Achieve 95% Germination Rates With This Seeding Method

Planting grass seed in the spring presents many challenges. The short window between when the soil temperature is warm enough to support seeds and when the heat of summer arrives means grass has little time to grow and mature so it can survive the summer heat. Spring is also a weed growing season, which means young seedlings will have to compete with weeds for nutrients and sunlight. This is especially difficult given that you can’t put down a preemergent to control weeds without killing off your seedlings. Seeds are also easy pickings for birds in search of food that is scarce in early spring. While spring seeding is a challenge, you can give your seeds an edge by leaving your broadcast spreader in the garage and renting a slit seeding machine. 

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What is Slit Seeding?

Slit seeding is the process of seeding using a machine called a slit seeder. This machine cuts tiny slits in the lawn while simultaneously dropping a seed in each slit. This process gives several advantages over simply dropping seed onto your lawn:

High germination rates

When a seed makes good contact with soil, more of the seed ends up germinating, taking root and growing. When you surface seed your lawn with a broadcast spreader, it has to fight its way through the blades of grass to the soil and into the soil surface. Many of your seeds will get caught up in the grass, fail to get below the soil surface, or get eaten or blown away. With a slit spreader, the seeds are dropped into small slits in the soil, improving germination rates dramatically. In fact, germination rates with a slit seeder are 85% to 95% compared to just 30% to 50% with a broadcast spreader. 

Less Likely To Get Eaten

With a drop spreader, your seed is sitting unprotected on the lawn, presenting a buffet for birds. When you slit the seed, the seed drops below the soil surface, making it harder for birds to find. What’s more, once you water post seeding, many of those slits will get covered up by the soil that was disturbed by the slit seeder, affording further protection.

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Even Seed Distribution

Unlike a broadcast spreader that flings seeds to either side, slit seeders drop seeds in a more precise fashion. This means you end up with a more even distribution than a broadcast spreader. The result is a fuller, less patchy lawn. 

Dethatches the lawn

Since seed slitting machines use tiny blades that score the soil, they provide the added benefit of dethatching your lawn. When the blades cut into the lawn they create a shallow furrow that lifts debris off of it, effectively dethatching and aerating your lawn while simultaneously planting seed. 

How Much Does a Seed Slitting Machine Cost?

The major deterrent for seeding with a slit seeder is cost. You can either rent a seed slitter or hire a service to seed your lawn for you. If you’re renting one, expect to pay between $60 and $100 for four hours of use or $100 to $150 for a full day. These machines are also large and heavy, usually requiring a pick up truck to transport from rental location to your yard. You can expect to pay between$250 and $350 to hire a lawn seeding service to slit seed your yard.