Noel Mues, Extension Educator Furnas County

 

Grasses and legumes are normally planted in early spring, but planting during the dormant season can be nearly as successful, says Bruce Anderson, University of Nebraska Extension forage specialist.

 

Anderson says dormant plantings succeed as long as soil is relatively dry and soil temperature is too cold for seeds to germinate.

 

“That's the main key – too cold to germinate. When these conditions exist, seed just lies in the soil until conditions favorable for germination occur next spring. Then seeds begin to grow as if they had just been planted,” he says. “If you want to plant grass but never seem to have enough time or the right soil conditions to do a good job in spring, try dormant planting.”

 

Warm-season grasses, like those used in Conservation Reserve Program and range plantings, are especially well-suited to dormant planting, he points out. They won't germinate until soil temperature exceeds 45° F. Since soils generally remain colder than this for most of the winter, dormant plantings of these grasses can be made anytime between late November and March. In addition, the alternate warming and cooling of the soil in spring stimulates a natural process in these seeds that improves their germination.

 

Cool-season grasses and legumes, however, can germinate at soil temperatures as low as 35°F. "Our soils often are warmer than 35°F for several days in a row during winter, so cool-season grass seeds occasionally germinate and then die when soils freeze again. As a result, dormant plantings of cool-season species are successful less often than warm-season grass plantings," Anderson says.

Source: Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist