by James Culley, regional sales manager, Stover Seed Company

 

Aerating and then broadcast seeding provides excellent results as the seeds germinate in the holes. The crowns of the plants are protected as the holes close. Such seedlings will grow into strong, durable grass plants. Overseed at about 8 pounds per 1,000 square feet (250-350 pounds per acre).

The overseeding issue has been around probably as long as sports have been played on grass. There are many reasons for overseeding and each of them has a special place in determining the desired outcome. Trying to explore all the options and methods for overseeding would take up a great deal more space than allocated for this article. I?EUR??,,????'???ll touch on many points that go into decisions whether to overseed or not and techniques used by some turf managers I deal with.

Why should I overseed? There are costs to overseeding, including: labor, mulch, hauling away of debris, water and of course the seed. If your field looks like there is more dirt than grass, then overseeding or sodding will be necessary. If the fields get played upon by multiple sports on multiple days, then overseed. If your team is going to schedule postseason play, overseed. Why? Because that?EUR??,,????'???s your job. Having well maintained fields with good turf coverage throughout is your responsibility (and the crew?EUR??,,????'???s). If you can?EUR??,,????'???t do this job, they will find somebody else who will. I can remember a discussion I had years ago with a field supervisor for a city sportsfield complex. He complained that each time he requested monies for seed or chemicals, he always got flak for exceeding his budget. I told him that while you may get in trouble for labor overruns or excessive office supplies, field maintenance will never get you fired, but lack of maintenance sure will. Commissions and councils are at the mercy of the public wrath (AYSO, Little League Baseball, Pop Warner Football, etc.) if the fields they play on are in less than adequate shape. They will hear quickly from these groups and then you?EUR??,,????'???ll be surprised how fast monies are found.

A tag sample of a perennial ryegrass blend. Turfgrass blends generally provide a wider range of tolerance to drought, diseases and insects as opposed to planting a single variety. Germination is 6-12 days with proper irrigation, with the first mowing in about three weeks and limited usage in about 30 days.

The other ?EUR??,,????'??why?EUR??,,????'?? is for the field?EUR??,,????'???s sake. Unfortunately, fields are not worn down evenly across the playing surface but rather concentrated near the center or scoring areas. If the turf stand is thin and weak, the plant canopy can?EUR??,,????'???t support the wear and begins to die. Compaction, mud holes and loss of crown all begin to happen. If you think a little overseed is expensive, try redoing a crown on a football field. After a season of rains and wear performed by numerous youths/adults on the center crown, the dirt removed on their cleats and uniforms needs to be replaced and area reseeded/sodded after the season. Whereas, some preventative overseeding during the year will keep the field in better shape with less and smaller problems. Another reason is maybe the dominant turf is one that needs protection during some portion of the season because of dormancy or other issues. Sometimes, no overseed is required though. I consult on a Major League Baseball field that looks good now (mid-September) and will still look good even if the team goes to the World Series on its Bermudagrass field.

Source: University of Florida