 uh... as you start then you want to cover them and this is a applicable in spring or fall for the first seven to twenty one days is how long it takes to germinate by covering them with a piece of plywood a piece of cardboard a two by four two by something in which you're protecting the moisture are you preventing the moisture from evaporating out of the soil and keeping it close to the seed coat of the seed you're going to get a very good stand by eighty percent germination if not more if you're using fresh seeds