Overseeding: It’s that time of year!

      The definition of “overseeding” refers to a maintance process in which grass seed is spread on top of the existing turf, in essence, swapping out seasonal turfs, replacing one type of grass with another.

     

      Overseeding is most commonly done by golf courses that use bermudagrass.  During the winter months, bermudagrass goes dormant.  Dormancy means a period of rest, or no growth, for certain grasses used on golf courses.  During this time, the grass goes from a pretty green color to a brown color.  Overseeding with ryegrass enables us to have lush green grass through the cold winter months, ensuring that the golf course is in great shape all year around.

     

      Overseeding is a maintance process done not only on the golf course, but in home lawns as well.  Overseeding is an activity often overlooked by the average homeowner.  Overseeding helps keep lawns thick.  This maintance process compensates for that natural slow down of the turfs reproduction.  There are two major benefits when it comes to overseeding.  First, you ensure your lawn stays thick and dense.  Secondly, you will benefit from having a more disease resistant lawn.  Late summer or early fall is usually the best time so sow your seed, depending on which region of the country you live in.

 

Positives for overseeding:

-          Green color during the cold winter months looks good.

-          Ryegrass usually grows enough during the winter to increase wear tolerance from traffic and may help to improve ball lies late in the winter when the dormant Bermudagrass becomes thin.

Negatives for overseeding:

-          Overseeding with ryegrass adds additional maintance costs for seed, fertilizer, mowing, and labor.

-          The new perennial ryegrass varieties are very competitive to the bermudagrass for light, water, and nutrients in the spring.

-          Extra costs can occur for chemicals to remove the ryegrass in the spring to help the bermudagrass grow.

 

      It’s important for us as superintendents to keep prime playing conditions for the golfers year round.  Overseeding is a tool we can rely on to achieve our goals.  As a homeowner, one must determine the advantages and disadvantages and decide if the extra cost from overseeding and possible damage to the bermudagrass from the ryegrass is economical.

Matt Knisely

Assistant Superintendent

Reserve Club