A common question we are asked is “will grass seeds germinate on the surface of the soil? The simple answer to this is yes. In fact, it is important not to bury the seed because young grass sprouts cannot break through if there is too much soil on top of them. Simply put, yes, grass seeds will germinate if left on top of the soil. The seeds will need sunlight, oxygen, moisture and the right temperature to grow, as long as there is also soil from which they can absorb the right nutrients and moisture.
However, this is not an ideal state for grass seeds. Grass seeds aren't strong enough to go through a lot of land. They are designed to be placed on loose, prepared soil. Germination can quickly suffer from excess soil on top of them.
Don't worry that the birds will eat a little, they won't eat enough to make a difference. Grass grows very well in nature, where no one buries it or protects it from birds. It's okay to use a planting mulch to help retain moisture if desired. That doesn't count as burying the seed.
Sowing mulch is usually made of paper pulp, coconut fiber or peat. Will grass seeds germinate in the upper part of the soil? Yes, in fact, germination will be affected if too much soil is placed on top of the seeds. Jonathan Green experts recommend placing a thin layer of mulch or topsoil on them to help keep them moist and warm and promote growth. Grass seeds are generally quite sensitive to temperature, so it is important to choose the right time of year to plant it.
This can lead to a situation where grass seeds can completely fail in the dry or sunny parts of your garden. However, you're likely to end up throwing money down the drain when most of those grass seeds don't germinate and are bird food. While this is not strictly necessary, it can help the lawn grow, so if the option is available, you can continue (although it is more important to pay attention to moisture and cover the lawn with soil). Remember, grass seed takes two to four weeks to germinate, so at that time it has no roots to keep it in place if it rains.
Cool-season grasses are better to plant in early spring or fall, while you'll want to save warm-season grasses for late spring and early summer. Once activated, microbes allow nutrients to be easily absorbed by grass roots, resulting in a stronger, healthier lawn. If you simply spread grass seeds around your lawn, they won't grow as well as if you had spread them and then watered it. There are quite a few options when it comes to covering freshly laid grass seed to protect it and keep it moist.
If the seeds are not adequately protected by existing grass or a thin layer of topsoil, they can dry out before germination or be washed away by rain. If left uncovered, only a small percentage of lucky grass seeds will sprout, while most will die or never sprout. One of the simplest ways to cover turf seeds is by spreading a layer of compost or sifted topsoil. To put it another way, if you have at least four grass seeds germinating per square inch, you're in good shape.
A very thin layer of straw on grass is a popular and inexpensive way to protect grass seeds. You may have heard that you need to cover the grass seed with hay or straw for it to germinate properly.
