Grass planting in fall?

[EddieWalker]

Originally Posted by herd

Eddeie, did you actually plant Bahia grass? I know it has a nice texture but around here it is a dreaded grass because of how fast it grow and the shoots it puts on so quickly after mowing. It is only in these parts because the Highway Dept brought it here from Florida for roadside coverage. Even they don't use it anymore!

Not knocking it, just curious. It is a nice looking ground cover when freshly mowed, just high maintainance.

Bahia is one of my native grasses. The stems really make it a terrible grass, but it grows great here and you never have to water it. It just keeps growing and growing. I only plant common Bermuda seed. It's $5 a pound for pure, hulled seed at my local feed store. The rye grass is just for winter green on the lawn in front of my house. It's a small lawn and I put half a sack on it. Then I used the rest for my food plot as an extra to my other plants. Rye is .50 cents a pound, so it's an affordable way to have a short term lawn. It won't survive the warm weatehr here, but when it dies off, the Bermuda is coming back.

Eddie

[FxdGrMind]

Yup, I seed only in the FAL.

Light dirt, seed and add fertilizer over the top, rake in lightly. Fall rains are better than trying to water with sprinkler that may have areas of "Overwatering" and may wash away or disturb your seeding.

I've done two sections this fall, one in early Oct the other just last w/e. The early Oct is 4" long and growing in thick. The other is just germinating. I'll have to check when I get home.

[asylum575]

I seeded mid-late November last year and was a bit worried when I didn't have much grass come up before the snow came. Ground was covered from late December through late February. By late March, I had a nice thick lawn coming up. I'm reseeding some spot this year and hoping for similar results.

Mother nature is amazing.

[Charlesaf3]

Fall is the best time to plant grass without question. Try to leave enough 50 degree days after planting so it'll establish - 2 weeks of +50 should do it.

I'm going to plant grass today, but I'm in the iffy zone

[NSBound]

Agreed that fall is good for planting lawn. I was concerned that there wasn't enough heat and sun for germination, as Sept-Oct were dreary and cool and wet here. It does seem to have taken hold enough to survive though. I tilled, dragged a spike harrow around, fertilized, harrowed again, and spread the seed by a hand-held spreader. Then I went and bought a little Kubota ride-on mower for spring! These photos are (1) Before prepping and seeding, (2) Sept. 25. (3) Oct. 15 and (4) Oct. 25.

[asylum575]

I'm hoping to finish up the leaf cleanup this weekend. If I finish up soon I will aerate and seed.

[Wineslob]

I got out the old Horse tiller and tilled up some sections of cruddy looking lawn(the ground was terribly compacted) just about a week ago, and planted with a "sun and shade" mix. Raked it in and have been keeping it moist. We had light rains last night, so I think I "nailed" the timing.
I'll keep my fingers crossed, this is the second time I've tried to get a lawn going, but I hadn't tilled before.

Is it ok to top it with composted steer manure?