This week marks my two year anniversary here on the Nature’s Seed blog. I’ve talked about a lot of different things, from seed bombs to backyard putting greens, Native American myths to snow mold. I hope you’ve found them interesting and useful. Besides my weekly blog updates I also answer customer inquiries and emails each day. By this time, I think I’ve heard it all! I really enjoy helping folks with their seeding projects. Success stories are the best, especially when customers send before and after pictures. Unfortunately I also get some failure stories. That’s the thing about working with Mother Nature. We have to understand that we’re dealing with a living entity. Seeds are not inert, lifeless matter. They have needs, preferences and requirements. All we can do is provide them with the best possible conditions to grow and thrive. Mistakes will be made of course, but that’s how we learn. To help you get past this learning curve, I’ve put together a list of the most common mistakes people have made over the last two years when starting a new lawn from seed.
We’ve all been there – you meticulously prepare the lawn, spread grass seed evenly across the area, add some protective covering like straw or peat moss, and start watering regularly. Things seem to be going perfectly until someone points out you forgot one crucial step – raking in the grass seed! Now doubts start creeping in if your beautiful new lawn will still grow in nicely or if you just wasted time, money, and effort. Don’t panic! Forgetting to rake in grass seed doesn’t automatically spell disaster for your lawn project. Here’s what to expect and what you can do if you forgot this important step.
Why Raking in Seed is Recommended
Raking in newly spread grass seed has some clear advantages that explain why it’s routinely recommended:
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Pushes seeds into soil contact. Direct contact with the soil helps transfer moisture to the seeds so they can germinate. It also brings them close to soil nutrients they need to grow once sprouted.
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Buries seeds below the surface. This protects them from potential hazards like drying out getting washed away by rain or irrigation, or being eaten by birds.
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Helps break up thatch layer Thatch is a tightly packed layer of dead grass stems and roots at soil level, Raking helps break this up so seed can reach the soil underneath
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Improves seed-to-soil contact. The raking action presses seeds firmly against soil so roots can penetrate easily once germinated.
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Allows for more even distribution. Raking lightly across seed spreads it out evenly for uniform germination and growth.
So raking seed in is obviously beneficial, but what happens if you neglect to do it?
Consequences of Skipping Seed Raking
If you don’t rake in grass seed, you can expect the following consequences:
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Delayed germination time. Without good soil contact, it will simply take longer for seeds to absorb enough moisture to trigger germination. This delay could be a few extra days or even weeks.
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Thinner turf density. Some percentage of seeds will fail to germinate because they couldn’t access soil moisture and nutrients. This leads to a less dense lawn overall.
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Increased seed loss. Without burial below the surface, seeds are very prone to moving or washing away before they can sprout. Birds may also eat more of your seed investment.
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Uneven growth. Some areas will get better seed-to-soil contact than others, resulting in a patchy looking lawn. Some seeds blow into low spots and over-seed those areas.
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Weaker seedlings. With minimal soil anchoring at first, young grass sprouts can be more easily uprooted or buried by environmental factors like rain, irrigation water force, or foot traffic.
So clearly your lawn success is much less certain without raking, but all hope is not lost in many cases with some corrective steps.
Steps to Take if You Forgot to Rake in Seed
Don’t give up on your lawn yet! Here are some remedial actions you can take to help the grass still grow with minimal raking:
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Lightly rake over the seed now. Doing some light raking even days after seeding can still push some down into better soil contact. Go gently to avoid burying seed too deeply.
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Consider re-seeding. If it’s been less than 5-7 days, sprinkle new seed lightly over the area and rake this in lightly. Enough uncovered seed should remain to complement the new.
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Water more frequently. Increase watering duration and frequency. This maintains constant moisture so seeds have the hydration needed to sprout and grow roots down into the soil.
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Add a light topdressing. Sprinkle a thin later of compost or fine vermiculite over the seed to help hold in moisture. This protects seeds from drying out.
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Use germination mats. These heating mats promote faster germination, which helps compensate for lack of seed-soil contact. Warming cold soil also accelerates growth.
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Adjust expectations. Understand that you may not get picture-perfect turf density. But grass will fill in more over time. Overseed again in future seasons.
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**Mow higher initially.**Raise mower blades to 3-4 inches for the first few mowings. This protects tender new seedlings until the develop deeper roots.
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Fertilize lightly. Use a weak, starter fertilizer once sprouted to promote establishment without forcing top growth too quickly.
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Reseed bare spots. If you end up with patchy areas, you can spot reseed just there and rake in well. Fall is ideal for repairing thin summer lawns.
With attentive care and patience, you can still achieve reasonable lawn success after forgetting to rake in the grass seed. And you’ll be sure not to make that mistake again for any future seeding projects! Just stay the course and keep nurturing growth under less than ideal conditions.
When to Rake Grass Seed Anyway?
