Planting Grass Seed in the Fall
Planting grass seed during the fall is the best time for you to plant cool-season grasses or over-seed warm-season grass with perennial rye grass. If north of the transitional zone of the U.S., the right time to plant grass seed will likely be between August 25th and October 5th. If located in the warmer south and over-seeding, grass seed is best established when planted between September 20th and October 25th.
Soil quality and preparation are essential measures in planting a completely new lawn. Begin by taking off the existing vegetation. If planting a new lawn and there's a lot of weeds, try a non-selective herbicide such as Round-Up. If over-seeding, you're obviously will not wish to kill your bottom grass by using a herbicide application but what you can do is mow down your warm-season grass as low as you can. This along with verti-cutting and power raking, will lower thatch and strengthen good seed contact with the soil.
For any new lawn, you then need to level the soil as best as possible. The new soil must settle naturally, or you can increase the process with the addition of more water. (Throughout this entire process, be sure to pull any new weeds that may emerge.) Then rake the soil so it has small groves in it. You are now ready for planting grass seed
For both a new lawn and over-seeding, apply 1/2 of grass seed one way over the soil using a spreader. Then place the other 1/2 of the seed in the other direction. Lightly rake the seed in and next roll the soil lightly by using a roller. To produce good seed to soil contact and keep good soil moisture, top dress the grass seed by using a thin layer of mulch or compost. This may not be necessary but will improve grass seed germination, especially when under pressure from warm weather or drying winds blowing over the soil surface. Water grass seed thoroughly for the first couple of weeks but just enough to keep soil moist but not soaking wet all the time. Short water intervals of 3 to 5 minutes 3 times a day seems to work pretty well.
If sod is installed, repeat the very same steps from above and assure the soil is firm enough that the grass sod won't sink in after it is walked on. After sod is installed, roll it with a roller in two directions and water it twice daily until it roots. When grass sod cannot be grabbed by grasping it using your hand, it is rooted.
Soil quality and preparation are essential measures in planting a completely new lawn. Begin by taking off the existing vegetation. If planting a new lawn and there's a lot of weeds, try a non-selective herbicide such as Round-Up. If over-seeding, you're obviously will not wish to kill your bottom grass by using a herbicide application but what you can do is mow down your warm-season grass as low as you can. This along with verti-cutting and power raking, will lower thatch and strengthen good seed contact with the soil.
For any new lawn, you then need to level the soil as best as possible. The new soil must settle naturally, or you can increase the process with the addition of more water. (Throughout this entire process, be sure to pull any new weeds that may emerge.) Then rake the soil so it has small groves in it. You are now ready for planting grass seed
For both a new lawn and over-seeding, apply 1/2 of grass seed one way over the soil using a spreader. Then place the other 1/2 of the seed in the other direction. Lightly rake the seed in and next roll the soil lightly by using a roller. To produce good seed to soil contact and keep good soil moisture, top dress the grass seed by using a thin layer of mulch or compost. This may not be necessary but will improve grass seed germination, especially when under pressure from warm weather or drying winds blowing over the soil surface. Water grass seed thoroughly for the first couple of weeks but just enough to keep soil moist but not soaking wet all the time. Short water intervals of 3 to 5 minutes 3 times a day seems to work pretty well.
If sod is installed, repeat the very same steps from above and assure the soil is firm enough that the grass sod won't sink in after it is walked on. After sod is installed, roll it with a roller in two directions and water it twice daily until it roots. When grass sod cannot be grabbed by grasping it using your hand, it is rooted.
