Southern grasses go dormant and turn brown in late fall and winter. Overseeding with a cool-season grass keeps your lawn green.
What is overseeding?
Overseeding means spreading temporary seed over your existing lawn. Ryegrass covers dormant St. Augustine, Centipede, Zoysia or Bermuda, then dies out once spring temperatures stay above 70°F.
Why ryegrass
- It germinates fast.
- It grows in sun or shade.
- It makes a dense green lawn when seeded heavily.
- It grows in a wide range of soils.
- It dies off on its own.
- It is affordable.
Our stores carry Oregon Grown Premium Quality Ryegrass Seed in 50 lb bags that cover up to 10,000 sq ft. It is also sold at Gulf Kist Sod of Pensacola.
How to overseed
- Rake and remove debris.
- Mow low and bag the clippings.
- Spread the seed and work it in with a stiff broom.
- Water 1 to 2 times a day until the seed germinates, then taper off after 2 weeks to about every 10 days.
Caring for your winter lawn
Start mowing at 1 to 2 inches. After the second mowing, apply a complete fertilizer such as 15-0-15. Overwatering and over-fertilizing invite Pythium root rot, which can kill a winter lawn within 2 days, so apply a fungicide at the first sign of it.
Transitioning back to your permanent lawn
Stop fertilizing the ryegrass in March and water only as needed. It dies out once temperatures stay above 70°F, and then you can resume your normal lawn care.
Overseeding is standard practice on golf courses, and it is increasingly popular with homeowners.