Should Avoid Dormant Seeding and Cold Germination for Repair and Change

Dormant Seeding and Cold Germination for Repair and Change

by Dr. Leah A. Brilman, Director of Product Management and Technical Services, DLF Pickseed and Seed Research of Oregon

The typical seeding window for cool-season grasses closes between September 15 to October 1 in New Jersey. This does not mean you need to give up on improving your lawn until next spring. Dormant seeding done November through February can fix areas, help change genetics or have seed in place in anticipated damage areas from snow melt products.

If you need immediate repair for a worn sports field or other damaged areas there are also a few options. Tetraploid perennial, annual and intermediate turf-type ryegrasses all can germinate and establish at lower temperatures than most cool season grasses. These species can be used much later and earlier to achieve repair. The annual and intermediate ryegrass are temporary turf solutions and other seed will need to be added for permanent repair. At 36 to 45 degrees F these will take 16 days to achieve 50% germination. Red and Chewings fescue can also germinate at lower temperatures than many other species, taking 20 days to achieve 50% germination at 39 to 45 degrees. Difference in time to emergence will even be bigger, as growth rate of ryegrass seedlings is faster than Kentucky bluegrass. Difference in time of establishment will further depend on root growth and tilling as well.

Since you do not have a crystal ball and may be uncertain if these soil temperatures will be maintained, dormant seeding makes sense. Planting Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass and most fine fescues once the temperatures drop below 50 degrees would be considered dormant seeding. Prepare the seedbed as you would for regular seeding and make sure you have seed to soil contact. The cold temperatures will keep the seed from germinating until spring when they will come up much sooner than if planted at the same time. The weather conditions and moisture act like seed priming to enable quick, early germination.

Correct any problems with your site before seeding. Sometimes you need to examine the site to see why the lawn failed in the first place. Maybe it is problems with the irrigation system, tree root competition, too much shade or wet spots. Try to correct these problems before any seeding is done. Think about how much maintenance you want to do and the look you want to have. Tall Fescue / Kentucky bluegrass blends do well in NJ for high or low maintenance. Fine fescue blends are excellent for sun or shade low maintenance and can be used for reduced mowing or a meadow type look. Kentucky bluegrasses are often considered the highest quality lawn in New Jersey. Perennial ryegrasses are added to many blends for quick establishment and dark green color. Make sure any blend has cultivars with gray leaf spot resistance.

New Jersey has the advantage of having Rutgers, the premier turfgrass breeding and evaluation University in the world. Take advantage of this by looking at turfgrass performance in their Proceedings and attending their field days (when they resume).

Dr. Leah A. Brilman is the Director of Product Management and Technical Services for DLF Pickseed and Seed Research of Oregon. Brilman was a biology major at California State University, Bakersfield in the 1970s, when work on a paper about the evolution of wheat led to an interest in grass species. She received her bachelor’s degree from CSU Bakersfield in 1976, and earned master’s and doctoral degrees in agronomy and plant genetics from the University of Arizona. She has been a longtime faculty member for GCSAA education and is the co-coordinator of the annual GCSAA Collegiate Turf Bowl. In addition to participation in state and regional turfgrass conferences around the United States, Brilman has lectured in the United Kingdom, Russia, Australia, Japan and Korea on various topics related to turfgrass cultivars.

OPEN 9AM-7PM UNTIL DECEMBER 24

God Bless America

Albert DeMuro CLT, LTCO #129 Brian DeMuro CLT, LTCO #633