Oops... I'm in Stow, Ma :o)

Paul Tukey, in his latest newsletter from safelawns.org, says:

"CAN I STILL APPLY GRASS SEED? A few folks are still asking that question as we approach December. If you live north of Washington, D.C., in the East or San Francisco in the West, IÂd tell you to wait Âtil next year. Seed applied now or later this fall and winter probably wonÂt germinate in time and, even if it does, it wonÂt have enough time to establish its roots before winter. In the meantime, though, if you have bare spots itÂs not a bad idea to hit these with a compost mulch. That will help prevent winter soil erosion and any early-season germination of weed seeds."

Are you talking about a major seeding project or just some bare spots? If it's a small area, it's not going to hurt anything except your wallet, so you could always try some seed. I'd worry about larger areas being exposed to weather and eroding unless you plan to cover the seeds well with hay or some other mulch.

Claire

The upside of trying to seed now is that if the seeds don't germinate because the soil is too cold, and if the birds don't eat them, then the seeds will probably germinate early in the spring and get a head start on growth.

Claire

Thank you!