Warranty & Planting Information
“You get out of it, what you put into it.”
When in doubt, send us an email (info@hancockseed.com). We are happy to help you with your planting!
Hancock Seed has spent more than 40 years perfecting our product – from growth to harvesting, and processing to packaging. We are willing to stand behind every product that we sell. We guarantee that all our products are the freshest, highest quality seeds. All our seeds have been cleaned and meet or exceed all legal requirements for germination rates and quality. Assisting our customers through the planting process with education and experience allows us the pleasure of helping to achieve beautiful, lush lawns/pastures.
Our guarantee is that we deliver high quality seed, and all we ask of you is to follow our recommendations on planting and maintenance. For best results, understand the needed preparation, seeding rate, sunlight, and watering requirements, etc. We are happy to support you through your planting process!
Warranty: Hancock Seed Co. warrants to the extent of the purchase price that seeds sold are as described on the seed analysis, within recognized tolerance. No further warranty expressed or implied. There is no warranty given to the performance of the seedlings after germination. Florida and other southern states require as a prerequisite to maintaining a legal action based upon the failure of above listed seed to germinate according to seed analysis, sworn complaint shall be made to the Florida Dept of Agriculture within such time as to permit inspection of the plants, accompanied by the required filing fee of $10 and a copy of the complaint shall be sent to the seller by certified mail in accordance with section 678.26 Florida Statutes. General Authority 578.11 (2), FS Law Imp. 578.26, FS History 10-1-1983
New Lawn or Pasture > Seeding on Bare Ground
Prepare: Remove all old vegetation to prepare a clean seedbed by means of a rake (lawn) or disc (pasture). Drag or rake the area to loosen and level any hard or uneven spots if needed.
If you choose to use an herbicide or chemical to kill off any vegetation (weeds, grass, etc.). We highly recommend speaking with a local chemical specialist or fertilizer company to ensure the correct product, application, and withdrawal period. If you do not wait the required withdrawal period prior to seeding, then there is a risk of killing the seeds and/or seedlings with residual chemicals left in the soil.
Fertilize: Like all living things, grass needs nutrients to survive. Fertilizer is a great way to provide these nutrients! When a pasture or lawn is declining, the most probable cause is poor nutrition. For most grasses, apply Hancock’s 16-04-08 Lawn & Pasture Fertilizer or a slow-release starter fertilizer that is safe for new seeds at the recommended rate. Fertilize your lawn or pasture 3-4 times a year for best results.
Hancock’s 16-04-08 Lawn & Pasture Fertilizer is a slow-release starter fertilizer custom blended for our customers. Hancock’s 16-04-08 Lawn & Pasture Fertilizer can be applied at a rate of 5 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft., 50 lbs. per 10,000 sq. ft. or 200 - 250 lbs. per acre.
If you choose to purchase fertilizer locally, then we highly recommend speaking with your local fertilizer company for a slow release starter fertilizer safe for newly seeded areas. Not all “16-04-08” fertilizers are created equal and safe for new seeds.
Seed: Broadcast seed at the recommended rate. You can find this information under the product description or by contacting one of our seed experts! Drag, rake or roll the area lightly to slightly cover the seed no more than ¼ inch below the surface to ensure proper soil contact.
Seeding Tips:
Required depth varies on the variety of seed. Visit our website for more info.
When seeding heavier than our recommended rate, you can expect some of those seeds to start to germinate and die off due to the lack of nutrients caused by the abundance of seedlings.
Bermuda Grass Seed: Bermuda Grass Seed is extremely susceptible to being planted too deep, which will result in germination problems. Broadcast at the recommended rate, then lightly rake the surface of the soil to achieve a seed depth of 1/8 inch.
Prior to seeding, ensure that it is the recommended planting time for the best results! Most warm season products are recommended to seed when nighttime temperatures are consistently above 65 degrees in Spring and Summer. Most cool season products are recommended to seed when nighttime temperatures are consistently below 65 degrees.
Hancock Farm & Seed Co. does not recommend using hay, straw, moss or any thick covering when seeding.
Water: Irrigate newly seeded lawns for 20-30 minutes twice daily based on weather conditions, until the new seedlings have reached the height of 4 to 6 inches. Ideal watering times are early morning and late afternoon. Once the area has reached 4 to 6 inches in height, water every other day or as needed. Goal is to keep the soil moist, while ensuring no puddles are forming. Morning, between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. or evening between 7pm and 9pm, is the most efficient time to water your lawn because less is lost to evaporation. Watering in the early afternoon can be wasteful and not effective because most is lost to evaporation. Watering at night can invite disease if watered too heavily. Half an inch twice a week or 1 inch a week should keep your lawn refreshed. Cool season grasses may require different watering times to prevent fungus.
