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Question:
I run a local landscape maintenance company in S.A. and have several customers who insist on overseeding their turf. I have been trying to convince them not to for several reasons. One: to get the seed to germinate we should set sprinklers once during the middle of the day to prevent drying out. This is not a good idea because of the water restrictions and fines. Two: I personally feel we are damaging turf in S.A. doing this because our grass rarely goes dormant. I was wondering if you could provide me with an expert opinion on this subject. They are getting recommendations from Dallas and Waco to do it. I need some local advice.
Answer:
I agree with you about the problems associated with overseeding warm season turfgrasses for fall color. This is especially true for areas in south Texas were turfgrasses do not always go completely dormant in the winter and if they do, it is for a very short period of time. However, I can also understand the property managers’ quest for an attractive, dark green landscape year around. Curb appeal can be very important to many of these property managers.
Agronomically, overseeding the warm season turfgrasses is a stress on the turfgrass. This is especially true for turfgrasses such as St. Augustinegrass and zoysiagrass which do not tolerate overseeding as well as the bermudagrasses. We have to scalp the lawn in the fall which severely cuts back the production of stored carbohydrates in the fall for winter survival. It is these stored carbohydrates that the plants use to produce new growth in the spring following winter dormancy. Secondly, in the spring when the warm season turfgrasses are trying to break dormancy, the ryegrass is at its peak. This prevents the warm season turfgrasses from coming out of dormancy on schedule.
Your water situation in San Antonio does further complicate matters. It does take light, frequent supplemental irrigations for approximately two weeks to obtain a good stand of ryegrass. During periods of water restrictions, this is hard to accomplish.
My recommendation is generally not to overseed if at all possible. The only situations were I do recommend overseeding in the fall is for sports fields that are played on during the winter time period.
James McAfee
Extension Turfgrass Specialist
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