Fall Lawn Care Easy as 1, 2, 3

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Fall Lawn CareEasy as 1, 2, 3

• Kansas State University
• Dr. Jared A. Hoyle
• www.KSUTurf.com

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I have a cool-season grassand I WANT A NEW LAWN!
Your in luck!! Fall is the perfect time of year
for renovation and new installs!
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Renovation

• If your goal is to improve an existing lawn or
  fill bare spots
• Then overseeding if the best choice instead of
  starting over

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OverseedingA step-by-step approach!

• Mow down the lawn short (1-1.5 inches)

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OverseedingA step-by-step approach!

• 2. Power rake or core aerator
• Seeder-slicer can also be used

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OverseedingA step-by-step approach!

• 3. Seed selection - http//www.hfrr.ksu.edu/doc185
  3.ashx

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OverseedingA step-by-step approach!

• 3. Seed selection - http//www.hfrr.ksu.edu/doc185
  3.ashx

other crop Good or Bad Ex. 0.5 other, end up
planting 12 to 16 seeds per square
foot!!! (lt0.01 good seed)
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OverseedingA step-by-step approach!

• 3. Seed selection - http//www.hfrr.ksu.edu/doc185
  3.ashx

weed seed Mainly concerned with annual
bluegrass and orchard grass no selective control
in home lawns
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OverseedingA step-by-step approach!

• 4. Sowing
• Broadcast spreader Drop spreader
• Apply in two directions make sure you overlap

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OverseedingA step-by-step approach!

• 5. Seeding Rate
• Kentucky bluegrass (2-3 lbs per 1,000 square ft)
• Tall fescue (3 lbs per 1,000 square ft)
• Must have good seed-soil contact
• Use a verti-cutter to cut grooves into ground.
• Use a garden rake for small spots.

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OverseedingA step-by-step approach!

• Fertility
• Soil test
• Apply (broadcast spreader) starter fertilizer
  right after you are done seeding, before you
  start watering
• Lawn-starter fertilizer according to label if no
  soil test was conducted
• 0.5 lbs N per 1,000 square ft

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OverseedingA step-by-step approach!

• Irrigation
• Thoroughly soak seedbed to a depth of sever
  inches
• Gentle watering so seed doesnt wash
• Keep seed bed moist w/ frequent light watering
• After germination keep moist
• As roots develop and grow deeper water less
  frequent but soak more thoroughly until normal
  watering schedule is established.

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OverseedingA step-by-step approach!

• Small areas
• If only few areas need to be reseeded, prepare
  with hand rake.
• Sow
• Spread thin layer of soil or work in with rake.
• Soil to seed contact

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Steps for Overseeding/Renovation

• Watch the overseeding video on Healthy Yards
  Website.
• Key concepts.
• Seed to soil contact.
• Apply starter fertilizer right after you are done
  seeding, before you start watering.
• Irrigate deeply at first, then light and
  frequent.
• Irrigate a little bit, every day. Keep surface
  damp.
• Mow as soon as grass gets to recommended height.
  
• Cant apply weed controls until after 3 mowings.