Dormant seeding is planting grass seeds in cold, unfrozen soil, usually in late fall. The seeds lie dormant through the winter, then swiftly sprout in early spring.
It’s a savvy lawn care strategy for maintaining a lush lawn in northern states. As soon as the snow melts and the soil warms, seedlings emerge. New grass fills barren patches and adds thickness to the lawn. Now, there’s no need to struggle sowing in the spring. With insights from plant experts, learn all about this late-season seeding method.
How Dormant Seeding Works
Winter dormancy delays germination, allowing seeds to sprout once they have a healthy chance to mature. When the season changes, the spring sun warms the soil and melts the snow.
Now hydrated and heated, the earth is geared up for growth. Since seeds are already in the soil, they start sprouting before spring sowing begins, giving your grass a head start on growth.
“The goal of dormant seeding is that the seed (remains dormant) until conditions are suitable for seedling survival in the spring,” says Edward Bahm, plant materials specialist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“With dormant seeding, you are waiting till soil temperatures are low enough that seeds will not germinate (in fall) but are in position (so) germination will happen as soon as soil temperatures rise in the spring,” he says.
Dormant seeding also takes advantage of the natural freeze-thaw cycle, which helps grass seed sink into cracks in the earth, providing optimal seed-to-soil contact by the time spring arrives.
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See Related: How to Dormant Seed Your Lawn
How Dormant Seeding is Different From Spring Seeding and Frost Seeding
Dormant seeding, spring seeding, and frost seeding each have different seeding times and applications.
Here’s a chart to review their differences at a glance:
| Type of Seeding | Seeding Time | Best For |
| Dormant seeding | Late fall, before the soil freezes | Cool-season grasses in northern states |
| Frost seeding | Late winter, after the soil freezes | Pastures of cool-season grass with predictable winter weather |
| Spring seeding | Early spring | Warm-season grasses |
Despite their differences, these seeding methods share at least one major similarity: “Whether it is dormant seeding or spring seeding, the grass will not germinate until temperatures are warm enough in the spring,” says Nick Christians, professor of turfgrass management at Iowa State University.
See Related:
Best Time for Dormant Seeding
The best time to dormant seed your yard depends on your location, grass type, and schedule.
Planting times usually range from late October to December. Be careful to time dormant seeding right. If you plant the grass seed too early, it will germinate before the cold season and die in the winter. Here are some suggestions for when to plant depending on your location:
- Midwest: The best time for dormant seeding “varies by location, but in the Midwest, I would generally say late November to early December,” says Christians.
- Northeast and Northwest: “In both the Northeast and Northwest, I would go after Thanksgiving, and then you can continue to do it until the snow flies,” he says.
Dormant overseeding right before the first freeze works best with the right weather. Here are some tips to determine the best time for dormant seeding:
- Soil temps are between 45 F to 50 F. Thus, the air is 35 F to 40 F. This typically occurs in late October to early December after the first frost.
- The soil is too cold for germination but not frozen. This gives the seeds time to establish in the soil in a dormant state until they germinate in the spring.
- Winter air temps are consistently under 50 F. Seeds may sprout too soon if the temperature fluctuates and the soil warms up. When bitter winter weather returns, the young seedlings will likely die.
- There is no snow covering the soil. You want snowfall to come after the seeds have been sown, not before. Snow provides insulation, protection, and water to seeds. But if you plant the seeds while snow is on the ground, it reduces seed-to-soil contact.
Best Grasses for Dormant Seeding
The best grass type varies depending on location, Christians says, although he generally recommends Kentucky bluegrass as the best grass for winter overseeding. Most importantly, though, choose the right grass type for your yard based on your yard’s conditions. Here are the four cool-season grass types to choose from:
- Fescue: Fine fescue and tall fescue are excellent options for dormant seeding. Being cold-hardy and shade-tolerant, fescues favor fall seeding.
- Kentucky bluegrass: Homeowners covet Kentucky bluegrass‘s density and deep green color. Its resilience relies on dormancy during extreme weather.
- Perennial ryegrass: Many fall seed mixes contain perennial ryegrass because it is the quickest to establish. It also has a high tolerance for foot traffic, making it great for families with children or pets.
- Native grass: Dormant seeding is based on nature’s rhythm. Native grass seeds naturally sync with your local climate.
See Related: How to Overseed in the Fall with Fescue
Benefits of Dormant Seeding
Dormant seeding works in tandem with Mother Nature, providing benefits for you and your lawn. Here are the benefits of dormant seeding, compared to later spring seeding:
- Improved lawn density
- Fills bare spots
- Grass seeds establish and germinate sooner in spring
- Soil is easier to prep
- Less watering
- Fewer weeds
- Increased root development makes grass more drought-tolerant
- More grass growth in shady spots
- Keeps soil structure intact
FAQ About Dormant Seeding
You will not be able to tell if dormant seeding is successful until spring, when the grass has started to grow. If the seeds sprout in the spring, then you will know that your dormant seeding was successful.
Wait 6 to 8 weeks after spring germination before you apply a starter fertilizer.
Dormant seeding at the wrong time can lead to poor results:
• If you dormant seed too early, your grass may germinate before winter, before it has sufficient time to establish. As a result, it will die during the winter.
• If you dormant seed too late, the winter grass seed won’t have enough time to establish in the soil and you miss all the benefits of dormant seeding.
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Sources:
- “Discuss the Steps in Seedbed Preparation.” Oregon State University.
- “Dormant Lawn Seeding.” By Sarah Browning, Extension educator. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
- “Dormant Seeding Your Lawn.“ By Bob Mugaas, Extension educator and turfgrass specialist, and Sam Bauer, associate Extension professor. University of Minnesota Extension.
- Edward Bahm, plant materials specialist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bismarck, ND. Personal interview.
- “Frost Seeding.” United States Department of Agriculture.
- “Late Season Establishment Considerations.” By Jason D. Lanier, Extension team leader for turf and greenhouse crops. University of Massachusetts Amherst.
- “Mild Winter, What Does It Mean for Overseeding of Turf or Dormant Seeding?“ By Jim Murphy, Extension specialist. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
- Nick Christians, professor of turfgrass management at Iowa State University, Ames, IA. Personal interview.
- “Seeding a Turf Area in the Spring.” By Zac Reicher, turfgrass specialist, and Clark Throssell, turfgrass specialist. Purdue Turfgrass Science Program.
Main Image: A person spreads grass seed over soil in the fall for dormant seeding. Photo Credit: Natallia / Adobe Stock
