Dormant grass seeding Some people didnt get their lawn overseeded this fall. It happens. But how cool is it that you can actually put down fescue seed from now until February to help fill in bare spots?

One method is to seed when there has been a light snowfall of up to an inch, Ward Upham of K-State writes in the Horticulture 2013 newsletter. This is shallow enough that bare spots can still be seen. Spread seed by hand on areas that need thickening up. As the snow melts, it brings the seed into good contact with the soil where it will germinate in the spring.

Another method is dependent on the surface of the soil being moist followed by some freezing weather. As moist soil freezes and thaws, small pockets are formed on the wet, bare soil that is perfect for catching and holding seed. As the soil dries, the pockets collapse and cover the seed.

A third method involves core aerating, verticutting or hand raking and broadcasting seed immediately after. Of course, the soil must be dry enough and unfrozen for this to be practical.

With any of the above methods, seed germinates in the spring as early as possible. There will be limitations on what herbicides can be used for weed control. Tupersan (siduron) can be used as a crabgrass preventer on new seedings even before they have come up. Also dithiopyr, found in Hi-Yield Turf and Ornamental Weed and Grass Stopper, can be used on tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass two weeks after germination. Dithiopyr is longer lasting and more effective than siduron. Other pre-emergence herbicides require that the turf be well established before application.

Illuminations The holiday Illuminations event continues at Botanica from 5:30 to 8:30 nightly through Dec. 31 (except for Christmas Eve and Christmas). Tickets are $7, $6 for members, $5 for children ages 3 to 12. You can buy them at the door, or in advance at QuikTrip stores or online at botanica.org.

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Gardener’s almanac (Dec. 14)

Plymouth looks at second well

The Plymouth Village Board took up the subject of constructing a second water well at its meeting on Wednesday night, Dec. 4.

One bid was presented for the project, with costs to exceed $100,000. A representative of the bidding firm told the board that they could reduce costs somewhat by removing the final grass seeding from the contractor's specifications. That would reduce the project cost by approximately $2,000.

Because the bid was received right at the deadline, the board could not put the matter on their monthly agenda, prohibiting it from taking final action. This is expected to happen at its January 2014 meeting.

In another water-related business matter, the impending retirement of Evelyn Baker as water collector prompted a short closed door session regarding a possible successor for that position. The board decided to give Village Clerk Phyllis Smith that responsibility, along with an increase of $152.50 in pay for the added duties involved.

In a matter drawing some contention, the board discussed their annual "clothing allowance" for full-time employees. Trustee Wendi Mattson took issue with the long-standing practice, stating that the payment was not actually for its stated purpose and should be considered inappropriate.

Despite Mattson's protest, the board largely ignored that by stating that it was a long standing practice of the village. The board approved a $100 allowance for both Phyllis Smith and Tedd Simmons, with Mattson as the only dissenting vote.

In the night's remaining business, the board:

Approved the annual tax levy ordinance.

Approved moving January's meeting date to January 8th, due to the New Year's Day holiday.

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Plymouth looks at second well

Magda Linette, Poland ITF ranking: 149 Seeding: No1 in the current tournament

How much importance do you give to this tournament? This is the last tournament of 2013 and I want to conclude the year by winning it. I lost in semifinals in Pune ITF. So, this tournament is important for me.

How do you rank ITF event keeping in view that youve played twice in Wimbledon? Each and every match is important for me. I played Wimbledon in 2011 and 2013. But the condition and court is different in different tournaments. Though I like to play on grass, I lost the first round in Wimbledon.

You are a top-seeded player with a better ITF ranking in this tournament. Do you see a tough challenge from other players? Like I said, each and every match is important for me. Even top rank players loses to a new entrant. It all depends on how you play. I like hard court and most of the players around the world prefer hard court. So, there is tough challenge from other players here in this tournament.

What is the difference you see between grass court and hard court? Wimbledon is the oldest event of tennis and is played in grass court. The ball keeps a little low in grass court and some times there is uneven bounce, which needs very fast reaction. Whereas in hard court, the bounce is similar throughout the match.

How much tennis is popular in Poland? Though football is more popular in my country, there is substantial number of people who play tennis. Tennis is quite popular and the young generation enjoy the sport the most.

How is the experience of coming and playing in India? This is my first visit to this country. First, I played in Pune and now in Navi Mumbai. I am surprised to see the enthusiasm for the game here. The match venue is nice and people are very supportive.

Who are your role models? Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal are my role models.

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I want to end this year with a win: Magda Linette

Grass Seed Information

Grass established from seed as opposed to being laid as a turf thrives better and is easier to establish on slopes and in awkward corners. Seeding also offers the user a greater degree of mix and grass species choice than turf options, meaning that you can create a surface tailored to your requirements and that of the natural environment. Both surfaces require preparation, which is the key to success, and also a degree of aftercare.

We recommend sowing grass seed between Spring and mid Autumn. Lawns sown in Spring and Summer will likely require additional irrigation to provide adequate soil moisture level to achieve a good level of germination. The late Summer period through to mid Autumn will likely provide optimum levels of natural soil moisture for germination, if additional irrigation cannot be provided. There are specialist seed mixes we have available that can establish in temperatures as low as 7 degrees celsius for emergency Winter establishment.

