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Fall Overseeding
When to Overseed:
Overseed estabished bermuda lawns from mid-October through mid-November. Temperatures should be less than 65F at night on a consistent basis or less than 78-83 during the day. It is not recommended to overseed a bermuda lawn until it has been established for at least 3 months, allowing rhizomes to fully mature.
Winter Lawn Varieties
We choose perennial ryegrass for winter overseeding of bermuda lawns. Perennial is preferred over annual ryegrass because it establishes quickly, is heartier, the blades are darker green and finer, and it is a lot easier to mow. Annual ryegrass is more likely to stain clothing and walkways, and can be difficult to mow.
We only use premium quality 
perennial ryegrass seed at the farm, and for first the time ever, it is now available to our customers.
Before Overseeding Your Lawn
Do not fertilize for 4 to 6 weeks before overseeding, cut the watering frequency in half. Then stop mowing the lawn 7 days before overseeding. This is a good time for light dethatching if needed. Set the verticutter so the blades are 1/4 inch above the soil and only open the canopy enough to allow the seed to make contact with the soil. Do not "dig" into the soil or heavily dethatch, it will damage the bermuda next spring.
On The Day Of Overseeding:
- Scalp down the lawn by mowing 3 times. First cut at the next lower height once more. Collect the clippings of each mowing. If using a reel mower, seed between the second and third mowings. On the third mowing, remove the catcher allowing the clippings to remain over the seed as the mulch.
- For each 1,000 square feet of lawn area use 10 to 15 pounds of seed for perennial rye and 10 to 20 pounds of seed for annual rye
- Divide the seeds into two lots. Using a broadcast spreader or a drop spreader, spread one lot across the area in rows then spread the second lot at right angles to create a crisscross pattern. Rake or drag to ensure the seeds make contact with the soil
- Cover the seed with no more than 1/4 inch of weed and salt-free material such as composted steer manure, forest mulch, or the uncollected clippings of the third mowing(Step1). Top dressing helps retain moisture and moderates temperatue for seed germination (helpful if cool temperatures come early). Some people have had sucess without top dressing during years with moderate weather.
Watering
Usually watering 3-4 times a day for 5-10 minutes is adequate. It is important to keep the seed damp until it germinates which should take about 7 days. When the grass is 1 inch high water once a day. After the second mowing, water is needed. Once the lawn is established, depending on temperature, wind, rain, and soil conditions, water every other week or as oftenas 2 to 3 times per week . Water only enough to avoid wilt between waterings.
Mowing
When the grass is about 2 inches high(about 2 weeks after overseeding), mow to a height of 1 1/2 inches. Perennial rye can be mowed lower, but it is best to allow the grass to become established before closer mowing or seedings may pull out. Use sharp mowing blades and do not mow when the lawn is wet. However, during extended rainy weather it is better to mow wet grass than to let it get too talls
Fertilizing
About 2 weeks after overseeding, fertilize with a 16-20-0 or lawn starter fertilizer. Be sure to water in the fertilizer. Don't fertilize too early or the bermuda may complete with rye, but don't wait too long or the rye seed may die. After your winter lawn is established, fertilize every 4-6 weeks using a balanced fertilizer such as a blend of 21-7-14
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