Should we reseed now?

[riptides]

So we look like we are almost finished with the Pole Barn project. The yard - meadow- pasture held up pretty good.
The area was 1 acre of *massive* hardwoods, and IF I don't see another piece of oak that is OK by me...

So the question is - Should we reseed. Attached a nice small shot of what I am looking at. The ground over the slope to the left has nice tall grass, course shade and mositure.......

With it being so dry, am I wasting my time right now?
I don't worry about runoff, a slit fence is in place, though by the road... well.....

Thoughts!
-Mike Z. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[s1120]

I would hold off till fall. Now is a bad time to grow grass.

 

[gobbler]

I've had luck growing grass in the summer but only in very small areas that can be reached easily with water. And plenty of it.

Just by looking at the picture, I concur with Paul, wait until fall.

 

[Argee]

I would seed now. Get some grass established, then overseed in the fall. When you spread the seed on bare soil, go back over it with a rake, then a roller to compress it somewhat. When it establishes itself throw some of that hay you have sitting there on it, that will help maintain some moisture.

 

[Turfman]

What are you going to seed with? Can you keep it wet? Once the seed is down, it needs to be kept moist or it will die. If you can keep it wet, it only has to be moist a half inch into the soil, you can plant now. Late August or early September are great times here.

If you can spread straw over it (brings in a few weeds) or peat moss, that will help keep it damp.

Rye will come up in 7-10 days Kentucky Blue needs 21 to 30 days. We use a blend of 15-20% Rye with our blue grass as a nurse grass. The rye comes up and helps keep the blue moist and cool to get it started, then the blue crowds out the rye. Let me know what you are planting and I'll get you a seeding rate per thousand square feet of area.

Turfman

 

[riptides]

The first time we did annual rye and orchard grass. The picture shows straw just after reseeding. Unfortunately we have been driving back and forth right over this area. To the left and on the hill, we have really nice grass.

The soil is bone dry, over five inches down. /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif

No rain is forecast in the near future. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

I may wait, due to the conditions and the fact that erosion control and grass in runoff areas should help.

It gets rather expensive with seed, lime and fertilizer....

Thanks for all your input.

-Mike Z.