Lawns go dormant in the time of late fall and early winter in numerous parts of Florida, leading to brown lawns during the cold months. Property owners may prefer green grass, but there is nothing wrong with having brown lawns in the winter as it is a natural process. Although, those preferring green lawns in the winter can practice overseeding.
Overseeding is seeding short-term cool-season grass on the permanent warm-season lawn. The warm-season grasses recover from dormancy next spring, and the cool-season grass will perish.
Grass Type and Timing for Overseeding
Ryegrass is the best choice for overseeding lawns. Ryegrasses can be intermediate, annual, or improved/perennial, and perish as temperatures rise in the spring. These grasses are adaptable, grow fast, and can withstand frequent, close mowing.
North Florida lawns must be overseeded from October to November, and Central Florida lawns must be overseeded from October to early December. Property owners who prefer to overseed must wait until daytime temperatures are constantly in the range of 70°F.
How to Overseed
The two most essential things to remember while overseeding lawns are appropriate seedbed preparation and adequate watering. Seedbed preparation involves completely raking the grass to get rid of all debris. Next, property owners must mow the lawn at a lower height than they do but don’t mow St. Augustinegrass less than three inches. The clippings must be collected or raked after mowing. Next, do a final raking to remove extra material and loosen the soil so that grass seed is able to come in contact with it.
You must dethatch lawns with heavy thatch in spring or early summer for fall overseeding. For the best coverage, employ a broadcast spreader during seeding. Walk in a single direction to sow half the seed, and then walk at a right angle to the first side to sow the second half. Ensure the seed lands up on the grass and touches the soil by raking the ground with a firm broom after sowing.
Watering is the last and most important step to establish a winter lawn as the seeds won’t germinate without moisture. Sparingly apply water for 10-20 minutes once or twice a day to the overseeded lawn until the seeds have sprouted—this typically takes nearly 7 to 10 days.
Continue to water every day for 2-3 weeks (around ¼ inch of water each time) until seedlings start growing. However, don’t overwater as overwatering can wash seeds away and promote the development of diseases. Once the plants are well established, water as required.
Established winter lawns need maintenance the same as permanent lawns, so ensure water, fertilize, mow, and control pests. Begin mowing overseeded grass after it’s tall enough and well-rooted. Allow the winter grass to perish in late spring—water less often and don’t fertilize after March in North Florida or after February in South Florida.
How to Overseed an Established Thin Lawn
When the existing turf is bare or thin, applying new seed under the appropriate growing conditions can make a huge difference in the turf’s appearance. You’ll prefer to seed when some weeks of good growing conditions will occur.
Below Are 7 Steps To Follow When Overseeding a Thin Lawn:
- Aerate the grass prior to overseeding.
- Do not scalp the grass, just mow it lower than usual. Remember, you are just trying to uncover the turf canopy.
- Collect the clippings to assist the seed to reach the soil.
- Add new topsoil over visible tree roots or to low-lying bare spots.
- Spread the seed or work it into the soil.
- New seeds require Phosphorus to encourage establishment and root growth. Apply a fertilizer rich in Phosphorus such as TurfGro 6-20-10 ProStarter Fertilizer.
- Using 1/8–1/4 inch of fine mulch or seed topper lightly cover the seed to maintain warmth and moisture, and shield the seed from birds.
Are you interested in overseeding this winter? Contact Down To Earth to help you prepare and oversee your lawn for the winter. We can be your trusted landscape, landscape construction, and irrigation partner across Florida.