Advice on Grass Planting

[sld]

I have around 4 acres of grass that I want to spruce up. Currently it is a mixture of K-31 and assorted field grass and weeds. The areas where the original K-31 is thriving look pretty good.

I need advice on how to go about this without round up, tilliing, and reseeding. We might be able to water for a couple of weeks but not on a regular basis. I want to get geared up to do this in the fall.

What implements and methods will plant the seed right into the ground and get decent germination? This is a budget project just to make some improvements. I don't need to end up with a golf course.

I was thinking about poking a bunch of holes with a core aerator and then broadcasting the seed. Think this would work? Is the old fashioned K-31 a good choice?

 

[Duffster]

I have around 4 acres of grass that I want to spruce up. Currently it is a mixture of K-31 and assorted field grass and weeds. The areas where the original K-31 is thriving look pretty good.

I need advice on how to go about this without round up, tilliing, and reseeding. We might be able to water for a couple of weeks but not on a regular basis. I want to get geared up to do this in the fall.

What implements and methods will plant the seed right into the ground and get decent germination? This is a budget project just to make some improvements. I don't need to end up with a golf course.

I was thinking about poking a bunch of holes with a core aerator and then broadcasting the seed. Think this would work? Is the old fashioned K-31 a good choice?

I would use a no-till drill or an overseeder

 

[ampsucker]

wait till fall.

amp

 

[Frosty2]

Older neighbor taught me this trick.Wait to right before a big snowstorm and go out and sow seed.The snow covers the seed and birds won't eat it.In the spring the seed is inbedded in the ground and takes off.Now this is in the city and his lawn is great looking.I don't see why this wouldn't work in a field.

 

[aggiehortguy91]

If you want a uniform stand of grass, you are going to have to do it right (kill and till). If less than perfect is ok, then kill and reseed in the fall. I think that you will find that (other than a little tractor time) there will be very little difference in the cost and you will have much better results (and therefore be happier) with the first approach. Also, KY31 is fine for a field, but you might consider a blend with tall fescues and creaping red fescue for better coverage and less weed problems.

 

[DJ54]

Try looking up "frost seeding". I did this on both my pasture, and hay field. On the pasture, I just broadcast seeded it.. I had been mowing it, and kept it mowed, like it was part of the lawn. On the hayfield, old pasture ground, whe we had cattle.. I disked over it twice, with a heavy 3 pt. Massey disc, set to full cut. One pass straight, one at a 45ｺ angle. Just wanted to open the top a bit...

Frost seeding is done in the late winter/early spring. Around here it is done the last two weeks of Feb., or first two weeks of March. Days when it gets down enough to freeze the ground, then warms enough to get muddy on top... Notice in the spring when the ground "honeycombs" This action will pull the seed into the ground.. I had outstanding results on both fields... And they are not on the same place... 25 miles apart.., and different soil.

Ohio State University has good info about this in their agricultural section. I found several other state universities have them to...

Worked great for me, and little overhead, other than fuel and seed.

 

[radioman]

Hmmm, I can see it now- snowmobiler for hire, will broadcast grass seeds for gas and place to ride

 

[aggiehortguy91]

If you want a uniform stand of grass, you are going to have to do it right (kill and till). If less than perfect is ok, then kill and reseed in the fall. I think that you will find that (other than a little tractor time) there will be very little difference in the cost and you will have much better results (and therefore be happier) with the first approach. Also, KY31 is fine for a field, but you might consider a blend with tall fescues and creaping red fescue for better coverage and less weed problems.

I can see that I was less than clear. By "kill and till", I didn't mean that you actually needed to till. I've installed countless numbers of acres of very fine quality lawn with a field cultivator and a york rake. Kill the existing grasses, plow everything up with the field cultivator, then remove the clumps and smooth with the rake.

If the ground is sufficiently smooth and your requirements are not too stringent, you may be able to get away with a targeted herbicide and overseeding. BTW, the "frost seeding" does work very well.

 

[wedge40]

I always find it interesting that the box stores have grass seed in the spring, but none to be found in the fall when it's the best time plant or over seed.
Wedge

 

[J35]

I have around 4 acres of grass that I want to spruce up. Currently it is a mixture of K-31 and assorted field grass and weeds. The areas where the original K-31 is thriving look pretty good.

I need advice on how to go about this without round up, tilliing, and reseeding. We might be able to water for a couple of weeks but not on a regular basis. I want to get geared up to do this in the fall.

What implements and methods will plant the seed right into the ground and get decent germination? This is a budget project just to make some improvements. I don't need to end up with a golf course.

I was thinking about poking a bunch of holes with a core aerator and then broadcasting the seed. Think this would work? Is the old fashioned K-31 a good choice?

It will work after a fashion, I have done it when that was all I had to work with and had more time than money.

Start a couple weeks before you figure you will start plugging and mow right down to dirt with a mulching type blade and keep it mowed, when you get ready to broadcast your seed you don't want a bunch of debris keeping your seed from making contact with the soil.

Then plug the heck out of it when soil condition is such that you can pull two to three inch plugs up, I would plan to go over every square foot a minimum of four times, the more soil you pull up the better.

Then lightly drag the whole area one time, broadcast your seed heavy, and lightly drag one time, if you can figure out someway to roll the whole area it will be worth your trouble and then pray for slow, steady rain.

I have put in six one acre paddocks as outlined above, with Orchard grass, Fescue, Clover and was all grins the following spring.

Around here you can rent over seeder's $150-$200 a day, if you choose this route I would still do everything the same as above but insert over seeder instead of broadcast and no 2nd use of drag ,but rolling after over seeding would still be a good thing to me.

good luck