Grass seed (Bermuda)
- Thread starter Curby
- Start date
Since the usual suspects are not answering, allow me to pretend like I know what the hell I’m talking about. Put that $hi+ out now.
Typical. Trying to rush shittt before the Sabbath.
Personally, as a lowly Gentile, I’d wait until after April 15th. My burmuda is still dormant. It likes higher soil temps, and if you seed now, it will have to battle another cold snap, and spring weeds for nutrients.
This and helpful to cover if spreading seed on bare dirt. In other words not overseeding existing grass.
Kill existing grass/weeds
Then spray again.
Then get good weed eater and cut close to ground as possible.
Rake soil.
Sow seed
Water
Rake soil
Water
Pray for rain
Then spray again.
Then get good weed eater and cut close to ground as possible.
Rake soil.
Sow seed
Water
Rake soil
Water
Pray for rain
I’d wait about 3 weeks and you should be good. Soil temp needs to be in the upper 60s or above for the seed.
Right now I would focus on getting rid of weeds. You need temperature above 80 degrees before you plant.
I know they are a big sponsor of the T&L podcast, but Scruggs is the best spot to get your yard needs.
what you have is probably that crap off the shelf at home depot or the like, and it is a small area stop gap measure at best. I believe it has fescue mixed in
I believe it is un hulled, so it might make it through this next cold snap
you don't put bermuda seed out until we go at least 7-10 days on night time temps above 60 degrees (bermuda needs heat to germinate).
-wait
-loosen soil to a depth of 2" (make like powder if you will)
-go buy hulled bermuda seed by the pound at your local garden center
-apply with small hand spreader and also a light amount of 13-13-13
-top dress with a light coat of wheat straw
-you will need to keep watered until you start seeing green fuzz
-bermuda, to germinate, needs heat, and water (don't over saturate, just keep moist).
**it's not time, wait.......and buy the good stuff
***if you are going to try to re-establish by seed, you need to keep herbicides off until well established
I believe it is un hulled, so it might make it through this next cold snap
you don't put bermuda seed out until we go at least 7-10 days on night time temps above 60 degrees (bermuda needs heat to germinate).
-wait
-loosen soil to a depth of 2" (make like powder if you will)
-go buy hulled bermuda seed by the pound at your local garden center
-apply with small hand spreader and also a light amount of 13-13-13
-top dress with a light coat of wheat straw
-you will need to keep watered until you start seeing green fuzz
-bermuda, to germinate, needs heat, and water (don't over saturate, just keep moist).
**it's not time, wait.......and buy the good stuff
***if you are going to try to re-establish by seed, you need to keep herbicides off until well established
One more trick I used to do if I was redoing a pasture and/or a yard.
I would prepare the dirt via disk/tiller turning all existing grasses under. Then in the late fall mix annual rye grass seed with un-hulled Bermuda seed. Then drag dirt putting seed just under the soil. Would cover with hay or if yard cover with wheat straw (less weeds). The rye grass would germinate during the winter which would hold the dirt. The un-hulled bermuda will rot the the hull during the winter rains. When temps rise in the spring the rye grass will burn out and the bermuda will germinate. Then hit with fertilizer.
I would prepare the dirt via disk/tiller turning all existing grasses under. Then in the late fall mix annual rye grass seed with un-hulled Bermuda seed. Then drag dirt putting seed just under the soil. Would cover with hay or if yard cover with wheat straw (less weeds). The rye grass would germinate during the winter which would hold the dirt. The un-hulled bermuda will rot the the hull during the winter rains. When temps rise in the spring the rye grass will burn out and the bermuda will germinate. Then hit with fertilizer.
I think Dr Jeff Kranz (MSU Turfgrass teacher/researcher when I was in school) used a rule of thumb that said add daytime maximum temperature and nighttime minimum temperature together and they need to add up to a minimum of 120' i.e. 70' days and 50' nights minimum for it to germinate and grow. For soil temp it was a minimum 50' .
Sun queen was developed at or by MSU folks, this is where I buy it. I live in Central Mississippi and my Bermuda has popped the last week or so
Glad this thread was started. I had bermuda at my old property, but bought a how last summer. Old my old property was bare dirt so I was able to till and prep everything correctly. I didn't do any changes to my new home and just maintained what I have - centipede. I want something fuller, greener, likely bermuda. If I just overseed will I get any results? I'm not going to put the time and money into prepping it, using top soil, etc. Also, the front of my property has several large oaks just off from a long ditch, so it's most clay, bare dirt, with a little centipede. I thought about sodding with St Augustine, but I really don't want to go to all the trouble and it not take.
Wait a bit. Until after Easter. This gives you time to get a soil test done. This will tell you soil pH and allow you to till in some lime if needed and to apply Phosphorus and Potassium. Around Last week of March or first week of April apply glyphosate to kill existing vegetation. Let that work for about 7 to 10 days. Prepare a good seedbed and incorporate any lime or fertilizer. Apply seed you have - follow label. I would also add 1/4 lb of Sunqueen bermudagrass seed (pure live seed - so 1/4 lb / (germination * pure seed). I think Sun Queen is coated so this is probably 1/2 lb of product per 1000 sq ft. Mix this with the seed product you have or apply before applying the product you have. Add a thin layer of compost or mulch. Water or wait for a shower. Once germinated grass is taller than your intended mowing height mow. Mowing pressure will get the grass to run. Spoon feed N at 1/2 lb every 2 weeks until September and you can skip August if you don't plan on watering. Work on bare spots starting in June. Fertilize through October and apply a good PRE herbicide first of October. This could be a PRE on a fertilizer carrier, a stand alone granular product or a spray.
I'm going to follow this thread. I am currently attempting to restore the back yard of a house I bought about a year ago. Weeds everywhere. I know I have a pretty good patch of St Augustine near the house. It also appears to have been seeded with something where a couple of tree stumps were taken out. Bermuda or Zoisa or something. I am really not an expert. It's in full sun. I hit it once with Change Up, MSM, and Barricade and then three weeks later with a little more Change Up and MSM. That took out most of the clover, nettles, onions and such. But it did not get everything. There are still some weeds out there. The idea was to knock out all those spring weeds and push the St. Augustine and Bermuda (or whatever it is) as it comes out of dormancy. I bought some bermuda seed thinking I would overseed. But now that I put the barricade down, I may have to wait on that. Not even close to someone who knows what they are doing. I'm near MSU.
Plug zoysiagrass (Pallisades, Zeon, Zorrow, Innovation, any cultivar but Meyer) in about 3 years you will have what you are looking for. Find a guy with a plugger or you cut and plant 4 inch by 4 inch plugs plant on 1 ft centers, slow work. Apply about 3 lbs N per year.
In the bare spots or where St. Aug is weak. Close to being as shade tolerant as St. Aug. Hard to get going in deep shade but that may be where your best St. Aug is?