Prepping for significant Fall overseeding - TTTF

Discuss how to and whether you should renovate your lawn
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probasesteal
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Re: Prepping for significant Fall overseeding - TTTF

Post by probasesteal » August 23rd, 2017, 8:48 pm

Dethatcher ( power rake ) would probably be the best bet

redcoat
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Re: Prepping for significant Fall overseeding - TTTF

Post by redcoat » September 5th, 2017, 10:30 pm

Alright, contractor booked to mow low, dethatch, spread 6lbs / k of great seed, cover larger areas with peat moss, and then lay down Starter + mesotrione, this Friday (new job has meant lots of travel).

BUT, GAH!! Then along comes Irma ready to spoil the party :(

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Re: Prepping for significant Fall overseeding - TTTF

Post by redcoat » September 6th, 2017, 7:26 pm

So...how much forecast rain on Monday/Tuesday from Irma would stop you from laying seed down on Friday? Currently looking like 1", but anyone's guess how much we'll actually get...

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probasesteal
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Re: Prepping for significant Fall overseeding - TTTF

Post by probasesteal » September 6th, 2017, 8:05 pm

Just don't do it.

I reno'd our backyard 8/13/17, huge thunderstorm rolled through 3-4 days later (not expected) dropping about 1". I have bare spots and thick spots just staring at me. It didn't rain again for 2 weeks... I would have gladly waited a few more days.

But, if you are strapped for time, tell yourself "it's just an overseed".

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Re: Prepping for significant Fall overseeding - TTTF

Post by redcoat » September 6th, 2017, 10:00 pm

I hear you - and sorry that happened to you - brings back nightmares of last year for me!

I'm very tempted to wait, but it seems very rare to get a clear 10-14 days without crazy rain this time of year :(


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probasesteal
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Re: Prepping for significant Fall overseeding - TTTF

Post by probasesteal » September 7th, 2017, 9:56 pm

I understand the temptation, but all you can do is avoid the big rain events you know are coming. If seed asap after Irma moves through

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Re: Prepping for significant Fall overseeding - TTTF

Post by redcoat » September 7th, 2017, 10:50 pm

Yep, agreed! I called the guy today and put him off Til e next week - hoping we get a clear spell of good weather

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Re: Prepping for significant Fall overseeding - TTTF

Post by redcoat » September 10th, 2017, 10:33 pm

Ok, had it mowed low yesterday (hopefully not too low), and for best success with shallow-set dethatcher, I'm having the guy come tomorrow while it's relatively dry. He's coming back on Wed after the hurricane blows through to laid down seed, roll it and spread starter with mesotrione.

Praying for 10 days with no storms!!

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probasesteal
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Re: Prepping for significant Fall overseeding - TTTF

Post by probasesteal » September 11th, 2017, 1:21 pm

Just hope for gentle and frequent rains, 10-30 minutes 2-4x per day to keep the seed moist. Seem reasonable for NC??

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Re: Prepping for significant Fall overseeding - TTTF

Post by redcoat » September 11th, 2017, 2:51 pm

hahaha, isn't it like that every year?!

I don't mind the lack of rain with my irrigation in place - but the over-rain is the killer. Thankfully after tomorrow, things look great for the next 8 days...

He did a reasonable job prepping it - had a tow behind attachment for lawn mower that gently dethatched. He did offer to aerate it on Wednesday, which I'm actually tempted by as when they moved all the soil on here they compacted it on purpose with heavy machinery, and the irrigation ditches that were dug and refilled have always done noticeably better.

Excited to get seed down!

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Re: Prepping for significant Fall overseeding - TTTF

Post by Ric Clint » September 15th, 2017, 5:26 pm

redcoat wrote:
August 5th, 2017, 2:54 pm
What should be aware of to prepare for best chance of success. I'm using a blend of the best TTTF in the recent NTEP trials (Titanium 2LS, Avenger II and Firecracker SLS).
redcoat,

I'm in NC also... where did you buy this blend? Was it already blended or can you buy each one separately?

Thanks!




.

redcoat
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Re: Prepping for significant Fall overseeding - TTTF

Post by redcoat » September 16th, 2017, 11:43 am

I actually found by chance at Hudson's in Clayton. Top Choice premium turf type tall fescue blend.

It's hit and miss if they have that particular blend. I will probably have a spare bag.

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Re: Prepping for significant Fall overseeding - TTTF

Post by redcoat » September 16th, 2017, 11:27 pm

Seed finally down!

I hate unreliable/poor contractors! Stood up several times. Had to get this new guy to mow low again, take bunch of dead grass still in place, seed, cover with peat moss, roll and lay down starter + meso.

Watered some, main watering kicks in tomorrow morning.
Will prob do another starter + meso in 3-4 weeks.

Anyone know where to get urea here in Raleigh area, ready for later?

Weather looks good so far - 80's

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Re: Prepping for significant Fall overseeding - TTTF

Post by Marinegrunt » September 17th, 2017, 1:53 am

Glad to hear you got it seeded. Hopefully the weather works out.

I'm not from your area but check SiteOne Landscape Supply. Mine doesn't carry urea but does have ammonium sulphate. I get my urea from a seed supply store geared toward commercial farmers. The only good thing about living in Illinois is with it being farm country I have access to just about any fertilizer made. It still doesn't make it worth living here.

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Re: Prepping for significant Fall overseeding - TTTF

Post by redcoat » September 25th, 2017, 11:30 pm

Ok, seed finally went down last Saturday (so day 8 today).

Front is doing great in many areas - tons of little babies, and growing like gang busters.

However, there are lots of areas, including the back, where the little babies are either very sparse, or even not at all.

Should I be alarmed? Is it normal to have such a variation in development?

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Re: Prepping for significant Fall overseeding - TTTF

Post by redcoat » October 15th, 2017, 10:21 pm

And...all the new grass died.

I think I'm gonna give up on Fescue.

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kevreh
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Re: Prepping for significant Fall overseeding - TTTF

Post by kevreh » October 15th, 2017, 11:18 pm

Tall fescue is easier than kbg, where you are. There's a guy, pete, who has a youtube channel....gci turf services. He's out of greensboro, it think. He has a lot of good videos on renos in your area.

Did you water enough? Maybe germination will take off once we get cooler weather.

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Re: Prepping for significant Fall overseeding - TTTF

Post by STL » October 16th, 2017, 7:41 am

redcoat wrote:
October 15th, 2017, 10:21 pm
And...all the new grass died.

I think I'm gonna give up on Fescue.
What happened? Fungus?

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Re: Prepping for significant Fall overseeding - TTTF

Post by Marinegrunt » October 16th, 2017, 7:56 am

I was thinking water too. One of my neighbors kept seeding an area. Once the grass was a couple inches high he would put the sprinkler away. Most of it always died.

Do you know if you got a fungus? There were quite a few of us who got hit by fungus this year.

Fescue isn't too tough to get growing so something had to have caused its death. It can be hard to figure out what caused it though.

I wouldn't give up. You'll figure it out.

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Re: Prepping for significant Fall overseeding - TTTF

Post by JohnP » October 16th, 2017, 10:27 am

Can you post some pictures of the dead areas? It might help other, smarter than me, members point you in the right direction.

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