Since raking in seed is so beneficial, it’s good to understand the proper technique and timing when you do it intentionally. Here are some tips:
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Rake first to loosen the top 1/4 inch of soil and break up debris, thatch, or crusting.
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Optimal raking depth for seeds is 1/8 inch or less. Excessive raking risks burying them too deep to sprout.
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Use a bow rake, dethatching rake, or stiff-bristled broom for best seed-soil contact.
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Rake in two perpendicular directions to evenly distribute seeds across the lawn.
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Rake once seeds are spread but before any protective topping like peat moss or straw.
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Rake gently to avoid disturbing already-sprouting seeds if remedial raking was delayed.
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Water lightly after raking to mist seeds down and maintain moisture.
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Avoid raking when soil is overly wet or dry since ideal seed-soil contact will not be possible.
Alternative Overseeding Options
While raking in seed is certainly the most effective method, other overseeding options can also work:
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Aerating before seeding can allow some seed to naturally filter into soil plug holes.
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Slit seeding uses blades to cut uniform grooves for seed to settle into.
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Overseed after power raking since this brings up bare soil.
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broadcasting seed without raking will see some success, just less than raked seed.
So don’t be afraid to experiment with different seeding techniques. And keep raking in your back pocket as the go-to technique for maximum seed-soil contact and the full lush lawn you desire.
Key Takeaways on Forgotten Seed Raking
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Forgetting to rake in grass seed is frustrating but not a guaranteed failure. Proper follow-up care can still produce decent results.
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Take steps like re-seeding bare spots and watering thoroughly to nurture seeds into sprouting and developing roots.
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Adjust expectations since ultimate turf thickness and uniformity may be less than perfectly raked lawns.
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Learn from the mistake and make sure to rake in seed properly on future planting jobs.
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Applying Mulch Too Thick
Another germination problem arises when people apply mulch too thick to the seeded area. While mulch can be very beneficial, applying it too thick will smother the new seedlings. For best results, only apply mulch at the recommended rate. If using straw, one 80 lb. bale per 1000 square feet is adequate. Also make sure your straw is from a trusted source. Better yet, only use certified weed-free straw. Using straw mulch infested with weed seeds is the quickest way to introduced weeds to a new lawn.
Using the Wrong Seed for Your Climate
I get emails from customers at least a few times a month asking why their seeds didn’t sprout in their yard. The story usually goes something like this:
I went to your website and ordered the most expensive blend I could find. I figured the more expensive, the higher quality it must be. When it arrived I planted it like you’re supposed to. Nothing ever came up. I think your seed is broken!.
After digging a bit deep, I usually find out that they ordered buffalograss or zoysia grass and tried to plant it in a northern climate in the fall or spring. Turns out that buffalograss and zoysia are warm-season grasses. Yes these grasses are more expensive, but not because they’re any higher in quality than any of our other blends. Price has a lot to do with how easy it is to collect the seed. Warm season grasses also have much different climate needs than the types of grasses grown in the North. They need to be planted in the summer and prefer hot temperatures. It’s no wonder the customer couldn’t get them to germinate. Always know what type of grass is compatible for your climate. If you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to ask us.
Every now and then I’ll get an email describing a very low germination rate. There could be several reasons for this. One of the more common reasons is planting depth. When people plant seeds, they sometimes bury or rake them in too deeply because they think they need to be planted like garden vegetables. Remember that the grass only needs to be lightly raked into the ground or even just spread out on top of the ground. Any seeds buried more than the length of the seed will have a hard time germinating successfully.
Do You Have To Rake Grass Seed In To Get It To Grow
FAQ
Will grass seed grow if not raked in?
Can I just throw grass seed on bare spots?
Can you just throw grass seed on a lawn?
Does grass seed need to be racked in?
Do I need a rake when seeding a lawn?
If you are seeding an existing lawn that is thinning, raking is not necessary because the seeds will move between the blades of grass. Additionally, the rake will be ineffective at mixing the seeds into the soil as it will rake through the grass.
What happens if you don’t rake your lawn?
Failure to rake the lawn will wash the grass seed away. Rain, sprinklers, and garden hoses will force most of the grass seeds away from the soil since they’re not secure. Raking the soil pushes the seeds further into the dirt, preventing this from happening. Your lawn’s seeds can blow away during a heavy wind storm.
How do you rake a grass seed?
You should get a metal rake for grass seed. Turn the rake upside down to use the soft underside to put the seeds into the soil. Using the back of the rake will stop it from moving the seeds around and making a patchy lawn. You can also use a flexible plastic rake to lightly graze the soil.
What happens if you don’t rake in grass seed?
Since you should overseed the lawn when it’s patchy, we think it’s essential to cover what happens if you don’t rake it. If you don’t rake in grass seed, the seeds can wash away or blow away from rain and wind. Furthermore, the grass seeds likely won’t get deep enough into the soil to sprout.
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