Lawn Seeding Question - Diesel Forum

DieselDennis · 09-04-2008, 07:51 PM

I've got about a 5000 sq ft back yard that's currently bare dirt with some weeds. I'm planning on breaking it up and laying down about an inch of top soil down before I seed it this fall (or should I say this month?).

Here's the question. I'm going to broadcast seed bermuda with starter fertilizer. Last week I had a wild hair that I would also throw in some rye grass as well so that if the bermuda didn't become real strong before winter came, the rye would hold the topsoil and then die off in the spring, leaving a nice stand of bermuda?

Am I crazy? Over analyzing the situation? Will the rye block too much sun from the bermuda? Be too much competition too early?

RatherBNtheWoods · 09-04-2008, 08:52 PM

I don't believe anything known to man can choke out bermuda grass. Ask most any farmer or gardener. It is a bit late in the year though. Bermuda likes hot weather, and our hot should be about over. If it doesn't germinate quickly it will rot, and you'll have to do it over again next summer.

Bassman349 · 09-06-2008, 10:17 AM

I usually plant rye in my bare spot areas in late Sept./early Oct. and it seems to work out real well. I'm not sure the best time to plant the bermuda though. If it becomes dormant in the winter, like zoysia , then fall may be a bad time to get it started. If the seed is not too expensive, what the heck, can't hurt to try it.

I'm not sure how long your growing season is, but my rye seed will grow well here until late Nov. and gets pretty good root depth before winter. Hope this helps.

THEBUNDO · 09-06-2008, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselDennis

Am I crazy?

I don't know for sure about you, but I'm not crazy, and neither am I.

Greenie · 09-07-2008, 06:47 AM

I know nothing about warm season grass, but here's a trick I just tried after getting advice about my bare -weed covered grub damaged lawn;
Rent a power seeder (Home Depot, $85 a day) seed your lawn and then spray it all with roundup to kill the weeds. Roundup won't hurt the grass seed but will kill off the weeds that would have normally taken over on your new lawn area. Once it contacts the soil it is rendered inert.

thebundo... long time... how're doing?