Successful seeding takes planning
by Peter Orwig - August 2006
Peter Orwig is an agronomist with Ryan Lawn & Tree. He can be reached at (913) 381-1505.Fall is a great time to seed and planning now will ensure success. This is especially true if you want to convert your existing lawn to a new, improved stand of grass. It is best to seed between the last week of August and the middle of October.
Why Seed?
Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s examine why a lawn should be reseeded.
Reseed a lawn that:
- Is thin or has poor color
- Has thinned due to shade
- Has mixed varieties of poor grasses
- Has suffered from severe disease or insect damage
If the lawn has only thinned a little or has a limited number of bare spots, over seeding should be sufficient. Consider killing-out and reseeding lawns (total renovation) with more severe problems.
If you have the time, you may want to save money by seeding yourself. You will need to plan, because a successful seeding job may include dethatching and verticutting. Most likely, you will need to rent this equipment from a home improvement store.
If you are busy this fall or don’t enjoy working on the lawn, hiring a lawn care company to seed is probably your best option. Make sure you choose a reputable company who will guarantee its work.
Steps to Seed
At Ryan Lawn & Tree, we start total lawn renovations in early July and continue through September. We start with a total spray of Roundup. Roundup will kill the existing yard, and will not prevent seedlings from becoming established. Certain persistent, perennial grasses, such as Bermuda, Zoysia and Quackgrass may require up to three sprays spaced three weeks apart. Once the existing grasses are completely dead, you are ready to get started.
The first step in the seeding process is to scalp the lawn with a mower and water thoroughly. Make sure to mark sprinkler heads, valve boxes and invisible dog fences where applicable.
At RYAN, we may recommend aerating certain lawns prior to seeding, especially those that are thatchy or have heavy clay soils. This process brings soil to the surface creating a better soil combination for the seed.
Once the aeration is completed, put down a starter fertilizer that is high in phosphorous for quick, strong seed emergence and growth.
Finally, apply the seed. It is important to buy quality products; RYAN only uses Gold Tag, weed-free seed. This may reduce weeds in the newly seeded areas. If seeding with improved, turf-type tall fescue, plan to use 10 pounds of seed for every 1,000 square feet of lawn.
The last step in establishing a new lawn or repairing trouble spots is to verticut the seed into the ground. This helps ensure germination. Many times, seed simply scattered on the soil surface will fail to germinate or will germinate but fail to establish properly.
Watering
Your investment (if you pay someone to seed) or hard work (if you seed yourself) will be wasted if you do not take care of the lawn once the seed is in the ground. Water generously the first week to settle the lawn and swell the seed, then water daily for the next three weeks. Be patient, grass can take up to two weeks to germinate, and the seedbed must be kept moist, until the new seeds begin to take root.
If you seed with RYAN, we can apply a layer of straw net seed mulch to the newly seeded area to help maintain soil moisture. This special mulch decomposes rapidly and improves the soil as it decays.
If you have been dissatisfied with your lawn this summer, seeding may be the best option for you. Whether doing a total renovation or spot seeding a trouble area, seeding will improve the general appearance of the any lawn.