Dormant Seeding ?

[Stocker Steve]

I am interested in trying seeding a meadow after the soil is too cool for germination. My concern is that the seed may sprout and then freeze out in the early spring. Any experience here with dormant seeding of either clovers or grasses?

 

[Bigfoot]

I've seeded clover on a freeze in February many times, and some cool season grasses. I've never done it early in winter.

 

[toughntender]

I actually have some new seeding from this spring where the grasses are a little thin. I have never tried frost seeding grass, but thought I would see what happens. I have frost seeded lots of red clover with great success. Alfalfa not so much. The seedlings just can't compete. The big problem with frost seeding is the weather has to be just right for it to work. We get a lot of snow and its hard to time it properly to get enough seed-to-soil contact some years. Sometimes we don't get enough freeze-thaw cycles with no snow. It warms up to fast. I was wondering if you could frost seed in December or January before you get all the snow. Let that carry the seed down.