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moreira85
03-12-2009, 12:02 AM
I am in MA when is the best time to start overseeding?
current temp is around 37degrees at night and days in the 40s.
White Gardens
03-12-2009, 01:28 AM
You've got a way to go. Soil temps aren't anywhere close for germination.

If I do a spring seeding, I always wait until about mid-april.
moreira85
03-12-2009, 09:04 AM
doh! come on spring
Smallaxe
03-12-2009, 09:18 AM
Freezing/thawing cycle of spring actually plants the seed and optimizes soil contact etc. Tis also climatizes the seed. Then it germinates when conditions are right. Doesn't hurt anything at all, to broadcast the seed now.
In fact, what ever you toss out now, will not have to be slit seeded or even covered with compost. Compared to what I charge to scratch in seed and cover with compost, the cost of seed is nothing.
White Gardens
03-12-2009, 11:15 AM
Freezing/thawing cycle of spring actually plants the seed and optimizes soil contact etc. Tis also climatizes the seed. Then it germinates when conditions are right. Doesn't hurt anything at all, to broadcast the seed now.
In fact, what ever you toss out now, will not have to be slit seeded or even covered with compost. Compared to what I charge to scratch in seed and cover with compost, the cost of seed is nothing.

There has always been a debate about dormant seeding on weather it works or not. I've personally never tried, but the idea makes complete sense when you think about how grasses seed themselves in the natural environment.

Do you loose a percentage of germination when dormant seeding smallaxe, or is it negligible.
1wezil
03-12-2009, 12:19 PM
I am in MA when is the best time to start overseeding?
current temp is around 37degrees at night and days in the 40s.

now is a good time to do it .
Kiril
03-12-2009, 12:33 PM
Do you loose a percentage of germination when dormant seeding smallaxe, or is it negligible.

That is the key question. How much seed are you losing to predation, rot, etc... while waiting for proper conditions?
White Gardens
03-12-2009, 01:29 PM
That is the key question. How much seed are you losing to predation, rot, etc... while waiting for proper conditions?

See, that's what I've always felt to be the case. Too many variables before the seed reaches germination temps.
tombo82685
03-12-2009, 09:05 PM
There has always been a debate about dormant seeding on weather it works or not. I've personally never tried, but the idea makes complete sense when you think about how grasses seed themselves in the natural environment.
Do you loose a percentage of germination when dormant seeding smallaxe, or is it negligible.

Grass seed themselves in april-may period, well atleast here in pa. Poa annua is the first to seed around late march early april or just less then 40 GDD. I think what your seeing from the grasses spreading out is from crown of the plant do to their natural growing process of tillering from bunch type plants, or rhizomes/stolons from the creeping type grasses. But cool season grasses usually seed in the spring and then the shut it off and bunker down for the summer.
Smallaxe
03-12-2009, 09:49 PM
There has always been a debate about dormant seeding on weather it works or not. I've personally never tried, but the idea makes complete sense when you think about how grasses seed themselves in the natural environment.

Do you loose a percentage of germination when dormant seeding smallaxe, or is it negligible.

Sometimes you get a real good take and sometimes not. But when you see germination you know the time is right and overseed the light spots and cover with compost.

It seems like a lot of monkey business - but when racing again CG - the extra step of dormant seeding is worthwhile and takes little time. IMO. :)