Should I seed my yard?
Fall is the best time to seed.
When turf deteriorates to the point where normal maintenance does not improve its health, it’s time to renovate.
Your problem may be a combination of the above. Our technician will analyze your turf and recommend the best procedure for you to follow.
Timing
Late summer thru early fall is the time to renovate your lawn.
Cool weather will eliminate your Crabgrass, Nutsedge and Spurge. The new seed will germinate in these areas.
Spring seeding does not produce satisfactory results.
Pre–emergents should be applied around March 1 to prevent the germination of crabgrass and other grassy weeds. Unfortunately they will keep the grasses you want from growing too. Spring seeding of your lawn requires that you forego this barrier; consequently your young seedlings must compete with resilient crabgrass and other weeds. Typically the weeds win this battle.
If spring finds your lawn in a deteriorated state, we recommend our Turf Fertilization and Weed Control Program. Throughout the summer we will strengthen the existing grasses and slowly eliminate the weeds. Seeding will be done in the fall when we can guarantee success.
FACT—Grass Seed Must Be In Direct Contact With Topsoil For Germination!
With this in mind, our technician will recommend one or more of the following procedures:
Broadcast Seeding
Broadcast seeding is for bare dirt situations. Even so, it is beneficial to rake up and prepare the ground. This gives the seed a place to “hide” and a better chance to germinate.
Slice or slit seeding
Some call it verti–slicing. A machine is used to slice grooves and implant the seed into the soil. Sections of your lawn may require a combination of aerating and slice seeding.
Before we aerate or slice seed, you must flag your irrigation heads, valve boxes, and invisible dog fences to prevent damage.
“What type of seed should I use?”
For St. Louis, the grass of choice is Fescue. Fine and tall fescues have made an impact as growers have bred plants that are lower growing, finer bladed, greener and less clumpy. However, hybrid fescues are STILL coarser than bluegrasses. These plants have a superior tolerance of disease and drought. They germinate in 7–10 days.
Blue grass is attractive, fine bladed grass with rich color and the ability to fill and thicken by way of its rhizome system. Blue grass promises a marvelous lawn. The 21–28 day germination cycle along with low disease and drought resistance are its two drawbacks.
Many subdivisions were sodded with 100% bluegrass sod. We recommend introducing fescues to increase disease and drought resistance. This incorporates the attributes of these two grasses into a turf you can be proud of. Dowco can help you decide.
Return to Advice and Tips
