Future Services, INC: Blog

Cool season lawns (Fescue)should be aerated and seeded every fall to stay thick and healthy. Unlike warm season lawns (Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede), cool season lawns do not spread and require overseeding to fill in thin or bare areas. Cool season lawns should be aerated and seeded between September and November for best results. This will allow the new seedlings time to mature and develop a strong root system before the cold winter months. This will also ensure a thick, healthy lawn the following spring. Seeding a cool season lawn in the spring is not recommended in most cases. Spring seeding can interfere with spring Crabgrass pre-emergent treatments and cause weeds problems later in the year. Also, the root system normally does not have time to develop and mature before the hot summer months. This will cause cool season lawns to be more susceptible to insects, disease, and heat stress.

Here are some tips and rules to guide yourself by in the process: 

• Do a soil test if possible before aerating and seeding. Preparing the soil is ultimately important. 

• Determine the foot traffic in the area where you plan on seeding. In Georgia Fescue is not a good turf to have in heavy foot traffic areas, so re-evaluate what you should do in these areas. 

• Mark sprikler Heads before aerating. 

• Utilize the correct amount of seed for the area you are covering. There are different rates for established lawns and for areas that are bare.

• Only use a small amount of wheat straw on areas that are bare. Heavy straw can conflict with the amount of sunlight the seed is getting.

• Water, Water, Water once to twice a day, (10-15 minutes), just enough to keep the seed moist for the first 7 days. Do not let the new seedlings dry out. Once the seed germinates you can start adding more time to your watering schedule but cut back on the frequency.