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If you love your lawn, you will probably want to keep the grass fresh and lovely all year round.
However, every batch of grass dies someday, and a new batch is needed to be sown.
There are different types of grass seeds available in the market, but caring for all of them is the same.
If you have ever planted or stored grass seeds, you probably know how important it is to store them and care for them in the initial stages.
When buying grass seed, a common question most people have is does grass seed go bad when frozen? Well, there is no clear answer as a yes or a no. It depends on numerous factors associated with the storage and plantation of the seeds.
The first thing that you need to know is that grasses are divided into two types- warm-season and cool-season grass.
The warm-season grasses prefer hot sunny temperatures, and the cool ones are capable of flourishing even in the sub-freezing temperatures. Although, freezing affects all kinds of grass seeds.
The Relationship
There is a scientific relationship between low temperatures and grass seeds that proves that seeds become temporarily dormant and viable when frozen. This dormancy is broken by some enzymes that work best in temperatures above the freezing point.
These enzymes also help in the process of germination of the seed. So, in short, if the seed needs to grow, it needs enzymes, and the enzymes would do their best only in normal temperatures.
So, if you freeze your seeds for too long, it will lead to a prolonged period of dormancy. Now, each seed has a fixed time for which it can tolerate dormancy. If it is frozen even after that time, the seeds will go bad and will not grow as the internal cells of the seed would be destroyed.
Moreover, an important role in the germination of grass seeds is played by their internal moisture of 10 to 20 percent. Often, seeds get this moisture from their environment in normal temperatures.
This means that this moisture cannot be found in the freezing temperatures due to water availability in only solid form, hence increasing the chances of the seeds going bad.
The packed and preserved seeds usually have a shelf life of 60 days; that is, they are viable for that time. This means that you can safely store your grass seed for this period. However, it is advised to check the package and look for the shelf life as different packets may have different shelf lives.
It is important to check the shelf life because your seeds can go bad even after storing them in the right conditions if stored for too long.
Also, an important thing you should know is that there is no way you can protect your seed from frost. What you can do is to keep a check on the time for which you freeze the seeds.
Is Your Grass Seed Still Good?
If you feel that your grass seeds have been frozen for too long or if you are confused about your grass seed’s viability, here is an easy test that you can do. Put your seeds in water and let them stay for 15 minutes.
If the seeds sink, they are viable, and if they float, then they are not. This test will let you know instantly about your seed’s health.
No matter which grass seed you buy, there will always be a chance of them going bad.
However, what you can do is take care of them properly and store them in the best possible conditions.
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