How to "Pre-germinate" Bermuda Grass Seed.
Posted: Monday, October 15, 2007
by James Burns
Rational Environmental Solutions
Want to jump start your new lawn, or your lawn repairs? Want to make your neighbors wonder how you got a new lawn in just a few days? There is a way to do it! It is done by germinating seeds, before you apply them to your lawn. This gives you an advantage over the weather, and hungry birds.
It will require:
A new plastic trash can.
An air pump from an aquarium.
Water.
A cloth strainer of some type.
Pelleted dolomitic limestone.
This is how it's done:
1. First, rinse out the trash can, to make sure that it is free of any chemical residue.
2. Add fresh clean water, to the halfway point.
3. Put the air pump air outlet inside the can, so the pump will circulate the air evenly. You may need to weight it with a clean heavy object. It should be circulating the water a little, and have a lot of air bubbles when plugged in and turned on. This air and circulation is very important. If you don't do this part, your seed will rot, and you will have a stinky rotten mess!
4. Slowly pour in the seed, and stir with a clean utensil, until all the seed are wet. The amount of seed that you can process this way at one time, depends on the strength of the air pump. Put only as many seed in the tank, as the air pump you use can easily agitate.
5. The waiting is the hardest part. It will take several days. Use this time to prepare your planting area. Till, rake, add amendments, do whatever it takes to get it into shape. for planting the seed.
6. Check this concoction every day, to make sure that it is well agitated, you may need to stir it occasionally, and make sure it smells clean.
7. When the seed coats start to swell and crack, you are about ready to apply them.
8. Strain the water through a cloth strainer of some type. A new paint strainer is what I like to use, cheese cloth will work, so will many other types of cloth. Just drain the water and save the seed.
9. Carefully mix the seed with the dolomitic limestone, continue to add limestone until the mixture is dry enough to work in your spreader. Your planting area should have been prepared ahead of time.
10. Now spread the seed out over the area. A light dusting of sand and organic matter will help. In a very short time, you will see the seed begin to grow. Water them lightly as needed, do not let the seed dry out!
If you have done everything right, you should have a good stand of Bermuda grass in your new lawn, or once bald spot, in only a few days. Then just kick back and watch the neighbors scratch their heads!
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