By Zac Reicher, Cale Bigelow, Aaron Patton, and Tom Voigt
Turfgrass establishment is most commonly accomplished with seed, although sod can also be used. Sod offers the advantage of an “instant lawn” whereas seed takes much longer to produce a green turf. Establishment with seed is much less expensive than with sod. Establishing with seed is not an easy task that should be taken lightly. Following proper establishment procedures can produce a healthy turf that one can be proud of for many years to come.
Late summer seeding is optimal
The best time to seed a cool-season turfgrass (Kentucky bluegrasses, perennial ryegrasses, tall fescues and fine-leaf fescues) lawn is in the late summer to early fall. Adequate soil moisture, warm soil, and limited weed pressure allow for excellent seedling growth. Between August 15 and September 15 is optimum seeding time in [cool-season] regions, and September 1 to September 30 is optimum in the transition zone. It is critical to seed as early as possible within these windows. Even when seeding within these windows, waiting one week to seed may mean the stand will take 2 to 4 additional weeks to mature.
Dormant and spring seeding
Seeding in spring is difficult and often unsuccessful. However, there are circumstances that warrant a spring seeding: thin turf due to winter damage; and poor turf density due to poor recovery from previous year’s problems, i.e., grub damage, drought damage, etc.
If a spring seeding is necessary, consider doing it before the ground thaws from winter. This is called “dormant seeding” because the seed will lie dormant until the soil temperatures warm in April or May. Depending on your location, dormant seeding can be done as early as Thanksgiving and as late as March. The benefit of dormant seeding is that as the soil heaves and cracks during the winter, crevices are created for the seeds which provide ideal germination conditions. Additionally, dormant seeding is easier to schedule than spring seeding, because spring rains often make it difficult to seed after March. Dormant seeding is more effective in the [more northern] regions because weather remains cold enough to delay germination until spring. Occasionally, warmer periods in [more southern] regions could allow for germination and seedling death with ensuing cold weather.
Summer seeding
Summer seeding should be avoided. Areas seeded in summer will succumb to heat and drought stress because of their limited root systems summer seedlings are out-competed by summer annual weeds resulting in a thin weak sward.
Preparing the seedbed
A soil test should be taken from the site. The test will determine fertilizer recommendations for the area. Correct any deficiencies in nutrients or pH by following the recommendations on the soil test report. Use a rotary tiller or other cultivation equipment to work the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches, incorporating fertilizer or other soil amendments. Do not work wet soil because clodding usually results; in addition, overtilling will destroy soil structure and is not desirable. The soil should be allowed to settle after tilling or compacted slightly with the tires of a tractor or other suitable implement. Heavy rains and/or irrigation will hasten settling. Allowing time for the soil to settle will prevent undulations and difficult mowing in the future. Just before seeding, rake the area to finish grade.
After the area is at finish grade, apply a “starter fertilizer” to enhance seed germination and development. Starter fertilizer is high in phosphorus which is listed as the second number in the analysis on the fertilizer bag. For instance, a 16-22-8 fertilizer contains 22% P2by weight. Apply the fertilizer according to the label.
Seeding
Seed should be applied using a drop spreader because rotary spreaders do not disperse the seed uniformly. However, spreaders typically do not come with calibration information about seeding turfgrasses. The easiest way to apply seed uniformly is to set the spreader adjustment very low, sow one half of the seed in one direction, and then sow the other half at right angles to the first direction of seeding. It might take three or more passes in a single direction, but it is well worth the time to get a uniform seeding.
After the starter fertilizer and seed have been applied, the area should receive a light raking followed by a light rolling to ensure good seed-soil contact. A roller designed to be filled with water, but left empty, is perfect for this job. It is critical to maximize the seed-soil contact for quick germination and establishment.
Mulching
Mulching the area will prevent erosion and conserve water. Therefore, mulching is most important when it is impossible to adequately irrigate newly-seeded areas. One bale of clean (weed-free) straw per thousand square feet will give a light covering that will not have to be removed after germination. Many people apply too much mulch, which can shade seedlings and require removal later. Apply the mulch very lightly so you can still see approximately 50% of the soil through the mulch layer. Some professionals use hydromulch which is a paper-based mulch blown on the soil by a specialized sprayer, which is an ideal method.
Watering
Seedlings are susceptible to desiccation, and the seedbed should not be allowed to dry. A newly seeded area will need to be irrigated two to four times daily depending on the weather. Water frequently enough to keep the top 0.5 to 1.0 inch moist, but avoid over-watering and saturating the area. Once the seedlings are two inches high, gradually reduce the frequency of irrigation and water more deeply. After the turf has been mowed two or three times, deep and infrequent irrigation is most effective.
Mowing
Mowing will encourage the turf to fill in quickly. Mowing should begin when the first few seedlings are tall enough to mow. You may only mow 10% of the plants in the first mowing, 20-30% of the plants in the second mowing, and so on. Most wait too long to mow a newly seeded area, so mow early and often. Initially mow Kentucky bluegrass, perennial rye, and fine fescue at 1.5 inches and tall fescue at 2 inches. After the first three to four mowings, you can adjust your mower to the permanent mowing height which is 2 to 3.5 inches for Kentucky bluegrass, perennial rye, and fine fescue and 2.5 to 4 inches for tall fescue. As always, never remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade at any one mowing.
Fertility
New seedlings have poorly developed root systems and thus they cannot effectively absorb nutrients from the soil. Therefore, it is important to fertilize frequently after seeding to encourage establishment. Apply 0.75 to 1.0 lb N/1000 ft2 4 to 6 weeks after germination and again 8 to 10 weeks after germination. Assuming seeding in mid-August, these applications would be mid- to late September and again mid- to late October.
Weed control
There is little weed pressure in the fall so weed control may not be needed. Broadleaf weeds may become a problem in the fall, but these can be easily controlled with a broadleaf herbicide application in October or November, after the third or fourth mowing. Avoid using broadleaf herbicides in newly seeded areas until seedlings have been mowed at least three times. Quinclorac and carfentrazone are the only broadleaf herbicides that are safe to use on seedling turf.
Annual grasses such as crabgrass can be easily controlled with preemergence herbicides applied in the spring. With dormant seedings or seedings made very late in fall where the area is not fully established by winter, avoid applying a preemergence herbicide in early spring because it may damage late-developing seedlings. In this case, consider using a postemergence crabgrass herbicide later in summer to control crabgrass. Do not use preemergence crabgrass controls (except siduron) at the same time as a spring seeding. As a general recommendation, delay use of these materials until new seedlings have been mowed four to eight times, depending on the herbicide. Check the herbicide label for exact recommendations. Siduron is the only preemergence herbicide that can be used at the time of seeding, but will only control crabgrass for only 3 or 4 weeks. Quinclorac can be used for postemergence control of summer annual grassy weeds in seedling turf with little risk to the desired seedlings.
Zac Reicher is now with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Department of Agronomy and
Horticulture: Turfgrass Science; Cale Bigelow is Assistant Professor and Turfgrass Extension Specialist, Purdue University Department of Agronomy; Aaron Patton is Associate Professor of Agronomy, Purdue University Department of Agronomy; and Tom Voigt is Associate Professor and Turfgrass Extension Specialist, University of Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences.