Grass seed... air temp vs soil temp

[kellybee]

Some people say the grass grows over 4degs, others say over 8degs and everything in between. Others say it's the soil temp that needs to be up.

Sooo, it's raining, and it's mild at night. What's the normal difference between air and soil temps? Ie if it's 6 by night, what's the soil temp likely to be? I've got two feed bins full of hay leftovers. I'm itching to sow it but how long do I wait? Can I chuck it down now and expect it to start germinating or will the overnight temps need to be a bit higher? All week we're forecast temps above 6 overnight!

 

[The wife]

Or newly seeded lawn has been Down a week and its not showing any signs of germinating.

 

[kiteman0]

we have done 40 acres of reseeds over the last week and even though it might not have germinated yet; it won't hurt the seed being in the ground.

 

[The wife]

we have done 40 acres of reseeds over the last week and even though it might not have germinated yet; it won't hurt the seed being in the ground.

You've made me feel slightly better now about the goddam lawn! It's keeping me awake at night worrying about my poor seeds.

 

[TangoCurly]

According to the farmer who runs the farm, the seed needs to be 6 degrees to grow. So that is the soil temperature.

If the soil is wet, the temperature of it will be several degrees below the air temp due to the water trying to evaporate.

So, in reality the temperature needed for the grass to grow, will more likely be 8-10 degrees.

 

[Brightbay]

If the soil is wet, the temperature of it will be several degrees below the air temp due to the water trying to evaporate.

So, in reality the temperature needed for the grass to grow, will more likely be 8-10 degrees.

Thank you, this was helpful! We have had very dry conditions for the last few weeks, so top inch or so was dry, but overnight temperatures still very cold. Now we have rain, so soil a bit wetter, but temperatures rising.

Fingers crossed things will start to improve!

 

[Rob Lakeside]

Soil temperture 6 degrees, but most important is moisture in the soil for seed to germinate.

 

[Clava]

Seed I sewed over a month ago is now growing it started on Sunday and now there is a haze of green.

 

[kellybee]

Most helpful!! I poo picked today and found lots of fine little new grass shoots mixed in, therefore hopefully the fields will be green again soon!

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

The soil temperature needs to be 6 degrees or over - hopefully with the nights getting milder it will soon be there and the grass will grow

 

[Dry Rot]

One of the more important things with reseeding is to get the seed in contact with firm soil, i.e. lots of rolling! If it starts to grow in a loose seed bed, there is a good chance that a dry spell will kill it.

The old advice used to be that you should be able to easily ride a bicycle over the seed bed! So, harrow your seed and fertiliser in and then roll it, then roll it some more.

 

[kellybee]

I've put it down on a small paddock whilst it was raining and as its seed from my hay the horses have been treading all over the sprinklings. Today i set up another small paddock and did the same, and as the fields are no longer boggy and were rolled last week we dont have any rivets. If it doesnt groww it hasnt cost me anything other than my time, but the next field has been harrowed so i'll roll that after i've put the seed down thanks