10 Easy Steps for Winter Overseeding of Warm-Season Lawns

Before Overseeding:

  1. Last aggressive dethatching of warm-season turf 6 weeks before overseed date. (Dethatching just before entering winter dormancy can leave turf weakened come spring.)
  2. Stop all Nitrogen fertilization 4 weeks before overseed date.
  3. Stop mowing 10 days before overseed date.
  4. Decrease water by 50% 1 week before overseed date.
  5. Drop mowing height by 1/3 3-4 days before overseed date.

Day of Overseeding:

  1. Drop mowing height by 1/3 again.
  2. Remove clippings to open the turf canopy to the soil.
  3. Broadcast the seed.
  4. Apply TurfGro 6-20-10 ProStarter fertilizer.

The key to a successful winter overseed is to slow the warm-season turf down enough that it is not competing with the Ryegrass that is trying to establish. So it is very important to back off in fertilizer and water prior to the actual overseed date.

Bermuda grass

Bermuda

New: 2-3 lbs./1,000 sq. ft.

Repair: 0.5-1.5 lbs./1,000 sq. ft.

Blue/Rye Mix grass

Blue/Rye Mix

New: 4-6 lbs./1,000 sq. ft.

Repair: 3-4 lbs./1,000 sq. ft.

Tall Fescue grass

Tall Fescue

New: 8-10 lbs./1,000 sq. ft.

Repair: 6-8 lbs./1,000 sq. ft.

Bentgrass grass

Bentgrass

New: 1-1.5 lbs./1,000 sq. ft.

Repair: 2-3 lbs./1,000 sq. ft.

Perennial Ryegrass grass

Perennial Ryegrass

New: 7-10 lbs./1,000 sq. ft.

Repair: 6-8 lbs./1,000 sq. ft.

Overseeding of Bermuda: 10-14 lbs./1,000 sq. ft.

Fine Fescue or Rye/Fine Fescue Mix grass

Fine Fescue or Rye/Fine Fescue Mix grass

New: 4-6 lbs./1,000 sq. ft.

Repair: 3-5 lbs./1,000 sq. ft.

Tall Fescue/KY Bluegrass Mix (East of Cascades)

Tall Fescue/KY Bluegrass Mix (East of Cascades)

New: : 6-9 lbs./1,000 sq. ft.

Repair: 4-5 lbs./1,000 sq. ft.