The seedbed should be prepared to ensure that the seed comes into contact with the soil to ensure a good level of germination is achieved. Weeds need to be minimised to reduce competition (consult a technical advisor for the correct recommendation on weed control products - applications of some weed killer can prevent germination and affect the establishment of new turf). Adequate nutrients and moisture need to be readily available to establishing plants.

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Different grass species provide different characteristics, i.e. they can be used in different situations to naturally provide specific benefits:

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Perennial Rye-grass, Lolium perenne, is commonly grown within winter sports surfaces and lawns that require a reasonable level of ware tolerance. Rye grasses grow rapidly and responds well to fertiliser applications, typically between 100-300 units of nitrogen per year depending on how much wear it is subject to. Perennial Rye-grass does not possess rhizomes or stolons which enable it to spread vegetatively, and therefore requires seeding where it has been damaged or removed. As a species it is less susceptible to a lot of the turf diseases and it establishes relatively easily and quickly which is why it is commonly found in a lot of seed mixtures. Today's Rye-grass cultivars have been selectively bred to have finer leaves, be resistant to low temperatures and be more tolerant of low mowing making them a highly popular choice for amenity use.

Fescues, Festuca, have fine leaf blades that provide a fine, ornamental turf, they are not particularly tolerant of low mowing and require a free-draining substrate to thrive. They are better suited than most species to poor soils, shaded areas and are more drought tolerant. They will be pushed out by more competitive species if they are over-fed and are not particularly hard wearing. They also produce a lot of roots and require seasonal scarification to ensure the thatch level, amount of undecayed root and organic matter, does not prohibit water percolation. Fescues are relatively tolerant of disease although they can be prone to suffer from red-thread, Laetisaria fuciformis, a fungal disease in the autumn. Fescue commonly requires 30-60 units of nitrogen per year.

Bents, Agrostis, also thrive in areas of relatively low nutrient. Bents are used in fine turf lawns and sports surfaces because they are more tolerant of wear. They produce less thatch than Fescue but are prone to diseases such as Anthracnose, Colletotrichum graminicola, and Take-all Patch, Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis, particularly when newly sown. They require slightly more feed per year than Fescue but less than other grass species, i.e. 60-100 units of nitrogen per year.

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Grass Seed | Lawn Seed | Pitchcare Shop

If the grass in your lawn has thinned out in sections or youve discovered worn down patches, simply repair these areas with grass seed and consistent watering. There are several types of lawn grass seed to choose from. So once youve chosen the texture youd prefer, evaluate the level of sun the treatment area will be exposed to. From there you can determine if youll need shade grass seed or seed formulated to withstand full sun exposure.

Planting lawn grass seed is relatively simple. One of the most significant factors contributing to your success is preparing the soil ahead of time. Use a tiller to turn soil and then apply a layer of nutrient-rich top soil where youll be planting the grass seed. Make sure the ground is level before covering the area with seed.

Upon laying the seed, it can help to slightly rake it into the ground. Then, use a garden hose or sprinkling can to water the entire area from the start and then regularly thereafter especially if you live in a dry climate. For more information on the different types of grass seed to choose from, check out our grass seed advice or visit your local Ace.

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Grass Seed - Lawn and Shade Grass Seed at Ace Hardware

How to Prepare a New Seed Bed for Grass

No matter if you are planting sod, seed, springs or stolons, successful grass establishment means proper preparation of the seedbed. It may be labor intensive, but proper preparation is one of the most important factors in establishing a healthy lawn. It is best performed prior to planting because improving soil in an established lawn is much more difficult than improving a newly planted seedbed. Proper seedbed preparation reduces problems involving weeds, fertility, aeration, pH and drainage.

Lely Spreader Settings for Seed Application

The Lely WFR/WGR and HR spreaders can broadcast fertilizer, sand or grass seed. Spreader settings vary depending on the type of material being broadcast. The operators manual lists output rates for multiple settings when spreading fertilizer of slag, but only gives one setting and output rate for each seed type listed. You can overcome this though with a little weighing, measuring and a simple math calculation.

The Natural Reseeding of a Centipede Lawn

A light green color and slow growth distinguishes centipede grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) from other grass species. Seedheads develop if your lawn grows tall, allowing seeds to dot the soil for possible reseeding. If you have some bare spots in your lawn, natural reseeding does not fill in the space as well as manual seeding or sodding. Centipede is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7b and higher.

When Do You Weed or Seed in Florida?

Because of its north-south orientation, Florida lawns experience much cooler temperatures in northern portions of the state than in South Florida, encouraging the use of both warm- and cool-season grass mixtures in the yard to maintain color throughout the year. For example, a warm-season species, including Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum), is overseeded with cool-season perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), to keep the lawn green almost year-round. The timing of your weed-and-seed turf maintenance in Florida, however, depends on your geographic location for the best results.

