Overseeding Bermuda Grass

Always overseed with the exact same variety for uniformity.

Overseeding bermuda grass.

To improve an existing bermuda grass lawn. Many golf and sports turf managers as well as home owners and sports field managers are faced with drastic reductions in survival and re establishment of their permanent bermuda bases after winter ryegrass overseeding. Because of its aggressive growth rate bermudagrass can require more maintenance than other grasses. Late spring or early summer is ideal for overseeding warm season grasses in the south.

Many times the purpose of planting bermuda grass seed is to improve the existing stand of bermudagrass. Similarly it might be necessary to mow twice a week during this period to keep bermuda. The conversion process is fairly easy to do as long as a few simple rules are followed. After mowing rake the lawn to help loosen the top layer of soil and remove any dead grass and debris.

Prepare the lawn before seeding by mowing your bermuda grass about 1 inch and by raking the lawn vigorously with a metal tined rake. This will give the grass seed easy access to the soil so it can root more easily after germinating. This timing is appropriate for most warm season turfgrasses because it is the best for optimum growth of grass seed due to the favorable soil temperature. The fertilizer may lead to cold weather injury on the bermuda if we have a severe winter.

Adding grass to existing bermuda turf. Choose a grass seed. Sow 6 8 pounds of annual ryegrass per 1000 square feet and broadcast a complete lawn fertilizer than contains a slow release form of nitrogen if you have not done so already. Overseeding existing lawns with bermuda grass.

It is typically grown in tropical sub tropical and temperate locations. Before overseeding your thin lawn cut your grass shorter than normal and bag the clippings. If overseeding seems right for you now is the time to start getting ready. Bermuda centipede saint augustine and zoysia are warn season grasses.

The best time to overseed a bermuda grass lawn is during spring. The grass competes with the bermuda for nutrients in the spring. Cool fall weather starts earlier in the north so overseed your cool season grass by late summer or early fall if you live in there. Turfgrass managers in the southern united states generally plan and budget each year to add additional bermuda grass seed or sprigs to.

In the case of bermuda grass this is done to increase a stand density of bermuda sod and to try and help reduce or eliminate weeds. For more information see clemson university s overseeding with ryegrass. It s normal for grass growth to slow after five or six years and weeds to make their way in. Overseeding with ryegrass does have drawbacks.

Overseed bermudagrass every few years to avoid gaps and a sparse appearance. Bermudagrass grows very well in sunny areas with well drained soil.