Actions

Tips to plant your winter rye grass, without over seeding

Posted at 7:55 AM, Oct 18, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-18 14:56:29-04

Water-Use it Wisely is a paid sponsor of Sonoran Living

Winter Ryegrass: To Overseed or Not to Overseed
Here are 10 great reasons to skip that winter lawn this year!
While sustaining a lush, green lawn throughout the year is appealing to many home and business owners, the additional water needed for cool-season grasses is difficult to justify when water is such a precious resource. Did you know that you can save an average of 8,000 gallons a year for every 1,000 sq. ft. of grass that is not overseeded? That's a lot of water!
By learning to accept a less-than-lush lawn during the winter months, property owners will not only realize significant water savings, they'll also save a lot of time and money. Think about how much more time you'll have to watch football since you won't be tending to your turf.
If you're looking for even more good reasons not to overseed, take a look at these:
10. SAVE TIME - No need to scalp the lawn, prepare the seed bed, seed, water or mow.
9. SAVE WATER - Getting ryegrass seed to germinate requires watering three times a day or more. Once established, ryegrass needs water every 3-7 days. Dormant bermuda grass needs water only once every 3-4 weeks.
8. PRESERVE WATER QUALITY - Less fertilizers and pesticides will be needed. Much of our water pollution comes from runoff from urban landscapes.
7. SAVE MONEY - 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 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. Cough! Cough! Wheeze… anyone up for a little yard work?
4. DECREASE NOISE POLLUTION - The drone of lawn equipment has become a major source of background noise in many neighborhoods, contributing 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. Besides, there are no federal, state or city laws requiring winter lawns (but there are a few HOA requirements out there).
…and the number one reason not to plant a winter lawn…
1. GIVE YOUR BERMUDAGRASS A BREAK - Overseeding can be stressful for your bermuda grass. Scalping it in the fall before dormancy doesn't allow for adequate storage of energy to the roots. In the spring, the rye competes with bermuda grass, and the common practice of withholding water to transition from winter to summer grass will also cause stress.
Visit -Water  Use It Wisely for more helpful tips on caring for your landscape.

Water-Use it Wisely is a paid sponsor of Sonoran Living