Reseeding Lawns in Summer

The best times to reseed a lawn are early fall and mid-to-late spring. Early fall is usually preferable because soil is warm and weed pressure is low, but this time of year is also prone to excessive heat and inadequate moisture. Spring usually provides abundant moisture and mild temperatures, but the soil is cold and weeds are growing vigorously. Summer is the most difficult part of the growing season for reseeding lawns, so you need careful management to increase the likelihood of success.

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Lawn Planting | Garden & Lawn | eHow - eHow | How to Videos ...

Starting a lawn from seed is the least expensive way to transform your home or garden with a new lawn. Find information and step-by-step instructions on how to turn grass seed into a lush, beautiful lawn.

The best time to start lawns from seed, or by any means, is just prior to the grass's season of most vigorous growth.

First, you need to determine the type of grass that grows best in your climate whether you need cool-season or warm-season grass. Think of cool-season and warm-season grasses as the yin and yang of the turf world. Or better yet, when you think of cool season grasses, envision blue spruce. When you think of warm-season grasses, envision palm trees. Get the picture?

For cool-season grasses (which grow best in fall, spring, and, in some areas, winter), the best time to plant is late summer to early fall. At that time of year, the ground is still warm enough for quick germination, and the young grass plants have the entire upcoming cool season to become established.

Early spring is the second-best time to start a cool-season lawn from seed. The young grass has less time to become established before the onset of hot weather, but results are usually satisfactory as long as you start seeding early enough.

Warm-season grasses are best planted in late spring. At that time, the weather is still mild enough to let you get the grass established, but the hot weather of summer and the most vigorous growth are just around the corner.

The soil is ready, the site is level, and the watering system is in place now you can plant the seed.

Spread the seed.

Make sure that you properly set your spreader rate for sowing seed. (You can check the manufacturer's instructions, but many times, the spreader has the necessary information printed on it.) Put half the grass seed in the spreader. Spread the first half of the seed by walking in one direction and then spread the second half crisscross to the first direction. This pattern ensures even coverage.

Don't forget to use a starter fertilizer. Starter fertilizers are high in the nutrient phosphorous, which is essential to seedlings.

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Planting a New Lawn from Seed - For Dummies

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Lawn Grass Seed - Grass Seed for Home Lawns

The North half of the U.S. is generally adapted to cool season grass seed. These areas have cold winters with temperatures that fall below freezing and warm summers, without long extended hot periods. Usually there are regular intervals of rain throughout the summer months. To keep a cool season lawn green throughout a hot, dry period, requires supplemental lawn irrigation as cool season grasses need about 1 inch of water a week to stay green during the summer months. Cool-season grasses grown from grass seed will tolerate some extended periods of drought by going dormant. Extended drought for periods longer than 4 weeks combined with hot temperatures, will cause death of the turf grass and you will have to re-seed new grass seed.

There are 4 major types of cool-season grass seeds: bluegrass, fescue, rye grass, and bent grass. Cool season grasses are most actively growing in the spring and early fall when soil temperatures are between 55 and 65 degrees. This is typically the time period when you plant cool season grass seed as well.

The Southern half of the U.S. is generally adapted to warm season grass seed which are of tropical origin and thrive during the scorching summer heat. They are tough and form a dense lawn cover that thickens as they age when planted from grass seed. They are not green during the cold spells of winter. Their leaves turn brown in late fall and don't green up again until warm weather returns. In general, they are green a little over half the year depending on how mild winter time temperatures are. Many people overseed warm season grasses with cool season grass seed in early fall so they have a green lawn over the winter. Warm-season grasses are best suited for lower and middle South regions which includes from Virginia clear over to Southern California. The warm season grass seed we offer are: bahia, bermuda, buffalo, carpet, centipede, seashore paspalum, and buffalo grass seeds.

One critical problem with warm season grasses is they are not very shade tolerant. St. Augustine is the most shade tolerant warm season grass, but is not available from grass seed. For shady areas in the South, turf type fescue usually performs pretty well when planted from grass seed.

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Quality Lawn Grass Seed For Lawn & Putting Greens

The most popular cool-season grass, this species creates a thick, dark green lawn.

Tall Fescue is drought tolerant, while Fine Fesuce is known for its shade tolerance.

Native to North America, this warm-season species is drought/heat tolerant and does well in the cold.

Quick-growing, this is a durable, cool-season grass used for homes and sports fields.

This is a popular, water-wise, warm-season species used for homes, golf courses, and sports.

This is a warm-season grass that forms an extremely drought tolerant, dark green, lawn.

Our team of experts have been providing the highest quality grass seed products and advice to large landowners and homeowners for over twenty years. Our reputation as the "go-to" source for solving the most complex reclamation, revegetation and beautification challenges is second to none. Quality - in everything we do - is our hallmark.

In addition to our own field production, we use an extensive network of trusted wildland collectors and growers - built over years of experience - to provide you the highest quality products for your restoration, landscaping, or beautification project.

Competition to develop new and improved grass seed types has resulted in hundreds of patented varieties available. Instead of being limited to a single producer, we stock only the best performing "golf-grade" quality varieties for your lawn.

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Buy North America’s Best Grass Seed | Nature’s Finest Seed