Smith County Agriculture News – By Katie Martin, Smith County Extension Agent
This summer has been unusual with our abundant rainfall causing lawns to stay looking greener for longer. However, if you aren’t satisfied with your current lawn, it might be time to renovate. Turf-type tall fescue is one of the most common grasses used in lawns in Tennessee, and now (late August through September) is the ideal time for sowing seeds. Don’t jump right to broadcasting seeds though, as there are several steps to consider first to ensure a successful renovation.
Whether it’s a garden or a lawn, the first step your local UT Extension Office is going to suggest is a soil test. A soil test can tell us about your soil pH as well as soil nutrients. Next, improve your chance of new fescue seedlings’ survival by killing existing sod with herbicide or tillage to decrease the desired seedlings’ competition with undesirable weeds and grasses.
There are several available options depending on the size and scope of your lawn renovation. For a small area, you may work up the ground with a hoe or hand tiller and reseed. An ideal option for a larger area would be a dethatching machine that not only loosens dead grasses and weeds but makes shallow grooves in the soil which can increase your seed-to-soil contact, greatly improving your chance of that seed germinating. After dethatching, evenly broadcast seed at a rate of 5-8 pounds per 1,000 square feet for tall fescue. Rake the seeds in lightly.
Similarly, an aerifier (coring machine) could also be used to thicken a tall fescue turf by creating holes where seed can fall once again for improved seed-to-soil contact. After crossing the area multiple times, broadcast tall fescue seed at 250 pounds per acre. Then drag the area with a section of chain link fence, a piece of carpet, or a steel drag mat.
After seeding, make sure to keep leaves blown off new grass, control weeds like crabgrass with a preemergent, and mow your lawn high for best results. Fertilizing and overseeding may be needed each fall to keep your lawn in pristine condition.
If we can be of assistance when it comes to lawncare or any other agriculture topic, contact the UT Extension office at 615-735-2900, or check out our library of publications at smith.tennessee.edu.
