12 + 12) of soaking, that’s it!
Dangit. Did I ruin my seed?
Leave it out and see . Fingers crossed
Is that “toxin” from the grass typical from all grass seeds? Or just the types you’re using in the video?
what if the seed is coated?
Honestly, I am not sure. If I had coated seed I would be inclined to not pre-germinate and sow as intended by the manufacturer.
You said water it once a day when it's out of the bucket. Then you said to just let it dry the second time?
Yes. Just give it a good hose down. The seed will still be wet, just not dripping.
Frustrating as a Canadian every video I see on this it is always milorganite and we can't get that here , what else can we use ?
Acti-Sol Organic Fertilizer
@@ScoutFX thank you looks perfect
Its just a slower release natural style fertilizer, nothing special. I am sure you can find an alternative.
Strange thing just happened. Had Monaco Bermuda seeds wet for 2 days in the buckets always submerged then in the lawn for 7 days for the first visible leaf (back yard) 9 days total. Had the Monaco in the buckets for 6 1/2 days, let them drip dry every 24 hrs, then in the yard for 9 days to see the first green leaf (front yard), 11 days total. So 2 days of priming the seeds out did 6.5 days of pre germinating SMH, just dont get it, it was warmer outside also for the front yard. All coming in great, just thought this was weird
You just using paint strainer bags? Didn't here you mention what that is.
Yes, exactly
How long after the 24 HR soak do you set out and hose down? Longer for 100% KBG?
I pre greminated more Monaco, this time let it germinate some in the bucket, 8 days this time before spreading the seeds. The very next day I see tiny grass blades!!!!!! I will push the limits every time from now on
I've been there, it's stressful for sure!
All 3 of you lmao 🤣 great video
Best thing I ever did was buy 20 pounds of annual ryegrass add 20 lbs Kentucky bluegrass make the mole together in a bucket spread it on my lawn 21 days later Kentucky Bluegrass moved in and have the most beautiful lawn in the neighborhood easy peasy Long Island New York.
Move to North Carolina can't grow weeds, or grass lol
best thing you ever did wasn't your lawn!
me and my 5 yr old. so make it 4 of us watching lol
I appreciate it!
4 of us. 🙋🏼♂️
Nowadays Gorgeous bag, however, for saving money and high-quality bags, try kislux the rest of the money goes to needy students at schools to pay for their education, not much, but do help them a little.
"It will realize" lmao solid information
Im going to try this with half of the 6 pounds of Zenith Zosia I just got.
I wouldn’t zoysia seed to costly this work well with cool season grass
I've tried this method 2 different times and the seeds never germinate.
Sorry to hear that. A lot of times the seed won't actually germinate, but this will still speed up the process.
What if you put an air bubbler under the seed?
So frickin confused! So every 12 hours - changed water.. but every 24 ours, caned water, soak for ten minutes, remove and let sit outside of water... for how long before putting it back into a 12 hour soak? "After 24 hours , change water, let sit for 10 minutes, walk the dog, then empty the water and let it sit". For how long before soaking again?
Sorry for the confusion! Put the seed in the bag, and then put the bag in the bucket. Soak it for 12 hrs. Dump that water and replace with fresh water. 12 hrs later, dump that water and fill it back up (here's the key) then dump that water too. The seed will stay wet throughout the day in the bucket. Now each morning just give it a good rinse but leaving it back in the bucket (not submerged) until you're ready to seed.
Good tip: Don't pour the wastewater on your grass! 🤪
Absolutely. Had some issues this summer. I'll be making another update video.
ha ha all 3 of us🎉
All 3 of us watching this video
40,001 0f Middle age men
Really, Yap yap yap, one shot showing how it looks when it's ready would be helpful
Plot twist you dont need to grow grass since it grows by itself.... pretty qucikly too.
are you crazy?
Yes