timing of top dress / overseeding in NC

[redcoat]

Hi,

I have a year-old lawn that is surrounded by trees and thus we get a ton of leaves.

I overseeded last year but suffered due to leaves on the seedlings, so want to top dress (on clay) and overseed early (Triple Threat TTTF).

Temps are dropping tomorrow - will have a high of 85 over the next 10 days: https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/ralei ... her/329823.

Any concerns with compost in those temps?

[MorpheusPA]

Thee are late. Or getting there; the weather's going to slide fast. Do it ASAP because, will you, nil you, it still needs a solid sixty to ninety days to grow in before winter.

[redcoat]

Wow ok - everyone locally is telling me they don't seed yet due to the heat. We just exited 95 degree weather. Is it possible to seed with those kind of temps?

[MorpheusPA]

Yes; keep it damp. The seed pre-germinates immediately (practically instantly in those temperatures) and germinates the first moment it can as temperatures drop. Which will probably happen around the third to fifth night.

There's a reason I put seed on heaters that kick temperatures into the low to mid nineties (with a few exceptions, but grass wouldn't be one of them). If it's damp, it'll germinate, but a higher temperature than the seed prefers might take a little longer.

Seeds don't germinate well in soil temperatures under 65, with 70+ being the best.

[redcoat]

Wow, ok. I struggle to keep the existing fescue alive in the high 90s - how do you stop seedlings from being toast?