Seeding Techniques

[2112]

Looking for different seeding practices. I've read ICT Bill's opinion of aerating, seeding, spraying tea and then compost layer. Do I seed using a seed slicer to break up the plugs? Do I roll when I'm done as I would do with a conventional seeding? How about adding any additional amendments according to the soil test. Should they be added before or after the seeding process? Anything else I'm missing? Appreciate it. Thanks

[ICT Bill]

It sounds like you are trying to kick your seeding program up a notch
By spraying compost tea ( I can only speak to ours because I have not used anyone elses in years) you inoculate the seed with beneficials, these are the first to get onto the sprouting seed, these will continue to populate the seed root as it grows. farmers have known this for years and use many different inoculants depending on the type of plant

The most fertile place in the soil is at the tip of a root, it is producing exudates and sloughing off organic matter

We have a limited quantity of our new Hydro-Char product being put up on the website next week, product roll out will be in a couple months. There are many that come here that have been trialing it this season

We have several golf courses and landscapers using it that are getting bent grass germination in 7 days and KBG germination in 5. many are not even using starter fertilizer anymore, if they do they are cutting back by 50% to 75%

more later gotta run

[Smallaxe]

If you are going to aerate and add compost, I would add the compost before seeding.

It is good to get the compost down into the holes. Planting depth for most grasses is about 1/4".

A good aeration should net 2 - 3 inch deep holes. Not a good place for your seed.

[Kiril]

Over seeding

1) cut low
2) core (if necessary)
3) power rake or verti-mow, which ever is more appropriate (clean up dead grass/thatch if necessary)
4) seed
5) Top dress compost with nutrient amendments if needed. Alternatively you can apply nutrients about a week prior to starting.

[quackgrass]

I prefer to aerate, then seed followed by a compost or peat topdressing. Smallaxe is correct that the bottom of a 3" aeration hole isn't the best place for a seed, but my experience is that those holes collect seed as they fill in, and provide a varied seeding depth were seed always establishes. These holes are like strongholds that resist drought and foot traffic. I fertilize after the topdressing to avoid burning the seed with direct contact. Mow it sooner than you think to promote lateral growth and fertilize again after 4 weeks with a light application.

[2112]

Thanks for the replies! Bill it is your product I'll be trying. We talked briefly

in Amherst at the NOFA conference. This lawn is in it's first phase to

organic. A pre-emergent with no fert. was applied in April, 24-0-11 straight

fert in late May. Weeds aren't to bad but it definitely need an overseed.

Needs aerating bad. Compact and had lots of plantain. Did a soil test

recently and haven't received the results yet. Going into the first

weekend of Sept here in New England and feel I need to get this done

now! I figure I'll aerate 2-3 times, thatcher (I don't like the plugs), seed,

tea, compost. Finally to my question!! If I apply an organic fert. say 3-4-3

on top, would that be to much with the tea? Also, no one mentioned

rolling the lawn when done. Is that a practice not done in organic

overseeding?

[2112]

In addition to my last post. A synthetic soil test was done late March and I applied the

recomended 45 lbs. of calcitic lime per 1000.

[ICT Bill]

Thanks for the replies! Bill it is your product I'll be trying. We talked briefly

in Amherst at the NOFA conference. This lawn is in it's first phase to

organic. A pre-emergent with no fert. was applied in April, 24-0-11 straight

fert in late May. Weeds aren't to bad but it definitely need an overseed.

Needs aerating bad. Compact and had lots of plantain. Did a soil test

recently and haven't received the results yet. Going into the first

weekend of Sept here in New England and feel I need to get this done

now! I figure I'll aerate 2-3 times, thatcher (I don't like the plugs), seed,

tea, compost. Finally to my question!! If I apply an organic fert. say 3-4-3

on top, would that be to much with the tea? Also, no one mentioned

rolling the lawn when done. Is that a practice not done in organic

overseeding?
Not too much. The tea loves the organic matter, it is food
active SOM will double in season with our compost tea and organic matter added, in our tests in chicago, no organic matter was added and it almost doubled at every site (12)

I haven't heard rolling in residential for a long time, typical of sports turf because they are on the same site every day.