Existing Lawn or Pasture > Overseeding Existing Vegetation
Prepare: Before seeding your lawn or pasture, mow your lawn at the lowest setting and bag the clippings. After mowing, rake or drag to remove debris, dead grass, and loosen/level soil. If the area is overgrown, remove old vegetation to prepare a clean seed bed. This will allow the seed to come into contact with the soil when you spread it because seed requires soil contact for germination and proper growth.
Fertilize: Like all living things, grass needs nutrients to survive. Fertilizer is a great way to provide these nutrients! When a pasture or lawn is declining, the most probable cause is poor nutrition. For most grasses, apply Hancock’s 16-04-08 Lawn & Pasture Fertilizer or a slow release starter fertilizer that is safe for new seeds at the recommended rate. Fertilize your lawn or pasture 3-4 times a year for best results.
Hancock’s 16-04-08 Lawn & Pasture Fertilizer is a slow release starter fertilizer custom blended for our customers. Hancock’s 16-04-08 Lawn & Pasture Fertilizer can be applied at a rate of 5 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft., 50 lbs. per 10,000 sq. ft. or 200 - 250 lbs. per acre.
If you choose to purchase fertilizer locally, then we highly recommend speaking with your local fertilizer company for a slow release starter fertilizer safe for newly seeded areas. Not all “16-04-08” fertilizers are created equal and safe for new seeds.
Seed: Broadcast seed at the recommended rate. You can find this information under the product description or by contacting one of our seed experts! It is pertinent to mow existing grass low, and incorporate seed 1/4 inch into soil for best results. Drag, rake or roll the area lightly to slightly cover the seed no more than ¼ inch below the surface to ensure proper soil contact.
Seeding Tips:
Required depth varies on the variety of seed. Visit our website for more info.
When seeding heavier than our recommended rate, you can expect some of those seeds to start to germinate and die off due to the lack of nutrients caused by the abundance of seedlings.
Bermuda Grass Seed: Bermuda Grass Seed is extremely susceptible to being planted too deep, which will result in germination problems. Broadcast at the recommended rate, then lightly rake the surface of the soil to achieve a seed depth of 1/8 inch.
Prior to seeding, ensure that it is the recommended planting time for the best results! Most warm season products are recommended to seed when nighttime temperatures are consistently above 65 degrees in Spring and Summer. Most cool season products are recommended to seed when nighttime temperatures are consistently below 65 degrees.
Hancock Farm & Seed Co. does not recommend using hay, straw, moss or any thick covering when seeding.
Water: Irrigate newly seeded lawns for 20-30 minutes twice daily based on weather conditions, until the new seedlings have reached the height of 4 to 6 inches. Ideal watering times are early morning and late afternoon. Once the area has reached 4 to 6 inches in height, water every other day or as needed. Goal is to keep the soil moist! Morning, between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. or evening between 7pm and 9pm, is the most efficient time to water your lawn because less is lost to evaporation. Watering in the afternoon is throwing water away to evaporation. Watering at night, can invite disease if watered too heavily, be mindful of this. Half an inch twice a week or 1 inch a week should keep your lawn refreshed. Cool season grasses may require different watering times to prevent fungus.
Maintenance:
Lawn:
Mow height requirements differ for each variety. Most grasses are mowed at 3 - 6 inches during the establishment process for lawns.
Fertilize with Hancock’s 16-04-08 Lawn & Pasture Fertilizer and apply at a rate of 5 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft., 50 lbs. per 10,000 sq. ft. or 200 - 250 lbs. per acre every 3 - 4 months.
Irrigate established lawns during extreme drought conditions.
Overseed warm season grasses with Hancock’s Ryegrass Seed when temperatures cool down in October and November for Winter coverage.
Pasture:
Mow at 6-10 inches when needed.
Fertilize with Hancock’s 16-04-08 Lawn & Pasture Fertilizer and apply at a rate of 200 - 250 lbs. per acre every 3 - 4 months.
Overseed warm season grasses with Hancock’s Pasture Ryegrass Seed when temperatures cool down in October and November for Winter coverage and forage.
Seed Spreader Settings
There is not a list of spreader settings that apply to all different brands of spreaders. You can utilize the seed setting chart that came with your spreader as a basic guide and adjust accordingly. Most spreaders have setting charts online by spreader model if you do not have the paperwork with your spreader. Seed size is the same while the spreader settings vary from model to model. Pick a seed on the list that has a similar size to the seed you wish to plant, if your specific variety is not named. We recommend always starting with the smallest option and then adjusting. If you are putting out too much seed then close the setting a little.
We always recommend ensuring that you are spreading the seed at the recommended rate based on our website for that specific variety. It is always safe to start at a lower spread rate because you can always seed again. When an area is seeded too heavily, you can expect some of those seeds to start to germinate and die off due to the lack of nutrients caused by the abundance of seedlings.
Growing Grass in Shade
With proper care and determination, you can successfully grow grass under a tree or densely shaded areas. We recommend irrigation paired with Hancock’s Turf Type Tall Fescue or Hancock’s Ryegrass for best results on winter coverage.
