Seeding in the spring

[MustISO]

People say you should seed in the fall but our lawn is a mess. I'd really like to see now but if it's a waste of time/money I will go another season without it. Current temps right now are 50° at night, 60's to 70's during the day.

 

[3chordcharlie]

People say you should seed in the fall but our lawn is a mess. I'd really like to see now but if it's a waste of time/money I will go another season without it. Current temps right now are 50° at night, 60's to 70's during the day.

Temps are fine. Fall is great, but spring is good too.

Keep the seed from drying out. Coated seed or a topdressing mix with peat moss can help with this.

Try to water morning and evening, but not in full sun. Ideally measure to put down about 1/8" in the evening and 1/4" in the morning (especially if higher temperatures and bright sun is forecast). But 'wet, not swimming' is a good enough rule of thumb.

Starter fertilizer is very effective.

 

[edro]

It's all about keeping it wet and protected until it is established.
They don't recommend spring because when a hot summer day comes, it can kill it pretty easily if it dries out.
You can spend weeks growing it and it is all dead in a single day.

 

[lupi]

I'm about 8 days into a new overseeding. Got a large bag of those scott seeds with the blue moisture coating.planned it when I did as we've been getting water abot 3 out of 4 mornings since I laid it down, so mostly I've only had to do night watering. This weekend I'll add the starter fertilizer on top.

 

[Scarpozzi]

The real key is to cover the seed so it can germinate. My neighbors always seed their lawns without using a rake to sow the seed. If the seed doesn't germinate and take root, it will be wasted or eaten by birds.

I planted a row of grass 1.5 weeks ago and it's already springing up.

 

[turtile]

Now is the second best time to seed. You could put down seed anytime of the year...

If you have irrigation, you'll be fine. A drought after germination would make it near useless.

Fertilizer at half rate will help speed establishment. I don't recommend fertilizing this late since it can lead to disease (assuming you are growing cool season grass like tall fescue).

 

[lupi]

Been a good couple days for the seed. Haven't had to water since monday night, a good sprinkle tuesday morning, street flooding raindfall followed by steady sprinkle overnight. Today's only supposed to get just over 60 and could see a momentary sprinkle shower so will have to walk the lawn tonight and make skip tonights also.

I know on one area the city came by and dug a 6 feet long trench that there are numerous new grass shouts, can't say if its from there crappy minimal seeding or my followup. As far as rest of the lawn it was an overseeding so will be harder to identify unless it grows through well in some areas with the dormant other type of grass.