FAQ

Can’t find an answer to your question? Get in touch with us.

• The price lowered on something I purchased. Can I get a refund? Shopping

  At Johnston Seed Company, we are committed to providing our customers with transparent and fair pricing. We understand the importance of accurate pricing for maintaining trust and integrity in our relationships with our customers. Therefore, we have implemented a no price correction policy.

  Once a purchase has been made and the transaction is completed, we do not make retroactive price adjustments or corrections, regardless of subsequent changes in the advertised price or promotions.

  We strive to ensure that our pricing is competitive and reflective of market conditions. However, prices may occasionally change due to factors beyond our control, such as supplier costs, economic conditions, or promotional events.

  We believe that maintaining consistency and fairness in our pricing policies is essential for building trust and loyalty among our customers. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in adhering to this policy.

  If you have any questions or concerns regarding pricing or any other aspect of your shopping experience with us, please feel free to contact our customer service team.

• How can I get in contact with a dealer or distributor? Shopping

  We offer an easy way for you to find a dealer or distributor in your area on our Where To Buy page.

• What is on a seed tag? Seed

  A seed tag is a required label on any seed that is sold. Depending on what type of seed you purchase the information can vary. Read more about it here.

• Why is there no buy now button when I view a product? Shopping

  If there is no “Buy Now” button on a product page, we are either out of that item for the season, or we do not stock it in our online store. Please call our retail office for further assistance at 580-249-4449.

• I am getting ready to install sod, what do I need to know? Lawn

  Check out our Sod Installation & Care Guide! If you still have questions call us at 580-249-4449!

• When is the best time to plant FESCUE or other cool season grasses? Garden Lawn Seed

  The ideal time to plant fescue and other cool season grasses is in the fall, but they can also be planted in early spring.

• When is the best time to plant BERMUDAGRASS or other warm season lawn grasses? Lawn Seed

  The ideal time to plant Bermuda and other warm season grasses is in the early summer.  Bermuda requires a soil temperature of 65°F and rising

• When is the best time to fertilize fescue? Lawn

  It is best to fertilize your fescue when it is actively growing in the cooler seasons.  A good rule of thumb is the months that have an R, with the exception of the coldest months.  September-November, and February-April.

• When is the best time to fertilize bermudagrass? Lawn

  The best time to fertilize your Bermuda grass is in the warm growing season.  A good rule of thumb is the months that do NOT have an R: May-August, with a winterizing fertilizer applied in early September.

• How do you know whether you have moles or gophers? Lawn

  A mole makes a tunnel under the surface that runs parallel to the ground surface.  A gopher will make a mound with a hole in it above the surface of the ground.  Moles are carnivores, seeking out and eating grubs.  The best defense against moles is to eliminate grubs.  Gophers are herbivores, eating the roots and grains of grasses.  They require trapping or poison to control.

• When and what do you spray for bagworms? Garden General

  The best time to spray bagworms is in early summer, while they are still actively moving and feeding.  Bagworms can be controlled with a wide variety of affordable chemicals such as permethrin, bifenthrin, and even neem oil if a more organic approach is desired.  Those that are oil based tend to have a longer residual, however, multiple applications may be required in some infestations.

• How do I plant wildflower seeds? Garden Seed Wildflowers

  Planting wildflower seeds is best done in late fall or early spring, in areas of moderate to good sun exposure.

  Lightly cultivate site, spread seed, then rake topsoil to insure good seed to soil contact.

  Use care that seed is no more than 1/4” deep to promote best emergence.

  Water thoroughly and keep consistently moist until wildflowers begin to grow.

  Ideally dormant growth should be left standing over winter to shelter pollinators. If maintenance must be done, for proper reseeding, mow or roll plants after they have matured completely, allowing the clippings to remain on the seedbed.

  Always use caution when applying herbicides, consider the possible effects on future and growing wildflowers.

• What is the difference between hulled and unhulled seeds? Garden Lawn Seed Wildflowers

  Hulled and unhulled seeds refer to whether the seed coat (the protective outer layer of the seed) has been removed or not:

  1. Hulled Seeds: Hulled seeds have had their outer seed coat removed. This process is often done to make the seeds easier to handle, sow, and germinate. Removing the hull can also speed up the germination process because it eliminates a barrier that the emerging seedling would otherwise need to penetrate.
  2. Unhulled Seeds: Unhulled seeds retain their outer seed coat. These seeds are in their natural state and have not undergone any processing to remove the hull. Unhulled requires longer to germinate but is more hardy and less likely to sprout pre-maturely.

