The summer heat is finally breaking. The nights are getting colder with temperatures constantly dropping under 65 degrees. If you have plans to over seed your yard for winter green color, you need to stop by your local nursery and purchase your rye grass seed. Buy enough seed that will cover your lawn at a rate between 10-12 pounds per 1000 square feet. If your lawn’s area is 500 square feet and you want to plant at a rate of 12 pounds per 1000 square feet, you’ll need to purchase 6 pounds of seed to cover your lawn’s total area. I have seen nurseries selling bags of seed at 7, 10, 25, and 50-pound intervals.
Be sure not to buy more seed than you need, unless you plan on storing it for next year’s planting. If you do end up buying too much seed and want to store it for next year, make sure to put it in a dry and dark place, free from intruders like rodents, insects, etc.
Now, it’s crucial for the overall health of your lawn to plant the correct rates of seed. Too little seed will result in poor coverage and traffic recovery during the winter months, creating a poor aesthetic appearance until spring. Planting too much seed will put undue stress on your bermuda grass during spring transition-the most critical time for a bermuda grass lawn-as it tries to come out of dormancy. The density of the rye grass will choke out the bermuda grass, and in June and July, you will start seeing dead spots in your yard. We don’t want dead spots!
Call our office at 602-271-4266 if you are unsure how much seed you’ll need for your yard. We have an eager staff waiting to assist you.
Overseeding is tough chore, but it can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. In essence, you become a farmer, one who preps the ground, sows the seed, irrigates, and provides the necessary nutrients to produce a healthy crop, a beautiful, lush lawn. Enjoy the experience! And remember, Southwest Sod is here to help!