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Do you think seed bought last year is still good?

Jason, zone 7A, near Greensboro NC

6 months ago

Last September, I bought Jonathon Greene grass seed to resow my entire lawn. But then the guy dropped a tree on my house, and the lawn quickly went down in priority! LOL

The bags have sat in my garage all year, still in their shipping box and unopened.

It's about time to sow new grass now; I've spent the year wiping out the entire lawn so I'm starting over from scratch.

Do you think that grass seed that has sat for a year is still viable? Or do I need to order new?

I hate to throw away $400 worth of grass seed! But at the same time, I hate to sow it and it not come up, then it's too cold so I'm without a lawn for another year :-/

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Comments (5)

KR KNuttle
6 months ago
What do you have to loose by planting it? A couple of hours? Possibility of an 80% germination rate instead of 90%. You are going to have to plan for a couple of season any way to get the coverage you want.

What will it cost you to throw it away? Will your trash company take it? How much is the tipping fee a the Dump if you take it there.
Jason, zone 7A, near Greensboro NC
Original Author
6 months ago
What do you have to loose by planting it? A couple of hours?

No... a year. My concern is that I sow it and wait 2-3 weeks, then it's too cold to sow new. So I'm stuck with a mudpit until next year.

Possibility of an 80% germination rate instead of 90%.

If that's what you think I should expect, great! :-) I'm find with 80%, I was more concerned with 0%.

What will it cost you to throw it away?

Technically, about $400 to buy new.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 months ago
last modified: 6 months ago
Turf grass seed will remain viable for 2-3 years. The germination rate will decline but only by about 10-20% per year. You compensate for that by applying at a slightly heavier rate than suggested.

If you need to, you can dormant seed and the grass will germinate whenever temperatures are suitable.
Jason, zone 7A, near Greensboro NC thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
rifis (zone 6b-7a NJ)
6 months ago
Yes - still good.

See several discussions of this topic at thelawnforum website.
rifis (zone 6b-7a NJ)
6 months ago
For example:

https://www.thelawnforum.com/threads/old-seed.1057/

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