|
<< Back to Previous Page
Question:
Should I overseed my "damaged" grass?
Answer:
Overseeding this fall might lead to warm-season turf with some very serious problems next year because of the summer we have had this year. A healthy warm season turf being overseeded is severely weakened as it is from the competition of the aggressive cool-season turfgrass being planted into it. Think back to how weak your overseeded turfs were this spring as they transitioned back to warm season turf, and imagine what you will likely have if you are overseeding an already thin turf this fall. I bet next year will be the easiest transition year you have ever had — know why? There won't be a transition for a lot of us because there won't be a warm season grass remaining. If you don't have to overseed, DON'T. Raise the turf cutting height and get your soils tested to ensure nutrient and pH levels are appropriate. Avoid the temptation to keep cutting the turf at early summer levels because you finally have something to cut. Allow it to fully prepare for the upcoming winter by naturally hardening off through the day/night heating/cooling patterns of this time of year .Expect a lot of winter weeds. The thin turf that has received some rainfall during the last couple of weeks is sure to be invaded by a bumper crop of winter weeds. Many have already gone out with their fall PRE herbicide application with this in mind. What is being used: these are the most common choices — prodiamine, pendimethalin, oryzalin, or oxadiazon. All of these are excellent PRE materials, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. There are other herbicides which can also do a good job. Be very careful with late season cultivation events on warm season grasses, particularly vertical mowing. Maybe this is part of your overseeding preparation or maybe you just feel it is something that needs to be done. However, be wary of cultivation this year after the summer we have had. The weaker your warm-season turf is, the more likely the damage this winter.
|
