Reseeding Tall Fescue in Fall
Brian Jervis: Ask a
Master Gardener
Sunday, September 16,
2018
Q: It seems like my
fescue thinned out this summer. How do I re-seed and when is the best time? DH
A: Fescue is a good
choice for areas of your landscape that get some shade. It thrives in spring
and winter but struggles with our Oklahoma summers. As a result, most of us
need to re-seed our fescue each year to keep a thick, healthy turf.
Cool-season grasses,
like fescue, germinate best when the soil temperature is in the 70-degree
range. This happens in the spring and fall, but fall is the best time to
re-seed as this gives your new fescue the fall, winter and spring to develop a
healthy root system. The last half of September through the first half of
October usually gives us the soil temperature we need.
Oklahoma is fortunate
to have the Oklahoma Mesonet (mesonet.org), which provides us with a wealth of
information, including the soil temperature for each county. At this writing,
2-inch soil temperature in Tulsa County is 72 degrees, so this is perfect.
For optimal results,
we recommend purchasing seed with a blend of at least three different types of
seed rather than a single cultivar. Doing so not only increases your likelihood
of success, but also combining grasses tends to reduce the incidence of disease
as each type tends to mask the weaknesses of the others.
It is also a good idea
to prepare your soil rather than just sprinkle seed on the ground. The upper
layer of soil tends to develop a crust so seeds dropped on this hard surface
will either blow or wash away before having a chance to germinate. Breaking up
the soil can be done with a rake or by perhaps renting a tiller or verticutter
for difficult situations.
Seed should be sown
evenly with either a rotary or drop spreader and applied at a rate of 3 to 6
pounds per 1,000 square feet when reseeding.
Seeds must have water
to germinate, which typically means watering twice a day for a few minutes during
the first two to three weeks. The key is to keep the seeds moist. Once the
seedlings are 1 to 2 inches tall, you can begin watering less frequently and
for longer periods.
Fertilization will
also be necessary, and we recommend getting a soil test from the OSU Extension
so that you will know exactly which nutrients your soil requires for best
results.
One word of caution:
If you plan to re-seed this fall, do not use a weed pre-emergent as this will
not only work to prevent weeds from growing but will also prevent your new
fescue from growing.
We have quite a bit of
information at our Diagnostic Center and on our website to help you maintain
your new and existing turf: click “Lawn & Garden Help” and then select
“Turfgrass” for fact sheets and videos (tulsamastergardeners.org).
Garden tips
- Watch for fall specials at
garden centers and nurseries because fall is a great time for planting
many ornamentals. Choose spring-flowering bulbs as soon as available.
- Fertilize established fescue
lawns with 1 pound of actual nitrogen fertilizer per 1,000 square feet now
and again in November. Do not fertilize Bermuda or zoysia lawns until next
spring. Late fertilization of these warm-season grasses may promote
disease.
- September and early October is
garlic-planting time with an aim for harvest in June of next year. There
are many varieties from which to choose. OSU suggests German Red,
Inchilium Red, Silverskin and Spanish Roja for varieties, which do well in
our area.
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