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Question:
I have a new home with bermuda sod which was just planted in December . I wanted to find some grass which will root so that my dogs (3 Doberman) will not destroy the back yard before it begins to grow . There is a hint of green in the sod due to the warm weather but I fear another dose of winter will kill the bermuda . Could I use winter rye to preserve my back yard or will the early spring weather mean an early green lawn?
Answer:
This is not an easy one to answer. First, I wouldn't count on mother nature for any help whatever. Trying to made decisions based on future weather conditions generally gets you in trouble.
If you don't overseed with ryegrass to stabilize the sod, I suspect the three dogs will tear up the new sod. Even if the warm weather continues, it will be a while before the bermudagrass starts to aggressively produce new root growth and/or new top growth. You need 60 to 65 degree soil temperature for good root growth in bermudagrass and 70 to 80 degrees for good top growth. I would overseed with ryegrass at about 7 to 8 lbs. of ryegrass seed per 1,000 sq. ft. Unfortunately, with the cooler soil temperatures, it will take longer for the ryegrass seed to germinate. Normally perennial ryegrass will germinate in 7 to 10 days, but it will probably take closer to 14 days or longer at this time of the year.
The negative to overseeding is having to water the lawn on a daily basis until you get the seed to germinate and start growing. I am afraid the dogs will do more damage if the soil is kept wet for an extended period of time. This is what makes this decision hard. Regardless, I would recommend going ahead and applying the ryegrass seed.
Be sure and apply a starter fertilizer with the ryegrass seed.
James McAfee, Extension Turfgrass Specialist
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