The lawn at our house is very casual. Anything green that is not a thistle or bindweed is viewed as a successful element of the lawn. Many dandelions dot the landscape, their yellow blooms or fuzzy grey puffballs topping the green sawtooth leaves. Intermittent patches of various grasses and clover make up parts of the lawn’s random appeal. Moles tunnel elaborately around the yard. In response, David drives his 4-wheeler over the mounded areas, hoping to discourage them. Quilly the semi-tame squirrel buries corn kernels and walnuts, then forgets where he planted them. Come spring, tiny walnut seedlings and little corn (complete with miniature prop roots) will add to the lawn picture.
And then there is the root cellar, mounded up near the house. We are particularly partial to this part of the old farmstead. It’s just the challenge of having something not saplings or chives growing on top. Determined to address the seeding of the root cellar, we happened upon what sounds like a possible solution: dormant seeding.
It’s already November, “the perfect time for dormant seeding”, according to a very encouraging article by Sam Bauer from the University of Minnesota. The entire article may be found at the link below, if dormant seeding of grass sounds like something you too may be interested in trying before the snow flies!
© 2021 Regents of the University of Minnesota
However, it is the following section that brought joy to these casual lawn keepers:
“. . . What to Expect for Next Spring
(Mr. Bauer writes) “Above are the essentials for the process known as dormant seeding. The degree of success from your dormant seeding efforts will depend on the overwintering conditions afforded to the newly seeded areas. In most cases, the seed is best protected when we receive snowfall(s) that will cover and protect those areas during fluctuating weather conditions often experienced during a Minnesota winter. Even with good preparation, it may still be necessary to do some overseeding in the spring in those areas where little grass emerges. If the newly seeded areas appear to be a little thin, you shouldn’t necessarily feel your fall efforts were a failure, as it is quite common to have to do a little additional reseeding in the spring. However, do allow enough time for the seeds to come up the following spring. Don’t be too hasty to get in and start tearing things up; you just may be destroying all of the good work done the previous fall.
For those of you who postponed doing some lawn seeding earlier last summer, consider doing some dormant seeding yet this fall. It may be just the ticket to give you and your lawn a jump start next spring.” - Sam Bauer
Although Sam Bauer is from Minnesota and anticipates a bunch of snow to help the dormant seeded grasses along, Mr. Bauer has given we Fairview, Kansans the courage to try this approach. We like his suggestion to engage in a little over seeding, if necessary, to patch in next spring. He also urges against snap judgements that the dormant seeding has failed. Give it a little time; wait and see. Sam Bauer is our kind of lawn care coach.
So, with rake in hand, a bag of grass seed and a bunch of optimism, on November 3, 2021, the dormant seeding of the root cellar went into action. Come next spring, common-woman anticipates posting a photo of a beautiful green ground cover, softly waving in the eastern Kansas breeze.
As the snow falls this winter, and the temperature plummets to subzero, those little grass seeds will be preparing to spring up and grow. We are grateful to Sam Bauer. For now, we are going to give it a little time. We look forward to a rousing success in the spring, 2022!
Many thanks to you for taking the time to read this hopeful blog post. Do you have any special projects you are tucking in before the snow flies? Share them with common woman! We will be delighted to post your blog!
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