Shade Grass Time to Plant for Best Results

This is coming into the best time to seed shade grass. Here we think of fescue and rye grass mostly, but your can also use bluegrass. We have about a 6 week window to seed, from about September 15 to October 31. Seeding rate depends on if you are over seeding or putting it down on bare ground. Over seeding it takes 3# per 1000 sq ft of area, on bare ground it takes 6# per 1000 sq ft area. With that being said some people like to seed heavier than this, the new turf type grass actually grow a little different than the older varieties. If you seed them to heavy they will start to shade each other out giving you problems in the summer months. Also planting to heavy can cause you some fungus problems due to the lack of air circulation around the grass plants. You can use a starter fertilizer with the seed if it is an organic like Milorganite, this will not burn your grass or your new seed. However the chemical fertilizers can sometimes kill the germ on the seed, so if you want to use those products wait until the grass seed has germinated and is about 1-2 inches tall before applying. Here is a list of a few varieties of grass that do will in this area: Kentucky 31 Fescue, Crossfire Fescue, Route 66, which is a blend of 4 grasses, Heartland Supreme, which is also a blend of 5 grasses, Creeping Red Fescue, and Perennial Rye Grass. There has been a new development in shade grass in the past couple of years. Now there are fescues that do spread by underground runners, rhizomes. The 2 blends list here have the new spreading fescues in them. Know for a very important point, Do Not Put Down a Pre-Emergent Herbicide prior to seeding your shade grass. Pre-emergents kill the germination of all seed, good or bad. If you have any questions about seeding or re-seeding shade grass please give us a call at 405-341-3310 or come by 102 W. 1st in Edmond, OK