Question
Brandon
I live in western Canada.
Two weeks ago I filled in a large depression in my yard with 'decent' soil (not clay but not loam), raked in a bag of good grass seed following directions, and applied granular fertilizer.
Is been cool and very wet but no germination so far.
The forecast is for sunny and dry.
Should I try again or wait a few more days? I can see weeds germinating but no grass yet.
Thanks!

Answer
One thing that alarms me is the fertilizer.  It's okay if the fertilizer was specifically made to use with seed--however if it was a normal fertilizer, than it is to potent and will prohibit that batch of seed from germinating, while weeds are more tolerant of rough conditions.  Usually you wait at least a month after the seed has germinated to over 3" before applying first app of fertilizer.

If this fert was for seed, AND you have received plenty of rain then I would say wait up to two more weeks (the sunny forecast is good, but to compensate for the "dry", water twice a day morning and around 4pm (a couple hours before the sun goes down) for that two more weeks.  You can purchase a $35 water programmable timer at Home Depot to do the watering for you; very functional, inexpensive piece of equipment.  If you raked the seed into the soil and it settled in 1 1/2 - 2" beneath the soils surface than that cold take an extra week before you see the first signs of the new grass too.  If you must seed again, loosen the soils surface with the hard rake, then sprinkle the grass seed right on top of the soil, and spread a light dusting of straw over top of that.  Then water frequently.  The cool weather you've been having could also be a factor in the slow germination process.

Good luck--and if it was the wrong fertilizer to use, then the amount of rain, plus racking the soil around again should have diluted it enough now to apply another round of grass seed.

Brandon Swisher
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