I realized today that I left off a very important chore that I’ll need to do very soon, grass overseeding!
Fall Grass Overseeding. I need to spread grass seed over our existing lawn. Last year I used Kentucky 31 fescue and our lawn looked great in the spring. It browned up over the summer since fescue is a cool season grass but it’s greening up again now that the rains have come back and the temperatures are slightly cooler. I want to put a combination of grasses into our yard so this year I’ll find something other than Kentucky 31. A rye grass would be good for winter greening but most likely wouldn’t make it until next year. I don’t want Bermuda grass anywhere in our yard, ever. Once it finds it’s way in it is hard to get rid of especially when it comes to garden beds. I’ll probably go with another fescue variety. Perhaps there is a fescue that is more drought tolerant. I don’t water my grass and it would be nice if it stayed green longer.
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Another great fall tip Dave. I don’t water my grass either and it would be nice to have something more drought tolerant.
we live in the deep south, and every time we put down rye grass for overseeding we have rye ‘weeds’ that stay around a year ( I didn’t know rye could even live that long!)! You are lucky that up there your overseeding efforts don’t go haywire like they often do here!
It is time to do this annual chore for us in Tennessee. I hate to say it though, warm season grasses are probably the way to go-maybe not Bermuda but some varieties are good. I am doing mine in a few weeks too. I don’t do rye on mine. If properly taken care of, fescue can stay green all winter.
We are in the same boat! I just redid my front lawn area last fall with fescue. It was beautiful up until June and then it turned brown. I was wondering if there was something that could be grown during the summer in its place. Like you, I don’t want Bermuda anywhere near my property!
PGL,
Drought tolerance is a very important concern these days. Ideally I’d like a green grass that will only grow to 3 inches then stop and never grow another inch. It would stay green winter and summer and never need water. Hmm I think I just described astroturf…I don’t like that idea either!
80s Mom,
Thanks for the comment! The deep south has a longer growing season than we do. In the middle of the winter we will reach cold temperatures of 20-30’s for highs. That pretty much stops most everything from growing! Our fescue seem fairly tame here.
Tina,
What do you think of zoysia? I don’t have any experience with it. Ideally I’d like my grass to have the look of a fescue lawn without the invasiveness of Bermuda.
Phillip,
Ours went dormant just like yours then. Although I’m glad it has really started to come back. That’s the thing with fescues they go to sleep in the heat and wake up later. And Bermuda just isn’t welcome here! Any ideas on a good fescue that would stay green?
Dave,
Let me be the heretic in this comment section! Throw in some clover seed and even plant some Western daisy or native sedges and carex! The birds and bees will thank you…and you will use far less water!
gail
Gail,
I don’t need more clover! I have the common clover, the red clover and some other clovers mixed in the yard. I won’t ever try to eradicate those since I believe the eradication of natural clovers in lawns is a contributing factor to the bee disappearances. I am trying to landscape the gardens with more non-grassy areas but I do need room for two little kids to roam!
Hey Dave,
I'm at the same point as you….it's time to over-seed and in the past I've used Kentucky 31, but I want to try something else this year too. I don't know what to plant.
My to-do list includes putting sand (to break down the clay), humus (sp??) and then peat moss to topdress the lawn. I put down lime & aerated last week, so at least that's out of they way. I started using Scott's LawnService for fertilizing and weed control. (I will attest that they are worth every penny of the $40 I pay them!) My lawn is green and lush!!
We have a mix of Centipede and St. Augustine and it stays green until the first frost which is really late in the year like Dec. Only problem is, this is the last grass to turn green in the spring as it likes the heat. Very drought tolerant though but an invasive grass and hard to control around edges… arggg… With this drought, it has not been a problem keeping her green this year. I have only watered her a few times. Seems all grasses have their pros and cons…
Rachel,
Good to hear from you! I’m probably going to end up with a tall fescue of some type. I’ll just have to see what’s available. The lawn is starting to look pretty good now with the rain. I think I’d rather have brown in the summer than brown in the winter. Since so many other things are brown in the winter! That peat should add some organic matter into your lawn. You may want to consider some sifted compost in the spring if you have compost available.
Skeeter,
I think every grass has its drawbacks and positives. I really want to avoid anything that catapults itself over our borders! Those grasses are similar to Bermuda with runners. I do like them in the summer when they are nice and green, if only they would stay out of the garden!
Grass seeding seems like a huge responsibility. I know nothing about it, but good luck!
Dave, Zoysia is the way to go. The landscape architect teaching us in NSCC loves his Zorro Zoysia. Also, the head of the program says cold season will go away since this area is getting hotter and hotter. I like zoysia as it barely grows and looks nice. Problem is it will be brown in the winter. But, oftentimes fescue doesn’t look too good in the winter either unless you highly maintain it. And who wants to do that or has the time? Zoysia does need LOTS of sun but the Zorro is said to be shade tolerant. My neighbor has it and it is really very nice. Hardly needs maintaining at all. Way better than Bermuda which is too fine for me and to running!
DP,
It’s really not a very involved process. Just overseed in the fall so it can be established by spring. Thanks for the wishing us luck with it!
Tina,
Sounds like a good recommendation then for zoysia. I may try a mix of the two in the yard. Maybe the fescue will thrive in the winter and spring and the zoysia can take over during the summer months. I’ll have to look into Zorro. It doesn’t leave a big “Z” mark everywhere in the yard does it? 😉
Ha Ha!
Good chuckle.
Seriously, the grass we have down here is hard to keep out of beds unless you put something down into the ground to try & stop it. Even at that it will crawl over whatever unless it is very high. We have the same type as Skeeter. I personally don't like centipede at all. It is hard on a mower blade–like cutting wire. It will also take over & smother anything else you try to have. I've found St. Augustin likes shade better here & without having to water a lot. That centipede will smother out sodded lawns if it ever gets a hold.