For small areas I have had success by breaking up the pre emergent barrier. Steel rake, garden weisel? that tool with rolling tines that disturb the barrier. Toss in some seed rake & water. Other than that you have to time your application. Early spring pre emergent late August seed.

 

Thanks

 

It’s too late to seed. March or September. Salvage what you have for now. Crabgrass has germinated in hot spots in ct.

 

Thanks

 

I am thinking if you have not seen a temp of 80 F or above yet--then go ahead and seed.
Besides Dimension fades out and disappears after about 3 months.
And if you want to control crabgrass, apply Tenacity (mesotrione)--will not hurt new grass, yet prevents crabgrass. And be sure to rake-in the new seed.
Of course, new seed requires constant moisture. Probably water every day for 30 days. Add starter fert when the new seed sprouts are up to about 1 inch.
And to be sure--use plenty of seed--many experts suggest about 6 pounds per 1000 sqft.
Sometimes the seed companies exaggerate the sqft their seed will cover...
(but that is usually only under ideal conditions).

 

Thank you for your response! Should I apply a fertilizer with weed killer to the rest of the lawnbefore I seed all the bare spots (of which there are many). My concern with doing that is I don’t want to impact the new seed germination/growth. And yes, you are correct, it’s OK to apply new seed now here in Connecticut as long as it is kept very moist. I really appreciate your help with this!

 

Seeding is best done late summer. I'm in MN and our window is Aug 15 - Sept 15. Check with your local university extension service OR a local seed supplier as to when is best time to seed in your area.

I do many seedings (10 last year) each season. I apply Dimension late April/early May and seeding can be done no problem 90 days later. Prodiamince is similar (it may last 120 days) but needs to go down a bit earlier in spring. I'm using a slice seeder too which would also break any residual barrier left behind by either product.

NOTE: neither product eliminates crabgrass. They both work by preventing seeds from germinating (sprouting). Those seeds are still in the soil, thus the need for yearly applications of either product.

 

I have to see now to take advantage of the season. I can’t wait three months so should I apply a fertilizer with weed killer to the rest of the lawn before I seed all the bare spots (of which there are many). My concern with doing that is I don’t want to impact the new seed germination/growth. Here in Connecticut it’s OK too use grass seed now long as it is kept very moist. But I am running out of time so I need to do it in the next week or so. I really appreciate your response. The rest of the Lawn needs to be fed, but I’m unsure what to use as fertilizer without interfering with the seed growth of the new grass.

 

Literally what?? You are in CT and advising to seed in March? What is the soil like 35 degrees in March? Its obviously a bit more temperate there than here in SE MN BUT not that different, we are just getting into spring seeding season NOW and the soil is still a bit too cold to germinate anything. Crabgrass doesn't appear around here until Memorial Day or beyond.

I am going to advise against the grain and say seed now when the soil temps get right for germination. Take advantage of the spring rains. Too often here, late summer seeding gets zero rain, gets scorched, and then you have the fall leaf cover than can choke out seeding too. It SHOULD be a great time to seed, but it depends on the conditions. Last few years here, fall seeding time has been mega drought. You are just farting in the wind seeding in that.

Literally what?? You are in CT and advising to seed in March? What is the soil like 35 degrees in March? Its obviously a bit more temperate there than here in SE MN BUT not that different, we are just getting into spring seeding season NOW and the soil is still a bit too cold to germinate anything. Crabgrass doesn't appear around here until Memorial Day or beyond.

I am going to advise against the grain and say seed now when the soil temps get right for germination. Take advantage of the spring rains. Too often here, late summer seeding gets zero rain, gets scorched, and then you have the fall leaf cover than can choke out seeding too. It SHOULD be a great time to seed, but it depends on the conditions. Last few years here, fall seeding time has been mega drought. You are just farting in the wind seeding in that.

 

Thank you! That post saying it's the wrong time of year to seed spun my head around because spring seeding here is pretty common. Anyway, what would you suggest I use for the rest of lawn? There are a ton of bare spots left over from last year's application of Dimension that need to be seeded. I can apply starter fertilizer to those spots, but I don't want to use Dimension again so that I don't interrupt the the new seed growth. Is there something I can apply to the rest of the lawn that will not hamper the new seed growth yet still control weeds and fertilize the existing grass? Thanks.

 

A simple google search tells me that in Connecticut (as in MN) the best time to seed is Aug 15 - Sept 15.

Starting a New Lawn

portal.ct.gov

Evaluate lawns around Memorial Day when they are completely out of dormancy & hopefully have been fertilized and had nice spring rains. Lawns will be at their peak then, determine what (seeding, aerating, dethatching, etc) should be done during lawn renovation time for your area.

 

Tenacity is seeding-friendly as opposed to Dimension. Look it up.

 

Perfect! Thank you.

 

All good man, different strokes for different folks. I aerate/ seed only, not sure what you offer but it was cold late and extremely warm early this year here. Late spring weather was 3 weeks early.

 

If you don't have in-ground irrigation system, purchase one or two faucet timers and run hoses/sprinklers off them. Set them to go off 3X per day for 15 minutes. Hopefully you get decent fall rains to help. In '22 & '23 MN we had LOTs of rain help. None whatsoever in '24, but all my seedings/overseeds worked well due to homeowner irrigation.

 

 

You're allowed to buy and use fertilizer that has no pre emergent.

 

1- are you a homeowner, or LCO?

2- sod in spring (bcs of spring pre-m)
3- seed in fall. (bcs no pre-m)
This applies to everywhere in the US.

 

Thanks

 

I’ve hade good luck in seeding athletic fields using a starter fertilizer with mesiotrione. Biggest advantage is I can irrigate as needed. Other areas of campus they use the same with limited water but excellent suppression.

 

Thanks that is what I used and it worked great

 

The Anderson has starter with mesotrione

 

Wow...so every hydromulch company, landscape installation company only seeds lawn in spring and fall...across the entire country.

And they park their seeders in the spring and sod everything then break out the hydromulch trucks and drill seeders in the fall.

Some of this shyt is hilarious. And ridiculous.

Under the proper conditions, anything can be seeded at any time during the growing season.

I feel sorry for the OP and some of the "advice" he has been given.

 

Under the proper conditions, anything can be seeded at any time during the growing season.

Well now I'm confused....

 

weekly temp forecast, let us know how the seed holds up.

 

It’s possible for it to grow in May but does it live throughout the summer. With next weeks forecast those seedlings are going to fry like a couple of slugs crossing the Sahara. He could have spent his time and money elsewhere, like on a gold pass at ihop for a life time supply of biscuits and gravy.

 

He could have spent his time and money elsewhere, like on a gold pass at ihop for a life time supply of biscuits and gravy.

Wait, is this a real thing?! Don't tease me like that!!

 

I am around South Central Montana. I threw some grass seed down in May on bare ground , watered it a couple times I’ve even mowed it once,
no fertilizer or biscuits were used.

I know, good fer me

 

Blasphemy!

 

I am around South Central Montana. I threw some grass seed down in May on bare ground , watered it a couple times I’ve even mowed it once,
no fertilizer or biscuits were used.

I know, good fer me

Good fer ewe

With next weeks forecast those seedlings are going to fry like a couple of slugs crossing the Sahara. He could have spent his time and money elsewhere, like on a gold pass at ihop for a life time supply of biscuits and gravy.

 

thanks,

and just like that, nobody cared about the ground temp.