when to plant grass seed in nc

Tall fescue is best adapted to the mountains and piedmont but can be successfully maintained on the heavy silt loams in the coastal plain. Delaying planting until the last possible dates indicated may reduce the chance of a good stand by 30 to 50% ("possible dates"). If higher nitrogen fertilization is applied, there may be a greater occurrence of diseases. This is especially true as you move toward the coastal plain. This same technique can be used on slopes and compacted soils. Vegetative: Warm-season grasses may be planted vegetatively (by sprigs or plugs) from March through July. Cavalier, Zeon, Zorro, Geo, and Leisure Time are new zoysiagrass cultivars with a moderate growth rate and a fine texture similar to Emerald. commitment to diversity. Sodding is placing sod stripped from one site to another for an “instant” lawn. Allow them to fall into the turf where they will decay and release nutrients. Large areas planted with bermudagrass or zoysiagrass sprigs require a minimum of 3 to 5 bushels of sprigs per 1,000 square feet and 5 to 10 bushels (yards) for extremely fast cover. Other herbicides may be applied to young seedlings during establishment. To reduce the danger of spreading disease and injuring the turf, mow when the soil and plants are dry. If perennial grassy weeds like bermudagrass are scattered throughout, consider killing the entire lawn. Fertilize the new seedlings of cool-season grasses as described for “fertilize after planting” in the section on Fertilization. Creeping grasses spread by stolons or rhizomes. Carpetgrass resembles St. Augustinegrass and centipedegrass and is often mistaken for centipedegrass but has broader leaves. Tiller: This is made up of leaf blades and sheaths, the stem and sometimes a seed head. When temperatures warm up, the grass will begin to grow anew. This will help conserve moisture, control erosion, and reduce surface crusting until establishment. Individuals who use agricultural chemicals are responsible for ensuring that the intended use complies with current regulations and conforms to the product label. These practices have been used effectively to make dormant warm-season grasses or any severely drought stressed grasses green. Fill in low areas, and smooth the surface so clods are smaller than marbles. It grows best in full sunlight and does not tolerate cold, drought, salt, or traffic. When seed is put down in early spring (March to mid-June), it won’t germinate until the soil temperature is consistently 55 degrees. Excessive removal of turf leaves by close mowing. People are becoming more aware of and concerned about the effects of chemicals on our environment. Fine fescue should be mowed at 1.5 to 2.5 inches when mixed with Kentucky bluegrass but at 2.5 inches or higher when mixed with tall fescue. A soil test should be made at least every two to three years to determine the amounts of lime, phosphorus, and potassium needed by your established lawn. Treat only those areas that need it. Example: A 16-4-8 fertilizer. This generally takes 80°+ consistent day highs in temperatures to achieve this level of temperature in the soil. A tightly intermingled layer of undecomposed roots, stems, and shoots located between the soil surface and the green vegetation of the turf grass. A species or cultivar of grass, usually of spreading habit, which is maintained as a mowed turf. Fine fescues may be used in un-mown natural areas. A comparative chart of principal lawn grasses used in each region is provided in Table 1. Broadleaf weeds are common in new seedings. Lawns can be established by seeding, sodding, or vegetative planting (sprigs or plugs). Keep renovated areas moist with light sprinklings several times a day. Space-planting sprigs, broadcasting sprigs, and plugging. The chemical in a pesticide that controls the target pest. Carpetgrass is a slow- and low-growing, medium-green, coarsely textured lawngrass. The North Carolina Crop Improvement Association (NCCIA) offers a list of certified seed producers. Most selective post- emergence herbicides that control annual grassy weeds, such as crabgrass, should also be applied at least four weeks before seeding. If irrigation is not available or desirable, then an alternative to irrigating is to allow the turf to go semi-dormant to dormant. Readily available sources of nitrogen that exhibit fast turf greening, short residual, and high burn potential, such as ammonium sulfate. Lawn Grass: Optimum Planting Date* Planting Rate per 1,000 Square Feet: Seed (pounds) Sprigs for Space Planting (bushels) a: Sprigs for Broadcast (bushels) a: MOUNTAINS: Kentucky bluegrass: Aug. 15 to Sept. 1: 1.5 to 2 – – Kentucky bluegrass / fine fescue