But, with the right tools and materials, you can transform a bed of rocky soil to a suitable planting site. The autumn season comes with a mix of warm soil and cool air, perfect for planting grass seed and allowing time for new grass roots to develop before winter sets in. Do not mow the grass until it reaches a height of at least 3 inches. The Best Time to Plant Grass. The warm soil temperatures and cooler air temperatures are ideal for seed germination and seedling growth. The lawn will respond well when mowed to a height of 1-1/2 to 2 inches in length. The best time to seed your lawn is from August 15 to September 15. Follow seed provider guidelines for broadcast coverage. Mid to late spring is the next best time to plant, but not beyond mid-June. Kentucky bluegrass is a common turf grass used throughout the state of Michigan because it will grow well in cool weather and maintain its growth during the hot summers. This temperature range is optimum to support strong seed growth and germination. Frost-seedings are most successful when the seed is broadcast approximately 45 days before grass growth begins in your area. Plus, it’s still too hot and the heat will stress out the delicate seedlings. It's best to plant cool-season grasses in the late summer or early fall, 45 days before first frost. If it has been two weeks and there are no grass sprouts or very few then reseed and make sure you water thoroughly. You will then receive an email that helps you regain access. Deciding when to plant cool-season grass is important, but it’s only the first step on your road to an immaculate lawn. Hint: Planting cool season grasses in late summer/early fall creates thicker, denser … March is the month across much of Michigan to improve pastures by frost-seeding legumes like clovers or some grasses into them. This will give an even application of seed over the soil surface. Creeping grasses spread by stolons or rhizomes. The warm days and cool nights are ideal for seed germination and seedling growth. The best time to plant grass seed in Michigan is in the late summer, typically between the middle of August and the end of September. Sowing a lawn in Michigan requires purchasing a grass seed that is hardy for the climate. Steps discussed: 1. Grass planted at this time isn't subjected to stress caused by midsummer heat and dry periods, but it has enough time to establish a root system that will help it to survive the winter. Find the best dates for planting and transplanting vegetables and fruit! Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 3 million WordPress sites. Access from your area has been temporarily limited for security reasons. This will help hold the seed in place. You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools, or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence. Jennifer Loucks has been writing since 1998. What Other Lawn Care Tasks Should You Mark on Your Calendar? All Rights Reserved. This season is more challenging for planting grass seed, however, because late-melting snow and early rainstorms often keep the soil too cold and wet, an inhospitable environment for germination and growth. Click to see full answer I have found that the most important factor when planting grass seed is water. Rake well to work the amendments into the soil and apply water to increase the absorption rate. Add top soil to fill in holes or low areas and compost to soil to increase nutrient value and increase moisture retention. Once spring arrives, the seeds will sprout and grow normally. Your goal should be to plant grass when it would naturally grow. Rake the fertilizer and grass seed into the soil with a stiff rake. No matter what time of year you seed your lawn, you … The best tine to plant grass seed depends primarily on the type of grass you're planting. Grass seed can survive the winter, and planting during the winter season is known as dormant seeding. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. A helpful rule of thumb for planting and overseeding is to get new seed in the ground at least 45 days before the first frost. She holds a Bachelor of Science in animal science and business from University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Our free planting guide calculates the best dates for sowing seeds indoors and outdoors, and for transplanting seedlings to the garden—all customized to your location. Kentucky bluegrass is a common turf grass used throughout the state of Michigan because it will grow well in cool weather and maintain its growth during the hot summers. The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site. If there is mole activity in the lawn, roll it before seeding… Choose cool-season grass such as Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue if you live in a cooler area of the country like the North, Midwest and Pacific Northwest. After planting warm season grasses in the spring, mow for the first time between July 15 and August 31. This will also help remove small thatch layers that may be present, as well as any dead grass plant parts laying on the surface of … Remove vegetative debris and rocks from the planting area. Any remaining can be sown in a diagonal direction. It is also a good time to fertilize to build stronger, deeper roots for winter, resulting in a thicker, greener lawn next spring. In Michigan, early fall is the best time to overseed. Set the blades just deep enough to penetrate into the top ¼ inch or so of soil. If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site, please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send". With adequate sunlight, rainwater and … Water the seeded area twice a day for the first week making sure there are no standing puddles. Mowing before annual broadleaf weeds go to seed may be a better option. In Michigan, the recommended seeding rate is 3 to 5 lbs/1,000 sq ft. The warm soil temperatures and cooler air temperatures are ideal for seed germination and seedling growth. Cool season grasses are best suited to the Denver metropolitan area and parts of Colorado with even higher elevations. Mid to late spring is the next best time to plant, but not beyond mid-June. Grass is a simple plant with simple needs. In Michigan, grass plantings in early fall (late August to early October) produce the best results. Spring is a good time to plant a new lawn or rejuvenate an older one. After you plant your grass seeds, you should see new sprouts no later than two weeks afterwards. Sowing is best done when the soil temperatures fall somewhere between 50 and 65 degrees. Seed cool season grasses in early spring or fall when they will not be exposed to hot weather and strong sun. In Michigan, grass plantings in early fall (late August to early October) produce the best results. Amend the soil with limestone to increase the pH number or ground rock sulfur to lower the pH number. Mid to late spring is the next best time to plant, but not beyond mid-June. If you think you have been blocked in error, contact the owner of this site for assistance. While this comes with risks, it can also be beneficial and save you time on seeding in … How To Plant Grass Seed step by stepIn this short film we will show you how we plant grass. Water the seeded area twice a day for the first week making sure there are no standing puddles. The goal is to place enough seed down to produce a lush lawn. They grow from the crown of the plant. Rake well to work the amendments into the soil and apply water to increase the absorption rate. I prefer to use the higher rate. In Michigan, grass plantings in early fall (late August to early October) produce the best results. Cover the planting surface with straw mulch to protect the seed from wind and retain moisture for germination. Michigan: Vegetable Planting Calendar Planting vegetable seeds or transplants at the correct time is important for getting the most out of your garden. Should I Fertilize When I Plant? Purchase grass seed that is hardy for the climate in Michigan. Stolon: This is a horizontal above-ground stem or runner. Apply the grass seed through the planting area with a grass seeder. Dormant seeding is done to save time in the spring and to save waiting until the ground warms up to prepare the soil. Run a roller over the seeded area. