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RUELLIA BRIT
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RUELLIA KATI
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Dear Craig,

Someone told me that I have to reseed my lawn every year.

Coming from the East, I have a hard time believing this. If this is true, it seems like a large expense every year. Why is this so and where do I begin?

Helen

Dear Helen:

As we start into the fall season it is time to think about overseeding your hybrid Bermuda lawns.

First let me explain the type of grass that is generally planted here in the Southwest.

Hybrid Bermuda is the basic type with many variations such as Santana, Tiffgreen, Midiron,

Bob (named for the sports complex formerly known as Bank One Ballpark), and a few more. The basic difference is the durability, leaf texture, and slight variations in color. In my experience, I have found Midiron and Santana the strongest for general use. Tiffgreen is a variety that needs to be cut with a reel mower for that golf course green look.

All Bermudas are grasses grown by spreading runners or rhizomes. These hybrid grasses can only be installed by using rhizomes, stolons, or sod. Their seeds are sterile and produce little to no pollen. Bermuda grasses love heat, use low amounts of water, and can withstand salty, alkaline soils. These grasses develop deep root structures penetrating the soil to depths greater than 24 inches. Their growing periods are March through September. When the weather cools, the growth of the grass slows until it becomes dormant. And if you have seen winter lawns here, you know they are yellow to grey‑brown in color unless overseeded for winter grasses.

Year‑round grasses have not been proven for the low, arid regions. Over the years, there have been many attempts to provide a carpet of green all year without overseeding. We have tried planting deep‑rooting, drought‑tolerant fescues, which seem to work well in the Las Vegas area, but not here in the low areas. Perennial rye and even bluegrasses have been tried, but nothing works as well as the hybrid Bermudas.

So, for the time being, in order to have green grass during the winter months, we have to overseed our existing hybrid Bermudas. There are a few types of seed that can be planted: annual rye, perennial Rye, Fescue and other blends. Each of these has some pros and cons.

For example, annual rye will be the first to die off when the warm weather returns, allowing the Bermuda to come out of dormancy faster. Annual rye grass also uses large amounts of water and can stain shoes easily, especially when cutting.

The fescues and perennial rye look great all winter, use lower amounts of water, and don’t stain as easily.

But these grasses seem to linger during the latter part of spring when the Bermuda is trying to come out of dormancy. This lingering can cause damage to the Bermuda and leave brown patches requiring long periods of recovery.

Remember, winter lawns require more water than the hybrid Bermudas so make sure you water the germinated grass at least three to four times per week. There is nothing like a beautiful, green lawn for those upcoming winter holidays.

Here are a few steps to overseed your hybrid Bermuda lawn:

Cut the existing grass using the mower’s lowest setting.

If the grass has a build‑up, remove the thatch. This can be done by deep raking with a steel rake or renting a dethatcher. Dethatching removes all the dead debris from above the soil surface area, allowing seed to germinate easily.

Overseed with your choice of seed, be it annual or perennial rye, fescue or a blend.

Cover the seed with a thin layer of mulch.

Apply a light coat of fertilizer.

Roll the mulch using a water roller.

Keep the seed moist. If the seed dries out prior to germination, you might have to start the whole process over again.

Listen to Craig Saturday mornings from 6 to 7 a.m. on KFNX 1100 AM talk radio and watch for his new TV show “The Carefree Gardener” on KPNX‑TV 12 starting Sept. 30 at 5 a.m.

If you have landscape or garden questions you would like answered email your questions to AskCraig@carefreegardens.net or fax your questions to Carefree Gardens “ask Craig” at 623‑742‑7216. Past articles can be found at www.carefreegardens.net.

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