Ag and Natural Resources -
Boone County
,
Indiana
,
USA
Doug Akers - Extension Educator
Timely Topics
Seed Lawns by Mid-April – by Zac Reicher, Professor/Turfgrass Extension Specialist
Late summer (August) is easily the best time to seed cool-season grasses, but sometimes turf must be seeded in the spring. The following points should help improve the success of spring seeding:
1. Seed as soon as possible so the seed is in the ground and ready to germinate as soon as the soil temperatures rise.
2. Improve the seed-soil contact by raking or disturbing the soil before seeding. After seeding, a light raking will further mix the seed and soil or a light rolling will push the seed into better contact with soil.
3. Water lightly to keep the seedbed moist as soil temperatures warm to 50 degrees and the seed starts to germinate.
4. Avoid any preemergence crabgrass or postemergence broadleaf herbicide applications to the seeded areas until the seedlings are established and mowed at least 3 or 4 times, which might be May or later depending on the weather.
5. Since the seedlings will not develop a good root system until next fall, keep the newly seeded areas well-watered all summer.
Much more information is available in “AY-20: Seeding a Turf Area in the Spring”.
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