When Should You Overseed Bermuda Grass?
In order to keep your Bermuda grass looking thick, lush and healthy year after year, you’ll need to overseed periodically. The following explains the benefits of overseeding, and when you should do it.
Benefits Of Overseeding Bermuda Grass
- Dense and Healthy – The new seedlings will create a more mature turf with increased density.
- Lower Weed Count – Reduces weeds in summer months.
- Increased Tolerance – Grass becomes more salt, drought and insect tolerant than other varieties.
- Improved Transition – Reduces ryegrass competition and increases soil temperature for faster recovery.
When to Overseed Bermuda Grass
Overseed Bermuda grass in mid-spring, when soil temperatures are around 60 degrees. Decrease your mowing height to half for the winter overseeded ryegrass. This slows ryegrass growth so it’s not competing with new Bermuda seedlings. It also allows more sunlight to the soil for better germination.
You might also want to apply a growth regulator to the ryegrass to slow its growth and increase the spread of Bermuda seedlings. You’ll want to apply the growth regulator a couple weeks before seeding the Bermuda.
Once you’re ready to add Bermuda seeds, aerate the seedbed and spread the seed uniformly in the openings to blend with the existing Bermuda sod. You can use a seed slicer to open the soil surface and plant the seeds in the open furrows to help establish the new seedlings.
You’ll want to plant 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of turf-type Bermuda seed per 1,000 square feet. You’ll want to make sure and plant the seeds less than a quarter inch below the surface, making sure the soil is warmer than 65 degrees for the new seedlings to germinate.
Regular water in the first few weeks is vital. If no consistent rainfall is present, you’ll need to water regularly to make sure the seeds establish themselves.
Resources found on our website are provided as general guidelines, and Reddi Industries does not assume any liability resulting from the provided information.
