Frost seeding is an easy, affordable method you can use to improve the thickness of your lawn. If you scatter seeds over frozen soil in late winter or early spring, they’ll start to grow once the ground thaws.
Before starting, remember that not every seed works with frost seeding. This technique is most effective with fast-germinating cool-weather grass seeds like fescues, perennial ryegrass, or clover.
How Does Frost Seeding Work?
The frost seeding idea is pretty neat. You spread the seeds on the frozen ground during the late winter or early spring when there’s still a chill in the air and frost at night. As temperatures drop at night, the soil hardens and contracts, while warming daytime temperatures cause it to loosen and expand – a natural event known as freezing and thawing.
It causes the soil to crack open and then close, which naturally works to bury the seeds into your lawn or garden. It’s like your soil takes care of planting the seeds for you. Without the need to dig holes or go about meticulous planting, it can save a lot of time and keep effort minimal.
While frost seeding is more commonly used for larger areas like pastures, it can be adapted for residential use with proper planning. Here are some main points to keep in mind:
Best Time for Frost Seeding
Your frost seeding schedule should follow the weather pattern. You want to start just as the snow has melted from your yard, but it’s still freezing overnight. In many parts of the U.S., this is in February or early March.
What you’re looking for is when your ground is frozen, but there’s no snow lying on top of it. Your goal is to get those seeds onto the cold, hard soil and give them a fair shot to sprout when spring arrives.
Sjoerd Duiker, from Penn State Extension, says, “The best time to perform frost seeding is early in the morning when the soil is frozen, and a thaw is expected during the day.” This way, soil heaving improves seed-to-soil contact while avoiding unwanted soil compaction.
*Note: Avoid spreading seeds on top of snow. Melting snow can wash the seeds away.
Best Seed for Frost Seeding
The type of seed you use is very important. Traditionally, legumes like clover are preferred because they germinate quickly and thrive in cool weather. So, if you have an eco-friendly yard with a clover lawn, frost seeding is perfect for you.
Ryegrass, both annual and perennial types, can be frost-seeded with good results as well. Ryegrass grows fast and can fill those bare spots in your lawn pretty quickly.
If you have cool-season grasses like tall fescue or Kentucky bluegrass, you can still try frost seeding. However, they do not always have the best results with frost seeding. If you’re uncertain which seeds to use, ask your local garden center or county extension service for advice.
Pro Tip: Consider using a mixture of cool-season grasses for better adaptation to various micro-climates within your lawn, including different sun exposure or moisture levels.
Frost Seeding Success Rates and Considerations
Frost seeding sounds like a perfect quick fix for your lawn. But success is not always a guarantee. “A 60% – 70% frost seeding establishment rate has been reported by many farmers,” explains Heather Darby, an expert from the University of Vermont.
Homeowners might find frost seeding more difficult due to the often thicker existing grass and different soil conditions in their backyards.
To help increase your success rate, here are a few things to consider:
- Soil Type: Frost seeding works well on loamy and clay soils but is not suited for sandy soils.
- Delay Weed Control: Don’t use weed control for at least 8 weeks after frost seeding. It’ll kill new seedlings.
- Timing and Watering: Begin watering when nights are stable at around 55 degrees F (typically late April or early May).
- Avoid Mulch Beds: Don’t let any seeds get there; they’ll sprout quickly and interfere with other plants in your garden.
- Seeding Rate: Use about 3 lbs. to 10 lbs. of seed for every 1,000 square feet. You can adjust depending on how thin or thick you want your lawn.
- Seed Distribution: Spread out seeds evenly using a spreader or even by hand.
- Soil Preparation: Mow the existing grass as short as possible without stressing the lawn. Rake to remove debris and thatch, ensuring better seed-to-soil contact.
Benefits of Frost Seeding
The major benefit of frost seeding is that it’s a cost-effective and straightforward method to improve your lawn or pasture. Here are other benefits:
- Requires Little Effort: With nature doing most of the work, there’s minimal digging and planting involved, which can be a big help especially for those with a large yard.
- Fills In Thin and Bare Spots: Frost seeding helps improve thin areas and bare spots in the lawn, leading to a thicker, healthier turf come spring.
- Extends Seeding Window: Seeds planted via frost seeding often germinate earlier in spring, giving them a head start before weeds become competitive.
- Provides Good Seed-to-Soil Contact: The freeze-thaw cycle naturally works the seeds into the soil, providing ideal seed-to-soil contact for germination.
- Reduces Need for Watering: Seedlings grow in spring when natural moisture levels are typically higher, which may reduce the need for supplemental watering.
Downsides of Frost Seeding
Just like with any other method, frost seeding comes with certain downsides you should consider:
- Depends on Certain Weather Conditions: Frost seeding relies on specific weather conditions, particularly freeze-thaw cycles, to be effective. If these conditions don’t occur, the method may not work well.
- Has an Unpredictable Success Rate: The success rate isn’t always predictable and can vary depending on factors such as climate and soil type.
- Limited to Certain Grass Types: Some grass types (like Kentucky bluegrass) are less successful when sown through frost seeding.
- Might be Bird Food: Seed-eating birds might eat the spread-out seeds before they have a chance to get covered by soil.
FAQ About Frost Seeding
Should you fertilize when frost seeding?
No, you shouldn’t fertilize during frost. Hold off until spring to fertilize. Cool-season grasses prefer fertilizing early spring or fall pre-frost. Always base fertilization decisions on soil test results.
Check our complete guide, “When to Fertilize Your Lawn,” for the best times for each grass type.
How do you prepare the ground for frost seeding?
To get your lawn ready for frost seeding, just make sure it’s clear of any debris. You want the ground to be visible, with no snow or debris. That’s all you need to do.
What’s the difference between frost seeding, dormant seeding, and regular seeding?
Dormant seeding is done when it’s cold but before the ground freezes (around late fall or early winter). With frost seeding, you wait until late winter or the start of spring when the ground’s freeze-thaw cycles can naturally bury the seeds.
Regular seeding usually occurs during the growing season (spring or fall, depending if you have warm-season or cool-season grass) when there’s no risk of frost. It’s the most reliable method, but it requires more prep and care than frost seeding.
Here are our complete guides on:
- “What is Dormant Seeding?”
- “How to Plant and Grow Grass Seed in 9 Steps”
- “How to Overseed a Lawn in 8 Simple Steps”
- “Best Time to Aerate and Overseed a Lawn”
Hire a Lawn Care Professional
If you want a fuller lawn in spring without all the backbreaking work, frost seeding could be just the ticket. Just remember, it’s not one-size-fits-all, and success can be touch-and-go. But no risk, no reward, right?
If you’re scratching your head thinking which grass type to pick or just unsure if frost seeding is for you, call in a pro. LawnStarter connects you with the best local lawn care professionals who can guide you through a successful frost-seeding process.
Main Photo Credit: Chris Waits / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
