How long will seed last?

[Gilla Gorilla]

I did a powerrake and overseeding with the drop spreader attached to the power rake at the beginning of September. Told my buddy to keep it watered. Well he did for a couple of days then noticed that the water pressure in his house was dropping badly and enough to scare him. He did not want to dry out his well and still wanted to be able to take a shower over growing grass. As many of you know the Virginia area got basically NO rain for the month of September and the seed stayed dry throught the month. My question is how long can the seed stay dry and out in the hot elements with the sun beeting down on it before it goes bad and will germinate once it gets the proper amounts of water.

Should I expect to see some germination in the next couple of weeks now that we have seen some good rain this past week?

What are your experienced in a situation like this?

Thanks

[Az Gardener]

If the seed never germinated It should be fine, depends on how long it was wet and what if anything the seed started. Once it has expended the energy to pop out that first bit of root and it drys out your done.

[Gilla Gorilla]

Well hopefully most of the areas will germinate then. He only watered a couple of spots in the front yard for a couple of afternoons when he got home.

I guess I will keep my fingers crossed. He knows that it is not my fault about not having any rain and his well getting low but on the other hand he hates spending the money on it and not seeing any results so far. Plus that was a huge pita to drag that power rake all over his entire lawn, around 20 to 25k sf.

[Darryl G]

Yeah, would have been better off not watering at all. You don't want to water and then stop.

[timturf]

proably be ok

[indyturf]

should be fine, when it does finally rain the seed will germinate

[muddstopper]

You seeded the first of Sept and it is now the last week of Oct and you have seen no signs of germination. Sounds fishy to me. I think I would also be worried about the seed comeing up. Still, all the seed wont germinate at the same time so chances are that yes you lost some seed but if you seeded according to recommended seed specs for most cool season grasses, you have more than enough ungerminated seed left to get a good stand of grass.