Many people dream of spring and a thick, inexperienced garden. Mom Nature’s unpredictable climate, nevertheless, makes it tough to tug off the right outside oasis.
The most effective time to overseed a bluegrass or tall fescue garden is a slender window of 4 to 6 weeks in September via early October.
That point-span final fall was scorching and dry, which made it tough for seeds to determine. I’m continuously requested if bluegrass and tall fescue will be planted one other time of yr. The reply, as is usually the case, is “it relies upon.” Dormant seeding, or seeding when vegetation usually are not lively or rising, is an possibility.
Whereas dormant seeding could also be preferrred to fill in small, naked areas, it isn’t the best choice for overseeding massive areas. Dormant seeding requires extra thought and work than merely casting seeds and hoping for one of the best.
The important thing to establishing profitable germination of grass seed is to ensure the seed is involved with the soil. Put together bigger areas for dormant seeding through the use of a verticutter to interrupt up the soil, simply as you’ll within the fall. Small areas will be roughed up with a rake.
Seeds will work their method into the soil with the pure freeze-thaw cycles. The cycles create cracks within the soil into which the seed can transfer. This motion is enhanced when there was rainfall or a lightweight masking of snow because the moisture helps develop the soil. You’ll be able to improve the seed-to-soil contact with a lightweight masking of soil. This helps forestall the seed from blowing or washing away.
Cool-season grass begins to germinate when soil temperatures attain the higher 50s. Don’t count on any indicators of progress till late winter or early spring. Dormant seeding presents a bonus over spring seeding because the seeds germinate before should you waited for constantly heat climate in March or April.
Dormant seeding will be finished anytime from December via March. A number of years in the past, Okay-State Extension performed a examine the place they dormant seeded an space each month from December via March. In mid-Could, the plots had been evaluated for % of protection. The plots seeded in February and March had about 80% protection in comparison with 60% for plots seeded in December and January.
Don’t count on any indicators of progress till late winter or early spring. Seedlings have restricted roots and are extra vulnerable to emphasize. Well timed watering helps, however below anxious circumstances, it is probably not sufficient.
Spring weeds can be an issue. Crabgrass prevention is difficult as many merchandise are labeled for extra established lawns. Broadleaf controls are restricted.
In my expertise, the dormant seeded grass dies out over the summer season, leading to the necessity to seed once more within the fall. Dormant seeding might assist briefly scale back a few of the naked or muddy soil circumstances over the summer season till seeding will be finished on the really useful time.
Success will rely upon winter climate patterns. Will or not it’s dry, wet, snowy? Good soil moisture, fluctuating temperatures that loosen the soil crust, and a pleasant cool begin to spring is right. This simply is perhaps a very good time to strive dormant seeding. Who is aware of – come spring, your lush carpet of inexperienced might have returned.
Dennis Patton is a horticulture agent with Kansas State College Analysis and Extension. Have a query for him or different college extension consultants? E mail them to backyard.assist@jocogov.org.