Generally, the real culprit for not growing grass under trees is lack of sunlight, water, nutrients and soil compaction. For most grasses, apply Hancock’s 16-04-08 Lawn & Pasture Fertilizer or a slow release starter fertilizer that is safe for new seeds at the recommended rate. Fertilize your lawn or pasture 3-4 times a year for best results. The tree will typically take all available water and nutrients leaving none for your grass. If you do wish to successfully grow grass under a tree, then it is necessary to put in an irrigation system.
Germination
Successful seed germination is dependent on certain conditions being met. These conditions are environmental and can vary from seed to seed. The environmental conditions that are most crucial are water, temperature, oxygen and sunlight. Nighttime temperatures are key for germination growth. For warm season varieties, you want nighttime temperatures 65 degrees and above consistently! Depending on the seed and germination period, you may see results in as few as 5 days, and in some cases as many as 30 days.
Water is critical during and after the germination period to ensure adequate moisture for the seedlings to properly grow.
Hancock Farm & Seed Co. does not recommend using hay, straw, moss or any thick covering when seeding.
Weeds
Weeds are the scourge of homeowners everywhere: those dandelions, crabgrass, and clumps of clover that appear out of nowhere. Fortunately, there are several simple steps you can take to take care of weeds in your yard.
When it almost seems as though you have more broadleaf weeds than grass in your yard, you can still get the lawn you want. For best results, try a weed & feed product that feeds (fertilizes) your grass while using an herbicide that works to control the weeds at the same time. Understand that the first year, young grass seedlings are extremely sensitive to many herbicides and weed and feed products are not a good option. We do not recommend applying any herbicides within a year of planting seeds. Check with one of our seed experts before applying weed and feeds or any other herbicides. Do not use herbicides or chemicals until the grass is fully established.
Stress
Heat, dry weather or drought, and foot traffic are major stress factors for most types of grass. Others include weeds, fungus, and bugs, but they can become worse when your lawn is already suffering or stressed. Regular watering especially during drought, and mowing are key to maintaining a beautiful lawn and pasture, along with overseeding once a year and quarterly fertilizing.
Stressed-out lawns aren't growing, so fertilizing them won't help much. Instead fertilize before the hot, dry summer arrives. Once the weather cools down in the fall or when rain returns, fertilize again to help your lawn recover quicker and start thriving. For most grasses, apply Hancock’s 16-04-08 Lawn & Pasture Fertilizer or a slow release starter fertilizer that is safe for new seeds at the recommended rate. Fertilize your lawn or pasture 3-4 times a year for best results.
When your lawn is stressed, it's ripe for takeover by weeds. A few simple steps can protect it.
The most efficient time to water your lawn is morning, between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. or evening between 7pm and 9pm because less is lost to evaporation. Watering in the early afternoon is not efficient nor very beneficial to the area because most is lost to evaporation. Watering at night, can invite disease if watered too heavily, be mindful of this. Watering ½ inch twice a week or 1 inch once a week should keep your lawn refreshed. Additional watering during drought may be necessary.
Set your lawn mower to a high setting: Mowing at the proper height, usually one of the two highest settings on your mower, helps the grass grow thick to shade weed seeds, so it is harder for them to grow. Mow height can depend on the specific variety.
The thicker the grass, the less weeds you will have. Fertilize every 3 - 4 months with Hancock’s 16-4-8 Lawn & Pasture Fertilizer for best results.
Mower Blade
Dull mower blades shred grass, resulting in more moisture loss than they would with a clean cut. Also, the tops of grass turn brown, making the lawn look dull. Most grass types prefer to be mowed high, so set your blade at one of the highest settings on your mower. Taller grass grows deeper roots, and deeper roots can reach moisture that's further down in the soil. Check out our website or call for recommendations on mowing height for specific varieties.
Soil Information
Anytime you plow, cultivate or disturb soil, dormant weed seeds are exposed, and germination begins. Some weed seeds can remain dormant 15 to 20 years and suddenly germinate when the soil is disturbed. Anyone that has a vegetable garden knows this is the case because they constantly have to weed their garden and of course they didn’t plant the weed seed, and the same is true for lawns and pastures. Birds, wind, and many animals spread weed seeds through their body waste as well. Therefore, when you cultivate land to plant any seeds you should expect to see some weeds germinate about the same time as the grass seed. These weeds were already on your property, not in the grass seed that was planted. A good way to test this is by not spreading seed in a small area that you have cultivated and you will see the same weeds emerging. Before the development of herbicides, farmers would plow their fields and wait for weed seeds to germinate then plow under the weed crop. They would do this several times before they planted their intended crop.
Have soil concerns? Contact your local University or Agriculture Extension Office. If you are in the State of Florida, then contact UF/IFAS Analytical Service Laboratory (soilslab@ifas.ufl.edu) for soil testing.
Have Questions? Email (info@hancockseed.com)
