UF/IFAS
Okeechobee County Extension Service
458 Highway 98 North
Okeechobee, FL 34972-2578
Phone: (863) 763-6469
E- mail: dfculbert@ifas.ufl.edu
October 21, 2004
Feature Article - for release the week of October 24, 2004
Dan Culbert - Extension Horticulture Agent
Plan now for Green Winter Lawns
Are
you looking for a green lawn this coming winter? As you travel around
town, you may have seen lawns that look like they were transplanted directly
from Ireland,
and wondered how they did that. Golfers will also notice that winter
fairways and greens are kept emerald in color. The secret is
overseeding, the subject of today’s column.
Local lawn grasses found in our Florida Yards are warm-season perennial grasses. They grow great in heat but as temperatures get cooler, they stop growing. With a little frost our lawns may turn brown. The trick is to add a cool season grass that can make our winter lawns green. When temperatures rise in the spring, the cool season grass will die off as the permanent lawn grasses perk up.
Overseeding uses a temporary grass that is seeded into the permanent lawn to provide winter color. While this practice is common on golf courses, athletic fields and commercial landscapes, any homeowner can have a green lawn year-round. It is important to remember, however, that an overseeded lawn will require additional maintenance steps.
While
several cool-season grasses can be used for overseeding, the best local choice
for overseeding home lawns is annual ryegrass. Annual ryegrass seed
germinates and grows fast and is reasonably low in cost. It does well in
either sun or shade, and tolerates close, frequent mowing. If seeded heavily
and mowed closely, ryegrass can provide a very dense and beautiful winter
lawn. By springtime, the ryegrass dies and the permanent lawn grass should be
actively growing again. Of course, the ryegrass will have to be reseeded each
fall to provide a green wintertime lawn.
Establishment of winter ryegrass can be done in the Okeechobee area in mid-November and early December. Wait until the daytime temperatures are in the mid-70 degrees F. range. If planted during warmer periods, water stress and diseases may reduce the chance of ryegrass seedling survival.
Proper seeded preparation and proper watering are important for success. Overseeded grass must contact the soil. The lawn should first be raked thoroughly to remove all debris. Next, mow the lawn closely, to about a 2½ to 3 inch height. Here’s one case when you may want to catch the clippings, or rake up the grass after mowing. The lawn may need to be cut more than once to reduce it to the desired height.
When overseeded, a lawn with heavy thatch will produce irregular patches, and de-thatching with a power vertical mower or power rake is advisable. A final raking will remove additional material and loosen the soil somewhat so that the seed can come in contact with the soil.
The next step is seeding. There are no "magic" seeding rates. For annual ryegrass, plan on 10 pounds of seed per 1000 square feet of lawn. Ask us for recommended rates if using other kinds of overseeded grasses or if a heavy thatch layer exists. When available, buy fungicide-treated seed.
For best coverage, use a mechanical seeder and sow half the seed as you walk in one direction and the remaining half by walking at right angles to the first. A uniform stand can be established this way. After seeding, rake the ground with a stiff broom to ensure that the seed has dropped through the grass and touches the soil.
Watering is a second important step in establishing the winter lawn. Water should be applied lightly and carefully to the seeded lawn once or twice a day until the seeds have germinated. Watering should continue until seedlings are well established. However, over watering may wash away the seed and encourage diseases. Once established, water the lawn only as-needed.
The winter lawn requires the same maintenance as the permanent lawn - mowing, watering, fertilizing, and managing pests. Begin mowing when the grass is 1 to 2 inches tall. Properly fertilized ryegrass grows very quickly, so weekly mowing will probably be required. Do not mow with a dull blade or the seedlings may be torn from the ground or develop a ragged appearance.
Fertilization is needed to keep the ryegrass growing vigorously and to maintain a deep green color. To prevent root burn, wait to fertilize until after the second mowing. For the first application, apply a complete fertilizer such as 16-4-8 or 15-0-15 at a rate of ½ pound nitrogen per 1000 square feet. Thereafter, use a fertilizer that contains only nitrogen at the same ½ pound per 1000 sq.ft. rate.
Overwatered, overfertilized ryegrass is susceptible to root rot diseases, especially during warm, humid weather. Using proper maintenance is the best way to avoid these problems. If they occur, a recommended fungicide should be applied immediately - Pythium (a disease) can kill the entire winter lawn in 1-2 days.
Ryegrass will normally die out in late spring, but if the weather is cool and the lawn is very moist, ryegrasses can be very persistent. Check with our office in the spring for tips on how to get your permanent lawn back on track for warm season growth.
Master Gardeners can answer your questions about your Florida Yard - call or visit them on Tuesday afternoons here at our office. If you need additional information on overseeding your lawn, visit our webpage at http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu , or stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North. Our phone number is (863) 763-6469, and you can email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu .
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Trade names, where used, are given for the purpose of providing specific information. They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of products named, nor does it imply criticism of products not named. The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. Florida Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS /University of Florida. Larry A. Arrington, Dean.
Reference:
Trenholm, L.E. & Unruh, J. Bryan. Overseeding Florida Lawns for Winter Color. Gainesville: Florida Cooperative extension Service Bulletin ENH14, September 2001. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP098
Oregon Ryegrass Growers Seed Commission. Annual & Gulf Annual Ryegrass. Salem, Oregon. undated (2000?) http://ryegrass.com/Annual_Rye_brochure.pdf