Which Are The Best Grasses To Over Seed For A Winter Lawn

In the southern regions of the United States, some gardeners want a lawn that is green all year around. In most regions, the preferred summer grass is Bermuda Grass, a fantastic choice for a thick and healthy summer lawn. However, over winter, Bermuda Grass does start to turn brown, and it certainly loses its vigor. As a gardener, you have two choices: you can leave your lawn be and take the winter off, or you can encourage winter grasses, which means undertaking more lawn care work.

For those who do want a nice green lawn in winter, the best choice is a perennial winter rye. This is a good choice as it grows well in winter, is hardy, and requires little maintenance. Winter rye will grow in most soil types and doesn’t require a lot of food or water. Better yet, it can be planted out from seed. The key to a good winter lawn is preparation, so prepare your Bermuda Grass for over sowing, and they should all be happy.

Some gardeners recommend scalping a lawn before over seeding. This could be a little harsh, and could expose the crown and the roots to damaging sunlight, especially if you have few really warm days. You can cut your Bermuda lawn to around the half to one inch mark. Dethatch with a garden rake, and aerate if you haven’t done if for several years. Once you have completed these preparations, don’t water or fertilize, just let your lawn rest for ten to fourteen days.

Once your lawn has rested, use a lawn repair tool to prepare the surface, then overseed with a good quality perennial winter rye. Be sure to use plenty of seed as winter rye’s are not renown for being good spreaders (or creepers), their growth is more up than out. You can leave rye grasses to grow at around two to three inches in height, so they will not require a lot mowing over winter. Come spring, as the weather starts to warm, your rye grass will fall away allowing your Bermuda grass to grow through and take over for summer.