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It is as important to prepare the area of your bluegrass lawn for overseeding as it is for planting. Pull out any weeds, get rid of thatch, aerate the soil, and fertilize if necessary. Give the Kentucky bluegrass seeds the best possible opportunity to germinate, grow, and fill out your yard.
When should you overseed Kentucky bluegrass?
There are two periods each year that are ideal for overseeding a lawn with cool season grass seed – spring (March to Mid-June) and fall (August to mid-October). Most overseeding is done in the spring when homeowners see the damage to their lawns at the end of a long winter.
How much seed do you need to overseed Kentucky bluegrass?
Use a seed spreader to spread Kentucky Bluegrass seed over the entire lawn, being especially mindful to get plenty of seed in the thin and bare spots. Use 3 pounds of Kentucky Bluegrass seed for each 1,000 square feet of lawn.
Will Kentucky bluegrass choke out other grasses?
KBG can spread quite a bit if the soil is balanced and healthy, and your grass is well fed. It can’t choke out weeds if the weeds are growing, but as a KBG lawn gets thicker and thicker, it makes it much harder for weeds and weed seeds to get a foothold.
Will Kentucky bluegrass fill in bare spots?
Kentucky bluegrass has a moderate growth pattern and does spread and will fill in bare spots. The grass will go dormant in hot, dry weather as well as during the cold winter months common in North America. It does poorly in extremely shady areas.
Should I overseed or fertilize first?
You can fertilize your lawn before or after overseeding. Both tactics work to feed your new grass seed. It’s best to fertilize within 3 days of seeding. This means you can spread your starter fertilizer a few days before you lay down your seed or a few days after.
When should I overseed my lawn in the spring?
Fall is the best time to introduce new seed into an existing lawn of cool-season grasses. But, depending on your grass type, overseeding in spring can yield good results, too, if it’s done early enough in the spring to give seedlings enough time to mature before the onset of the summer heat.
Can you overseed Kentucky bluegrass with ryegrass?
Perennial ryegrass will continue to thrive for many years as long as the environment is compatible for growth. Ryegrasses are some of the first seeds to germinate, often in just a few days after planting. Kentucky bluegrass is slow to germinate so the ryegrass acts as a cover crop for the bluegrass.
How do you encourage Kentucky bluegrass to spread?
Because it spreads naturally, Kentucky Bluegrass resists weeds, repairs itself, and forms a lush lawn. To encourage your Bluegrass lawn to spread quickly, apply nitrogen fertilizer regularly throughout the growing season, provide 1–2 inches of water per week, and practice proper mowing methods.
Does Kentucky bluegrass reseed itself?
Kentucky bluegrass establishes easily from seed, but it germinates more slowly than some other cool-season grasses. Unlike bunch-forming grasses, such as tall fescue and ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass is a self-spreading, sod-forming grass.
How do I overseed my existing lawn?
Mow Low. Before overseeding your thin lawn, cut your grass shorter than normal and bag the clippings. After mowing, rake the lawn to help loosen the top layer of soil and remove any dead grass and debris. This will give the grass seed easy access to the soil so it can root more easily after germinating.
What does overseeding a lawn mean?
Overseeding is the planting of grass seed directly into existing turf, without tearing up the turf, or the soil. It’s an easy way to fill in bare spots, improve the density of turf, establish improved grass varieties and enhance your lawn’s color.
How long does it take for Kentucky bluegrass seed to sprout?
Kentucky Bluegrass takes about 3 weeks to germinate when both soil temperature and moisture conditions are ideal. Note that cold and/or dry soil can greatly extend the normal germination time.
How often should you cut Kentucky bluegrass?
How often should I mow my lawn? Kentucky bluegrass lawns should be mowed at the height of 2.5 to 3 inches in spring and fall. Set the mower blade to a height of 3 to 3.5 inches during summer.
What is the best grass seed to overseed with?
Overseeding Is Good for Lawn Survival For low-maintenance lawns that don’t need much fertilization, tall fescue is the best grass seed for overseeing. In contrast, perennial ryegrass seed germinates faster and has a high heat tolerance, so consider this for warmer climates.
Is fescue or Kentucky bluegrass better?
The final notable difference is their preferred growing conditions. While Kentucky bluegrass is vulnerable to weeds and diseases during summer and in generally hot climates, tall fescue is rather heat-tolerant and is resistant to summertime disease and weed invasions such as crabgrass.
Can I plant Kentucky bluegrass in May?
Mid-May is usually the cut-off for spring seedings and later seeding dates increase the chances for having to do it over in August. fescue. The larger seeded tall fescue germinates quicker and establishes faster than Kentucky bluegrass.
How do I reseed bare spots in my lawn?
Rake the area well, picking up any leaves and debris in the turf. Cast the seeds over the turf, and then spread about a half an inch of compost or topsoil on the lawn. To get good seed-to-soil contact, gently rake the seeds and soil into the grass. Water the seeds in the early morning and evening until they germinate.
Why is my newly seeded lawn patchy?
Lawn patchiness can occur if all the grass seeds do not germinate when planted. Not all grass seeds germinate at the same rate. A newly planted lawn can also suffer a patchy appearance from excessive foot traffic, lack of adequate water or poor soil nutrients. A new lawn can also succumb to disease.
What’s the best fertilizer for Kentucky bluegrass?
Apply a balanced fertilizer (such as 12-12-12) at the recommended rate. The most important application of the year for root development. Apply high nitrogen fertilizer (such as 32-3-8) at 1 times the recommended rate. Use partial slow-release nitrogen if possible.