  The choice between hulled and unhulled seeds for planting depends on various factors such as the specific plant species, growing conditions, and personal preference. In some cases, hulled seeds may be preferred for their ease of handling and faster germination, while in other cases, unhulled seeds may be chosen for their natural state and potential resilience.

• What is seed coating? Garden General Lawn Seed Wildflowers

  Seed coating involves applying a protective layer or treatment to seeds before planting. This coating can serve several purposes:

  1. Protection: Seed coatings protect seeds from environmental stressors such as extreme temperatures, drought, pathogens, and pests. They act as a barrier, shielding the seeds from adverse conditions during germination and early growth stages.
  2. Enhanced Germination: Some seed coatings contain substances that promote germination by providing essential nutrients, hormones, or microbial inoculants. These additives can improve seedling vigor and establishment, leading to better overall crop performance.
  3. Disease and Pest Control: Seed coatings may incorporate fungicides, insecticides, or nematicides to protect seeds from soil-borne pathogens, pests, and nematodes. This helps prevent seed and seedling damage, reducing the risk of crop loss due to diseases and pests.
  4. Uniformity and Handling: Coating seeds can improve their uniformity in size, shape, and weight, making them easier to handle, sow, and plant with precision using mechanized equipment. Additionally, seed coatings may include colorants or dyes for easier visual identification during planting.

  Seed coating formulations vary depending on the specific needs of the crop, environmental conditions, target pests and diseases, and desired agronomic outcomes. Common coating materials include polymers, clays, binders, nutrients, biological agents, and synthetic or natural pesticides.

• Do I need to do a soil test? Lawn

  A soil test is a great way to measure your soil’s health and fertility, taking the guesswork out of fixing pH and nutrient issues in your soil’s profile.

• How often should I mow my lawn? Lawn

  Instead of establishing a mowing schedule based on frequency, we recommend basing it on the length of your lawn’s grass. Each grass type has an ideal height that it should be mowed to.

  Our general rule of thumb is to never mow off more than ⅓ of the height of your lawn at any given time.

• How much fertilizer should I put on my lawn? Lawn

  It depends! While we can supply general fertilizer recommendations based on the type of grass you have and the time of year you plan to fertilize, the most foolproof way to fertilize is to first get a soil test done. This lets you know what the fertility is like in your lawn and allows you to better determine what nutrients you need to apply to keep your lawn healthy and thriving.

  Additionally, we recommend you check out this reference from Oklahoma State University’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources for common lawn fertilizer applications.

• How often should I water my lawn? Lawn

  It is best to water your lawn as deeply and infrequently as possible. Turfgrass should be allowed to dry out to the point at which it begins showing signs of stress. These signs include wilting, turf turning a greyish purple color, lack of resiliency and more.

  When you do water your lawn, apply the water to your turf as deeply into the profile as possible when you see signs of wilting. This infrequent routine will help develop a healthy, resilient Turfgrass system!

• How much water should my lawn get? Lawn

  Your lawn should receive irrigation water in a manner that the application rate does not exceed the rate that your lawn’s soil can absorb it.

  The rate at which the soil in your lawn can absorb moisture is dependent on many factors like soil type, compaction and aeration, soil structure and more. Sandy soils will hold very little water compared to loam or clay soils.

  Additionally, make sure soils have proper drainage to avoid prolonged periods of moisture. Any excess amounts of water can cause many problems with Turfgrass. Irrigation run times should be adjusted so that water does not run off.

• How much grass seed do I need to buy? Lawn

  It depends. Each species has its own suggested planting rate (the amount of seed that will be needed to cover a specific area, usually given in rates of pounds per 1000 square feet.)

  If you have your eye on a specific species we offer, the product detail page of that product will list the suggested planting rate for best results.

• How do I know what type of grass I have? Lawn

  As a general rule of thumb cool season grasses grow in the northern portion of the U.S. (ie. bluegrass, fescue, and ryegrass) and warm season grasses grow further south (ie. bermudagrass, buffalograss). However, there are different growing regions in the U.S. that impact where grasses will thrive beyond north/south boundaries.