mix: Aug. 15 to Sept. 1 Some of these are quite effective, whereas the effectiveness of others has not been documented. There is a PDF version of this document for downloading and printing. Because annual ryegrass is an annual, it must be re-seeded each fall. Apply a starter-type fertilizer, such as 10 pounds per 1,000 square feet of 5-10-10 fertilizer. The National Turf Evaluation Program (NTEP) trial research provides detailed grass types and cultivar data for your region and use. Do you use pesticides, change cultural practices, or both? Fertilizers and lime should be applied uniformly with a centrifugal (rotary) or drop-type spreader. of fescue seed for every 1,000 square feet of lawn. Start planting your cool season grass seeds when the fall temperatures reach … Reading the blog posts on the Jonathan Green website will help you learn what is the best Jonathan Green grass seed mixture for your needs. Excellent sod results from rhizomes (underground stems) that spread, with most cultivars recuperating from and tolerating pest control measures and moderate levels of traffic. Chemicals should be applied when the pest is most susceptible. Removal of soil cores from a turf with hollow tines or spoons. Warm-season grasses are best planted in late spring and early summer. Because tines have a difficult time penetrating dry, compacted soils, coring is best achieved when the soil is damp. Zoysiagrass is very drought resistant. You should plant tall fescue seed in the fall, and it may require annual reseeding. The flat portion of the grass leaf above the sheath. In that case, a 25 to 50 percent lower seeding rate may be appropriate. Winter is usually best, however, because there is less traffic. Avoid any significant nitrogen fertilization of cool-season grasses, such as tall fescue, after the February application until September for the central piedmont. Warm-season grasses are slow to green up in the spring, grow best in the summer, and go dormant after the first heavy frost. With the right amount of moisture, fertilizer, and sunlight, your new grass will have two to three months to establish itself before lower winter temperatures stop its growth. Apply fertilizers uniformly and with care using a centrifugal (rotary) or drop-type spreader. Buying poor-quality seed or plants often results in less-than-satisfactory performance, pest problems, and general disappointment. It is best used as a utility turfgrass where appearance is not a concern and low maintenance is the rule. It exhibits good disease resistance, drought tolerance, and cold tolerance; tolerates moderate traffic; and persists with minimum care. A mix of Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass should be seeded at the rate of 2.5 pounds per 1,000 sq ft, with Kentucky bluegrass making up 60 percent of the mix by weight. Warm-season lawns are best renovated in late spring to early summer. We recommend Green Up Lawn Food for Seeding and Sodding. It is also common for Kentucky bluegrass to be seeded in combination with tall fescue. Pre-emergence herbicides, such as siduron (Tupersan) and bensulide (Betasan), can be applied for annual weedy grass control after sodding cool- and warm-season grasses. The homeowner should cut often enough that less than one-third of the total leaf surface is removed. Seeding: Warm-season grasses may be seeded successfully between March 1 and July 1, depending on the species used. It prefers acidic soils and low levels of phosphorus and may not require the addition of lime and phosphorus. Experts recommend that a blend of two or three cultivars be planted rather than seeding just a single cultivar. This is especially so when these grasses are mowed high and infrequently or heavily fertilized. Fertilize after planting. A chemical that aids in liquid-to-surface contact. The use of brand names and any mention or listing of commercial products or services in this publication does not imply endorsement by NC State University or N.C. A&T State University nor discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned. This approach will only provide limited turfgrass cover and will not be a permanent solution. Hand application is fine for small areas, but a rotary or drop-type spreader should be used on large areas to ensure uniform application. Warm-season grasses can be installed as long as soil temperature exceeds 55°F. It should be mowed when it attains 1 inch in height and no higher than 2.0 inches. Seed fine fescue at 1.5 pounds per 1,000 sq ft when mixed with either tall fescue or Kentucky bluegrass. Any seed grown for profit, often including undesirable grassy weeds, such as orchardgrass. To help reduce turf loss: Avoid high nitrogen fertilization