Frequently Asked Questions

What is elite grass seed?

Elite grass seed refers to high-quality, certified grass seed varieties that are specifically cultivated and bred by growers for superior performance and are distinguished by key characteristics like: dark colour, high germination rates, weed-free certification, and increased tolerance to drought, disease, and foot traffic.

Do you have a retail location or offer local pick-up?

Currently we are an online-only business and do not have a local pickup option at this time, sorry! However, we do offer free shipping across Canada via UPS. 

Do you offer free shipping?

Yes! We offer free shipping across Canada.

When will my order arrive?

Order Processing Time: Orders placed on weekdays before 12 pm EST usually ship via UPS by end of day. Orders placed on weekdays after 12 PM EST typically ship the following weekday. Order processing on Mondays typically takes a little longer as we catch up on orders placed over the weekend-especially during the busy season (Spring and Fall)

Shipping Time: Orders ship free from Etobicoke, Ontario and typically arrive in 2-5 business days depending on your location. Orders going to Western Canada and the Maritimes can take longer, 5-8 business days.

Where do you ship from?

We ship out of our warehouse located in Etobicoke, Ontario.

What is your return and refund policy? 

We accept returns on unopened, unused items in original packaging within 30 days of delivery.

To request a return, just email us at hello@stripedseed.ca with your order number and we’ll provide instructions.

We ask that customers cover return shipping for change-of-mind returns to help keep things sustainable on our end.
Once we receive and inspect the returned item, we’ll process your refund to your original payment method.

Shipping charges (if applicable) are non-refundable.

Refunds

We stand behind the quality of every seed lot we sell, and we want you to feel confident choosing us for your lawn projects.

Because results can vary depending on climate, timing, and how the seed is applied, we don't offer blanket guarantees — but we do want to help when things don’t go as planned.

If you’ve followed our recommended seeding practices and are seeing little to no germination after a reasonable window of time, we invite you to reach out. We may ask for photos or additional information to better understand what happened, and we’ll work with you to find a fair solution — whether that’s troubleshooting or a replacement.

Refunds are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. We’re a small Canadian company that cares deeply about your lawn and your trust, and we’ll always do our best to make it right.

Which setting should I use on my Scott's grass seed spreader? 

Spreader settings are listed on our Seeding Rates & Instructions page. These are approximate recommendations because the build quality on the Scott’s spreaders seems to leave some variability and inconsistency from one spreader to the next. We recommend that you start with your spreader set slightly lower and slowly opening it until the seed is coming out evenly but very moderately. This will help ensure you can get around the entire yard and then keep making passes until it's finished.

How should I store my grass seed?

Seed should be stored in a cool, dry place and in a pest resistant container. Temperature consistency is more important than anything else so we recommended some place like your basement instead of an unconditioned garage or shed.

What is the shelf life of grass seed? How long does grass seed stay viable?

When stored properly, grass seed can stay viable for up-to 2 years, though ideally should be used in the first 1-1.5 years.

Which fertilizer should I use?

We recommend SeedLaunch Pro™ Germination Maximizer + Starter Fertilizer 8-15-10. It's a professional turf formula engineered to enhance germination, support early root development, and deliver controlled feeding to drive new lawn establishment and give every seed the best chance to succeed.

For big-box store options, there isn’t much difference between the quality of them so you can’t really go “wrong” choosing one over the other—provided you stick to the recommended application rates. If you're using a big box store or starter fertilizer because you have some on hand, consider waiting until after your new seed is germinated as these products usually contain high amounts of fast-release nitrogen, which can cause a surge of top-growth in your existing lawn. 

Should I pre-germinate my grass seed?

Pre-germinating grass seed—soaking it in water until it almost begins to sprout before spreading—has gained popularity in online lawn care forums and YouTube videos over the past few years. There’s nothing wrong with the technique, and it can work well in certain situations. But for most full-lawn seeding projects, we’ve found it tends to create more hassle than benefit.

It’s important to understand what pre-germination actually does. It doesn’t speed up the total germination process—it just shifts part of it off your lawn. Once a seed absorbs moisture, its biological clock starts ticking. By pre-germinating indoors, you're simply doing the early part of that process in a controlled environment. The seed still takes the same amount of time to sprout overall, but because it's already partway there when you spread it, it can emerge from the soil sooner. In other words, it reduces the time seed sits on your lawn in a vulnerable, ungerminated state—not the total time from water to sprout.

This can be helpful if you're dealing with a slower-germinating variety like Kentucky bluegrass or if you’re trying to minimize seed loss from birds, heavy rain, or drying out.

That said, the trade-offs are real. Pre-germinated seed requires daily water changes and wet, sticky, and clumpy seed is very hard to spread evenly. You’ll often need to mix it with a large volume dry material like organic fertilizer or granular humic to make it manageable—adding both cost and mess to your project.

It can make more sense in smaller spot repairs where you don’t need to handle large volumes of seed. It may also be worth trying if you don’t have access to irrigation and are relying on rainfall, since starting the germination process early could give your seed a better shot if moisture is limited. Just keep in mind: even with pre-germinated seed, results are likely to suffer without consistent watering.

In short: pre-germinating can work, and it has its place. But for most homeowners doing a full overseed or renovation, we think it’s usually more effort than it’s worth. A well-prepared seedbed, consistent watering, and high-quality seed tend to deliver excellent results—without the added complexity.

Which grass seed is best for dog urine?

Unfortunately dog urine doesn’t discriminate and will kill all types of grass. The only things you can really do is try and get water on the area right after your dog goes, or let them drink more water to try and dilute the urea in their urine.