Clover & Grass Lawn FAQs

American Meadows wildflower seeds are 100% pure seed with no fillers added, unlike many inexpensive bagged mixes that feature lots of filler. All of our seeds are non-GMO and neonicotinoid-free, so you can feel good knowing you’re growing a safe and healthy habitat. 

Plus, American Meadows seeds are backed by our Dig In Guarantee, and you can always reach out to our team of experts with questions. Our Clover & Grass Learning Center has helpful resources so you can grow with confidence. We’re here to help!  

There are a few key factors when it comes to growing grass and groundcover seeds:

• Soil Temperature: it could be too cool or too hot for your seeds to germinate. 
• Soil Moisture: seeds need consistent moisture to germinate. If soil is too dry, germination can be delayed, or seedling growth may be slowed.
• Similarly, if there is too much moisture, seedlings may not be getting enough air and nutrients to their roots. A healthy soil moisture is like a wrung-out sponge - damp, but not wet or soggy.
• Light: seeds need light to germinate. If the area is too shady, germination can be delayed or prevented.
• Overcrowding: too many seeds can cause competition with seedlings, which can slow or reduce their growth.

Need help troubleshooting your planting? Our team is here to help. Contact Us.

Seedlings need consistent moisture for the first 4-6 weeks to germinate and establish.

Even drought-tolerant plants must develop established root systems before you can fully enjoy their drought-resistant benefits.

Preparing your site, planting at the right time of year, and irrigating until deep roots are established are important steps to ensuring a heartier, more drought-resistant lawn in the long run.

Once you have an established lawn, watering can typically be reduced to supplemental watering in periods of drought.  

See more detailed information: How To Grow Lawn, Grass & Groundcover Seeds

Warm-season grasses will grow best in summer, with a dormancy period in cooler temperatures. Cool-season grasses will grow best in spring and fall, and typically go dormant in the peak of summer heat. 

In our How To Choose guide, we cover warm-season and cool-season grasses in detail: 

Learn More: How To Choose Lawn, Grass & Groundcover Seeds

On every product page, you can click “VIEW FULL PLANT/SEED INFORMATION” to refer to the Grass Type for each grass seed. The link is found just below the “Key Features” section of the page.

Looking for the right lawn solution for... Dogs? Shade? High Traffic Areas? Clay Soil? 

As America's Better Yard Authority, American Meadows offers lawn, grass, and groundcover solutions for every challenge! We’ll help you find the best seeds for your unique growing conditions. See our detailed guide:

Learn More: How To Choose Lawn, Grass & Groundcover Seeds

Is your lawn a playground for your pets? If so, you need a lawn that’s durable enough to hold up to roughhousing - and resistant to urine spots. These grass and clover solutions are durable for high-traffic play areas, non-toxic and safe for dogs in case your pets like to nibble, resistant to dog urine so there are no brown spots, and low-growing and low-maintenance so you have more time to play with your pups.

• Lawns with Dutch White Clover or Microclover are the most resistant to pet spotting
• Fescues and Perennial Rye Grass are grasses that are most resistant to pet spotting
• Blending Fescues and Clover, as in our exclusive No Mow Lawn & Microclover Seed Mix, gives you a winning combination that resists spotting and holds up to foot (and paw) traffic.
• You can also overseed your established lawn with Clover for a puppy paradise. 

When shopping, use our Soil Moisture filters to choose Dry Soil to find drought-tolerant lawns, grasses, and groundcovers.

It's important to remember that plants must become established before you can fully enjoy their drought-resistant benefits. Preparing your site, planting at the right time of year, and irrigating until deep roots are established are important steps to ensuring a heartier, more drought-resistant lawn in the long run.  Once established, most drought-resistant species will survive on minimal watering.

When shopping, use our Soil Type filters to find lawns, grasses, and groundcovers that are well-suited for the growing conditions in your yard. 

On each product page, you can click “VIEW FULL PLANT/SEED INFORMATION” to refer to the soil types suitable for each lawn, grass, and groundcover seed. The link is found just below the “Key Features” section of the page.

Under wet, cool conditions, Fescue grasses can spread quickly via rhizomes, though not as quickly as many other traditional turf grasses. The rhizomatic spreading is part of why Fescues are used successfully in our No Mow lawn mixes - much of their energy goes into establishing new roots underground rather than into vigorous vertical growth. Clover will also spread and fill in under the right conditions (and by seed if you choose not to mow it). 

Also, not overwatering your lawn can help to slow the spread, but deep edging should be employed if you want to corral your lawn.

Instead of a seed blanket, consider sowing quick-growing annual rye as a nurse crop. The annual rye will help to prevent soil erosion while your native grasses are established. (A nurse crop is an annual plant that is grown to support the establishment of a perennial plant.)

The seed coverage rate is listed on every product page under the “Key Features.”

See our helpful guide to calculate how much seed you need.

Learn More: How Much Seed Do I Need?

Always check your seed coverage rate when planting, which can be found under the Key Features on the product page. Too much seed can cause crowding and competition for water, light, and soil nutrients. 

Learn More: How Much Seed Do I Need?

All of our seeds are 100% pure, non-GMO, neonicotinoid-free, and backed by our Dig In Guarantee.