i have three walk behinds and all three have seed boxes. Have two bluebirds and one Billy Goat. The verticut blades provide a little assistance in "driving" the machine, but they're not self propelled like the Billy Goat, which is self propelled. much nicer, especially on any slopes!!

 

The seed box has 2 settings, open when the tines are activated or open all the time. Occasionally there’s an area I want to control the seed box with my foot button but not aerate, then I just turn the tine pressure to zero and i can control the seed with my foot and not aerate. I don’t fertilize at the time of seed.

 

I have an aerator that can pull plugs up to 5" deep. After aeration, I'm going to broadcast seed (KBG mix in sunny areas, Fescue mix in shady areas).
Due to overseeding, should I

• limit plug depth, and if so, to how many inches
• pull 5" plugs?

I'm thinking 5" may be too deep for seeds to germinate, but not sure.

I go 3 inches deep Aeration is more to help fight compacted soils & to help circulate air. If you are fighting compaction & sparse turf I would aerate in 2 different directions. Here in NH I have had to change our seed blends as these hot humid summer temps are hitting our lawns hard. I am going to try a perennial rye/KB 50/50 blend. I was using a fescue/rye blend but its not doing well with the temps we are experiencing this year.

 

I purchased a used Turfco XT5 and my plan was to just cut low, aerate in 2 directions, and then overseed. Is this not an acceptable way to improve the turf quality?

 

That's fine!

 

I remember watching this video last year AFTER my epic lawn renovation failure, which I had posted about. I have decided to try this MUCH less laborious method. Here is the video:

 

lol. My question is how long do you really wait before you cut after overseed? Don't you need the lawn low in order to get sun down to the seed? But, then again, don't you throw straw on top of seed when seeding bare soil? Last year I cut it every 4 days or so, per some guidelines from a university, which resulted in almost zero germination.

 

Good question. No expert here, but I've done a handful of overseeding/reseeding. I'm of the scalp it, overseed, then stay off it for 4 weeks mindset. Sun will get through whatever grass is growing around the seedlings.

Just removed mulch/rock from 8 trees, 5 on my prop, 3 on customer's prop. Some trees are quite mounded, some are not. Tossed down straw around mounded trees, now I'm thinking did I toss down too much. Think I'll remove a bit...

 

I usually spray T-nex on my Fescue the week before I aerate and seed. I'll do this in conjunction with my starter fert. Slowes the mature Fescue down to allow time for seedlings to grow. I can usually go a month before I need to mow. Allows us to finish up any pruning or change out seasonal flowers.

 

Good idea. About what percent is the new grass take-hold improved?

 

60% visual improvement on new seedlings over no T-nex app. Hard to say for sure, but the new seedlings are not having to compete for sunlight and nutrients. Our mow height at time of aeration 3.75.-4. New seedlings will crest over the canopy (4 in.) within a month about the time the T-nex treated fescue rebounds. Normally the mature grass takes off and out grows the seedlings crowding them out before they really have a chance to mature. First cut 4 weeks after seeding (5 in) all the turf (mature plant and seedlings) are the same height. Seems like most of the damage done to new Fescue is from mowing too soon after germination. T-nex buys the LCO some very much needed time.

 

I like this T-nex concept. Is this available at site one?

 

To be honest I'm not sure about your location. They probably have it there. Its Trinexapac-ethyl the same active thats in Primo Maxx

 

Going to reseed my lawn, power rake and then aerate, seed and peat moss. My question is, should I leave the plugs or mow then so the seed has more soil? Thoughts?