Landscape Wisely

Do you need to overseed? 

It’s one of the great debates. Like Yankees vs. Red Socks, Arizona State vs. University of Arizona, cat lovers vs. dog lovers, there are those who overseed their grass vs. those who don’t. Why the great debate? Well, it’s hard to say exactly how it all started, but it likely has something to do with American’s love of lush green lawns and doing whatever it takes to have them.

The fact that Bermuda grass and its hybrid varieties are still the best performers in Arizona’s low desert regions probably factors in. While Bermuda thrives in our summer heat, around late October to mid-November, this summer grass will go dormant, turning a nice shade of golden tan.

Swooping in comes the promise of an emerald-green delicate carpet of ryegrass. The ritual starts in September but may go as late as mid-November. You start seeing mowers surrounded in a cloud of dust as landscapers start scalping lawns in preparation for overseeding. The scalping, or extra-low mowing, allows the seed better contact with the soil below. Then the daily multiple waterings begin to ensure germination of seed.

Just how much water does it take to have this winter luxury? More than 8,000 gallons of water for every 1,000 square feet of grass is needed. So if you’re looking for a reason not to overseed, take a look at these …

10 Reasons to Skip that Winter Lawn

10. Save time – No need to scalp the lawn, prepare the seedbed, seed, water, or mow.

9. Save water – Getting ryegrass seed to germinate requires watering three times a day or more, and spikes in water usage are always noticeable during the months of October and November when winter rye is seeded. By forgoing overseeding, over 8,000 gallons of water can be saved for every 1,000 square feet of grass each season. In contrast, dormant Bermuda only needs to be watered once a month from November to February – even less if we get winter rains.

8. Preserve water quality – Fewer fertilizers and pesticides will be needed. Much of our water pollution comes from the runoff of these products from urban landscapes.

7. Save money – Save on the cost of seed, labor, water, and gasoline for mowing. Also, wastewater rates are often determined by your winter water usage. If you use more water in the winter, your utility bill wastewater rates will be higher the rest of the year.

6. Save landfill space – Scalping Bermuda grass creates a great deal of waste for the landfills. Ryegrass clippings can create additional waste all winter and spring.

5. Save the air – Gasoline mowers and other lawn equipment contribute to our air pollution problems, and the scalping process releases dust and other particles into the air.

4. Decrease noise pollution – Mowers, weed whackers, and leaf blowers have become a major source of background noise in many neighborhoods. The drone of lawn equipment contributes to an already noisy world.

3. Save frustration – Problems with seed germination, fertilizers, diseases, and irrigation are all common when planting a winter lawn.

2. Set an example -We live in a desert and this is an opportunity to demonstrate your community leadership with a responsible outlook towards our water supply.

And the number one reason not to plant a winter lawn …

1. Give your Bermuda a break – Overseeding can be stressful for your Bermuda grass. In the fall, scalping the summer grass before dormancy doesn’t allow for adequate storage of energy in the roots. In the spring, the rye competes with Bermuda, and customers often withhold water to transition from winter to summer grass. And unfortunately, this will also stress Bermuda.