FAQ

Feel free to contact us at info@swellseedco.com. We look forward to chatting!

We are able to ship seed to customers in the lower 48 states and offer free shipping for these orders. The anticipated shipping speed is 3-5 business days. Unfortunately, we do not offer international shipping at this time. 

If you do not feel that your purchase has lived up to your expectations, you have 30 days from the time of receipt to get in touch with our customer support team to resolve the issue. 

If the bag of seed is unopened, we can accept the returned bag and will discuss the options of refunding the purchase price, exchanging the product, or crediting the amount against the purchase of another item. The cost of return shipping must be covered by the customer. 

If the bag of seed is opened and/or used, we do not need it back. Our customer support team will gladly discuss store credit or refund options with you.

The back of the bag says it all! Read the seed analysis label (rectangular sticker on back of bag). We are regulated by the USDA to include this label on all bags of grass seed sold to consumers. The label lists the contents, purity of the seed, the origin of the seed, and other contents in the bag. As you can see, we keep the "Other" section as low as possible. Meaning we don't coat our seed and add unnecessary filler. More actual seed in the bag means a larger area can be covered and a greater chance of successful germination. Now, go check out the other guys. There will be a few more "Other" things to read. 

Our pricing takes into account many factors and therefore can change often. The cost of seed is dependent on the year the seed was grown, the location it was grown, the quality of the seed, and the overall seed market. 

Once germinated and established, continue watering but less frequently for longer periods of time, roughly 20-30 minutes. Water 2 times a week so that the area gets about 1 inch of water total between rainfall and supplemental watering. Longer watering results in water soaking deeply into the soil allowing the roots to grow deeper. A deeper root system allows plants to be more tolerant of pressure from traffic, mowing, and drought. Areas in the shade may require less water than areas in the sun.

Water frequently until seeds begin to germinate. Ideally, water 3 times a day for 10 minutes at a time (in the morning, during the day/early evening, later in the evening). Use a sprinkler or built-in sprinkler system – hand watering is tedious and won’t be applied as evenly. Water frequently keeping the soil moist until all of the seed has germinated and reached about 2 inches tall. If it rains while the seed is germinating, nice timing! You won’t need to apply as much water but keep an eye on the soil to ensure it stays moist and water as needed.

Renting the proper equipment is always an option, but you may have some things laying around that can be used as well. To rake or till the soil, dragging a chain link fence over the ground works great, using pieces of cardboard or plywood works to roll/firm/stomp on the soil, a can or bucket with holes in the bottom or a strainer are alternatives to a seed spreader, and collecting rain water is an environmentally friendly source for watering the area. Work with what you have - bonus points for creativity!

When planting in the same growing season, the entire process (preparation, planting, beginning maintenance) will take roughly 6-12 weeks for you to have the luscious lawn, pasture, or reclaimed area you’ve been hoping for.

The amount of time it will take depends on the size of the area you are seeding. For example, if you are seeding your entire lawn, set aside at least half a day to about 8 hours depending on the size and how much preparation you will need to do. For smaller lawns or spot seeding and overseeding, it may only take a few hours.

Adding mulch over the area you planted locks in moisture for the seeds between watering and prevents the area from drying out. Use shredded straw, peat moss, or paper mulch and cover the area with a thin layer so you are still able to see the seedbed through the straw.

Keep traffic to a minimum, especially heavy foot traffic, as much as possible while seeds are establishing during the first season. This may take 6-9 weeks, or for areas that require mowing, wait until after you’ve mowed 2-3 times.

Adjusting the seeder ensures that the right amount of seed is distributed and that it is spread evenly. Refer to the manual of the seeder you are using to calibrate correctly as each spreader is different. Make adjustments while seeding if the rate the seeds are coming out is too slow or too fast. A slower setting is better as you can always go over the area again but if the setting is too fast you may run out of seed before covering the entire area. Too little seed results in a thin stand and allows for higher competition from weeds while too much seed causes over-crowding and increased competition between seeds for nutrients and water.

The most common types are drop spreaders and rotary/broadcast spreaders. A drop spreader distributes the seeds vertically and is more targeted, making it better for smaller areas. A rotary or broadcast spreader (hand-held or walk behind) spreads the seed in front of you like a fan. It covers a larger distance but is less precise, making it better for larger areas.

A helpful tip to spread the seed easier is to mix the seed with sand, especially for smaller seeds. The ratio of sand to seed should be between an 8:1 or 10:1 ratio. Since Swell Seed Co doesn’t coat or add filler to our bags of seed, adding sand may be helpful (and cost effective) if the seed is clumping or not spreading easily. You can also try opening the seed spreader slightly until the seed is easier to distribute. 

No, each species or mix varies by size of seed and density, therefore seeding rates may vary and the amount of seed you will need differs as well. The seeding rates are listed on the profile page for each product.

Set aside a small amount of seed and use it to go over any bare areas once the area begins to establish. In no time at all, those bare spots will blend in with the rest of the establishing area. If you didn’t set aside any seed before seeding, we sell smaller quantities to overseed.

Be sure to tightly reseal the bag of seed and store in a cool, dry place. For best results, use within the same season. Use to seed other areas or overseed if bare patches appear.