When is the Best Time to Seed Your Grass?

The ideal time to seed new grass or fill in bare patches of grass with over seeding is in the early fall. Grass planted in the early fall (with at least 30-60 days of growing before the first frost) will have time to germinate and put down solid roots that will withstand the winter. Next spring the established seedlings will outgrow early season weeds and take off, forming strong plants that can withstand the summer's stressful heat. 

Before laying down seed, loosen the soil with a heavy rake (or light rake if there is some per-existent grass). Make sure there is no mulch or thatch that will prevent the seeds from making contact with the ground. Apply the seeds by hand or with a fertilizer spreader that will distribute them evenly over the designated area. Next gently rake them into the earth so that most are covered by a thin 1/2 inch layer of soil. When applied this way, some seeds will be showing, but that's not a problem as the others will be covered and even the exposed seeds can germinate provided they are in direct contact with the soil. Be sure to cover the newly planted seeds with alight mulch.

Proper watering is essential for successful lawn growth. Newly planted seeds should be lightly watered 2-3 times a day so that moisture reaches down to a depth of 2-3 inches.  Water in early AM, before direct sunlight shines on the grass and again in early evening, but not too late or fungus may grow in wet ground during the chilly night. You mustn't let the soil dry out at any time during the first 30 -60 days, when seeds are germinating and putting down their root system. Letting the soil dry out will cause the delicate seedlings to die.

When the new grass reaches a height of 3 – 3/5 inches you can do the first mowing and revert to normal grass watering patterns.

For expert lawn care in the Westchester and Putnam County areas, contract the Turf Barbers. 929 Quinlan St, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, United States; +1 914-302-2469; http://www.trufbarbers.com    

Summer Lawn Fertilization Tips

Lush Summer Lawn

It is tempting to do a light mid-summer lawn fertilization, because it sometimes produces a rapid rich luscious green lawn growth. Sometimes, on the other hand, it thins lawn growth or even turns the grass brown (fertillizer burn). Scotts makes a mid-summer fertilizer mix (light on nitrogen) and claims it won't burn the grass. In the fine print, though, Scott's warns homeowners not to use the mix if the temperatures will be rising above 90 degrees. Other fertilizers which claim their supplement is specially adapted for summer are "Seed Starter" - the numbers are 10-10-10, and "Turf tone" by Espoma, which has almost the same formula. 

But what is the truth about summer fertilizing? First off, summer grass is not actively growing. What, you are thinking, my grass grows and I mow the lawn every summer. Yes, but active grass growth means the tiny plants are storing food in the roots, growing and developing the root system, forming rhizomes, and tillering (producing new shoots).  During the hot stressful summer, the blades grow, but the plant is, if anything, utilizing and not storing root food. And it is best to give grass fertilizer when the grass in the active growth mode. Fertilizing in the summer causes unnatural rapid shoot growth. Underground the roots become flimsy and succulent, unable to penetrate deep into the soil like healthy roots. So even if the above ground grass growth looks vital and green, underground you are damaging the plant. Over time you will compromise the plant's health, making it vulnerable to stress, and impairing its growth. 

Fertilizing with an organic supplement is a healthy alternative to summer fertilization. Organic mixes such as Milorganite, soy bean meal, and others feed soil organisms and not the roots. Soil organisms contribute to healthy grass growth and also slowly metabolize the supplement, turning it into nitrogen that will be available for the grass growing seasons. Synthetic fertilizers, on the other hand, (Scott's et al) feed the grass and cause the unnatural harmful growth alluded to above. So this summer or the next, if you must fertilize mid-summer, choose a healthy organic supplement instead of a synthetic fertilizer.

For expert lawn care in the Westchester and Putnam County areas, contract the Turf Barbers. 929 Quinlan St, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, United States; +1 914-302-2469; http://www.trufbarbers.com