  Purdue University offers a great resource tool to help you identify the turfgrass species that are present in your lawn.

• I planted seed and it didn’t come up. What happened? Seed

  Many people with seed germination issues wonder if there was a problem with the seed. However, that usually isn’t the cause. State seed laws require us to monitor seed lot germination by sending samples to certified seed labs to test and verify germination standards.

  There are many factors that can cause seeds to not grow, including:
  Seeds were planted when it was too hot or too cold
  Seeds were planted too deeply/not deep enough
  Seeds received too much water/not enough water
  Seeds were planted in compacted soil

  If you don’t see a solution to your problem here, don’t hesitate to call our customer service line at 580-249-4449 or email us at johnseed@johnstonseed.com and we will work with you to find a solution.

• What is the difference between Pure Live Seed (PLS) and Bulk Seed? Seed

  Pure Live Seed (often referred to as PLS) refers to the percentage of live, viable seed in a bulk amount of seed. This percentage of seed is what is capable of developing into seedlings. PLS provides a standard of comparing the quality of lots of the same species that have different germination and purity. PLS is calculated by multiplying the percent of total germination and the percent of pure seed of a lot.

  Example: 98% purity and 90% germination
  98 x 90/100=88.2%
  Only 88.2 percent of that lot of seed is capable of growing. If you have a 50-pound bulk bag of seed that would give you 44.1 pounds of live seed.

• What is the difference in seeding rate for coated vs. uncoated seeds? Seed

  Most seeding rates are based on a set number of seeds over a certain area. When a coated seed is used, the seed size has been increased, so the rate should also be adjusted to accommodate the larger seed.

• What is the difference in seeding rate for drilling vs. broadcasting? Seed

  Due to the variability of broadcasting seed over the ability to calibrate a drill, seeding rates are often recommended to increase when using the broadcast method.

• Do you sell your products nationally or internationally? General

  Yes! We offer our products to both U.S. and international customers. Learn more about where to buy our products on our Where to Buy page.

• Where can I purchase your products? Shopping

  There are several ways you can purchase our products! Shop our online store 24/7; visit our headquarters in Enid, Oklahoma; or contact one of our authorized dealers and distributors for one-on-one support.

• How can I track my order/shipment? Shopping

  By logging in to our online store, you can track where we are in the order fulfillment process. Once we have shipped your order, you will receive tracking information.

• What is NPK? Lawn

  “NPK” stands for Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium ratings. These are chemicals used in fertilizers that help provide nutrients to a plant.

• How deep should I plant seed on my lawn? Lawn

  That depends….see “planting chart” or “product detail page”

• How long can I store seed? Seed

  Seed should be stored in a cool (not freezing), dry place with low humidity. When properly stored some seeds can stay viable for years.

• What is seed coating, and what are its benefits? Seed

  Seed coating is a covering applied to seeds that may contain fertilizer, growth promoters or a seed treatment. Seed coating can also be used to increase the size and weight of the seed to aid in planting accuracy.

• Where are your products grown? General

  We grow many of the products we sell – particularly our specialty products. In addition, many of our employees, whether in sales, management, research or another department, are agronomists by trade. That means our employees must know the soil, the weather, the blotchy patch in the lawn, when to plant, prices, the number of square feet in an acre and much more.

• What is your return/exchange policy? Shopping

  Before returning any purchases, please contact us at johnseed@johnstonseed.com for return authorization. All seeds returned for credit are charged a 15% restocking fee. We reserve the right to refuse acceptance of any material returned for a refund. If a customer finds any damage when unloading material, it will be their responsibility to obtain the necessary verification from the carrier and file a claim accordingly.

• How soon will I receive my Johnston Seed purchase after ordering? Shopping

  For domestic orders, please allow 3-5 business days for in-stock items to be shipped.

  For international orders, please contact us at johnseed@johnstonseed.com for further information.
  Due to various restrictions on shipping agricultural products internationally, special arrangements must be made to ship outside the United States with the purchaser agreeing to pay the associated costs.

• Do you offer warranties? Shopping

  Customers must make any claims for errors involving shortage or omission in writing via email within 10 days after receipt of shipment. Liability is limited to replacement or refund of purchase price.