Q&A – Are grass and weed seeds able to germinate immediately or do they need sunlight?

Question:
Are grass and weed seeds able to germinate immediately or do they have to be exposed to sunlight for a while?

Answer:
Garden Expert Tonya Ashworth says different seeds have different germination requirements. Weed seeds need moisture, nutrients and air. If they have those things they will germinate well. Grass seeds can take several weeks to germinate. They need good soil contact so they can get the moisture they need.

Related Videos:
Seed Germination Test
Cultural Lawn Weed Control

Related Resources:
Weed seeds
Fate of weed seeds in the soil
Manage the Weed Seed Bank—Minimize "Deposits" and Maximize "Withdrawals"