Overseeding Bermuda Grass For Winter

Ryegrass will die off as temperatures rise in the spring making way for the return of the warm season grasses like bermuda grass.

Overseeding bermuda grass for winter.

Winter overseeding of dormant bermudagrass may be done for year round green color. Since bermuda is a warm season grass variety you can avoid having to live with a landscaping eyesore during winter by overseeding your bermuda lawn with a cool season grass species including annual ryegrass and perennial ryegrass. Turfgrass managers in the southern united states generally plan and budget each year to add additional bermuda grass seed or sprigs to. Overseeding is not generally recommended on immature turf less than 6 to 8 months of age or first fall after planting.

First if the lawn is patchy or thin. Overseeding with ryegrass provides year round green turf surface. On the other hand winter grasses like annual and perennial ryegrass cannot take the heat and dry of our summers. Before overseeding your thin lawn cut your grass shorter than normal and bag the clippings.

If you want winter color in your bermuda grass lawn you ll need to overseed with a cool season grass seed typically perennial rye grass lolium perrene which grows in usda zones 2. Cons of overseeding with. Many golf and sports turf managers as well as home owners and sports field managers are faced with drastic reductions in survival and re establishment of their permanent bermuda bases after winter ryegrass overseeding. Winter overseeding with a ryegrass.

In the spring the rye competes with bermuda and customers often withhold water to transition from winter to summer grass. This will give the grass seed easy access to the soil so it can root more easily after germinating. Adding grass to existing bermuda turf. In the fall scalping the summer grass before dormancy doesn t allow for adequate storage of energy in the roots.

After mowing rake the lawn to help loosen the top layer of soil and remove any dead grass and debris. The cool season grass will germinate in the fall and begin to grow as your bermuda grass is going dormant. To solve this problem many turf managers choose to overseed the hardy bermuda with winter grasses to keep lawns green and looking good through the winter. How to overseed a lawn 1.

It is simply seeding over an area that has or had existing grass that is performing poorly. Give your bermuda a break overseeding can be stressful for your bermuda grass. Overseeding makes the grass more attractive and use able during the winter months. As spring arrives your bermuda grass will begin to green as normal.

If a tan dormant lawn in the winter is more than you can bear you might want to consider over seeding your bermuda grass lawn with a cool season grass.