old seed

[crs]

I have about 250 pounds of fescue mix seed left from last year. It has been stored inside and kept dry. I was planning to use it this year but I wanted to know if the germination rate dropped over time or if it would be as "good as new."

Thanks!

[fivestarlawnken]

From what i know, it should be okay just so it didnt freeze if it was in the cold.

[awm]

learned something else . i didnt know it woild kill it if it was in freezing temps . makes sense though. any other thoughts on this.

[ant]

crs,check out the germination but counting out 100 seeds and place them in a damp paper towel and a zip lock bag and throw it on top of the refridge (were it's warm) and in a week or so open it up and see howmany grass plants you have,and adjust your seed rate per m at that point.
if its endophite grass seed it might be all gone being stored at the shop.
ant

[HBFOXJr]

Cold won't hurt it too much as it can lay dormant in the soil and come up in the spring.

Heat is a killer.

Do Ant's germination test.

[lawnboy82]

One of my professors had said that as a rule of thumb after 6 mos. of storage you will see the germination percentage drop significantly. Definatley do Ant's test. I would say though that you may want to just burn it up somewhere if it has been sitting for a good amount of time. What I have done in the past if i have grass seed that has been sitting in my garage is I take is somewhere that it doesnt matter if it germinates, or it is consumed by the animals. I am sure you know the kind of place i am referring to. Like this you do not have to go back and re-do a guaranteed lawn.