Recommended Practices for Fall Over-Seeding of Landscape Turf

August 27, 2013

The over-seeding process begins mid to late September

reduce but do not eliminate the amount of water applied to the turf: reduce the amount of water applied to the turf, cut the water back every other day TURF ONLY. Continue to water the rest of garden as usual

reduce heights 1/4 to 1/2 inches weekly
remove grass clippings
height should not be lowered below 1/2 inch
take care not to lower the mowing heights too much to prevent damage to mowing
equipment and ensure healthy regrowth in the spring
if you see dust during the final mowing, it can be suppressed by slightly wetting the turf

this is the date average night time temperatures drop below 60 degrees
cooler temperatures slow the growth of bermuda significantly –gradually forcing it into dormancy
seeding before this will result in rapid re-growth of bermuda
areas with heavy re-growth will become unsightly in December when bermuda grass goes dormant

Be sure to use perennial seed such as CBS II ryegrass; perennial grass grows slower and preforms better in shaded areas. Annual grass is cost effective but you will be mowing twice a week.

one pound of seed per 50 – 100 sq ft of lawn
best done by using multiple passes in a criss-cross pattern
use humus seed cover for quicker germination and to produce a thicker, healthier lawn. One bag per 50 sq ft lawn

seed must be kept moist, your turf should run on a valve separate from the rest of your garden.
water in short cycles at regular intervals 3 – 5 minutes; four times during the daylight hours ( every 2 hours during daylight ); do not water at night
constant monitoring is required, failure to do this will result in poor germination
maintain this schedule until first mowing ( approximately 2 – 3 weeks ) THEN CUT THE WATER BACK TO ONCE A DAY, 5 – 8 minutes. Follow winter watering schedule.

use Best Turf Supreme fertilizer after the first mowing
be certain to water fertilizer into soil
continue fertilizing through the warm months. Check with a Moller’s associate as fertilizing practices change through the winter months.