of cool-season grasses in the late spring or summer and of warm-season grasses in the fall or winter. The BEST time to plant Bermuda Grass Seed is in late spring / early summer after soil temperatures are 65-70+ degrees or higher and all danger of freeze or frost is past. Spread sprigs over the surface using rates provided in Table 2 for new areas. Some weeds growing in small areas may be controlled by hand weeding or removal using a small hoe, rake, or shovel. Dry, compacted soils, obstructions such as rocks and trees, and excessive slopes may limit the usefulness of a slit seeder. Grasses used in North Carolina generally consists of warm season grasses such as: bermuda, zoysia, centipede, and carpet grass is even used in shady, wet areas of the state. Lime may be put on any time during the year. With proper maintenance, it will provide a dense, lush lawn. In North Carolina it is never seeded alone but always mixed with other grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass. Young and actively growing weeds are easiest to control, so make sure that the soil is moist several days before application. Sod will not produce roots unless the soil temperature exceeds 55°F for several weeks. Seeding is usually the most economical method of establishing grasses. If this ratio cannot be located, then a straight-grade analysis product (for example, 10-10-10) may be used at a 0.5 to 0.75 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft rate. An underground creeping stem that can produce roots and shoots at each node. Ideally, the fertilizer should have a 3-1-2 or 4-1-2 analysis (for example, 12-4-8 or 16-4-8), and one-fourth to one-half of the nitrogen should be a slow-release form. Bermudagrass should be seeded at 1 to 2 pounds per 1,000 sq ft. These are some of the major causes of turf deterioration: The problems that caused the lawn to deteriorate must be corrected before the renovation process begins. Tillage or renovation techniques such as vertical mowing, coring, or slicing should be delayed for seven days after application to allow proper movement of the herbicide into underground parts of the weeds. Lay sod lengthwise across the face of slopes, and peg or stake the pieces to prevent slippage. It is safe to use on new seeds and is designed to make new seed grow quicker and thicker. Our goal at Jonathan Green is to help you grow a vibrant healthy lawn, and we provide everything you need to accomplish the task. Using a sharp mower is especially important for difficult-to-mow grasses, such as zoysiagrass, bahiagrass, and certain types of perennial ryegrass cultivars. It has a medium- to dark-green color and very coarsely textured leaves. Use the example provided in that section to determine how much fertilizer to use. Spreading seed and other products by hand does not ensure an even distribution, and some spots might end up missed. The application of high rates or repeated low rates of nitrogen to cool-season grasses in the spring or summer may increase the severity of brown patch (Rhizoctonia species), which can kill the grass and should be avoided. Apply half the fertilizer in one direction and the other half moving at right angles to the first pass to ensure uniform coverage (Figure 3). Overseeding your lawn in North Carolina is a great way to get a thick healthy lawn and fill in bare spots, but it’s important to find just the right time of the year to do it. For more specific maintenance information on your grass type, refer to the NC State TurfFiles maintenance calendars. High temperatures of summer can cause these plants to go dormant and thus planting during summer is asking for problems. Find your region in the map in Figure 1. To prevent drying of planting material, keep the top 1.5 inches of the soil moist. A dark bluish-gray color; footprints that remain some time after walking; and wilted, folded, or curled leaves are indications that it is time to water. Vegetative planting is necessary for some grasses that do not produce viable seed (seed that will germinate). Read the information on the seed tag carefully, and make sure you purchase seed with no noxious weed seed and low levels of other crop seed. A sand or prepared soil mix applied to the turf to help smooth the surface, enhance establishment, and reduce thatch buildup. But because the leaves are stiff, mowing can be difficult unless the mower blades are sharp. Plants with flattened leaves; dicots, plants that possess two seedling leaves. A dense, durable surface when grown in the coastal plain of North Carolina it is not frozen three... Soil to the product label before applying any chemical shade is a horizontal stem! 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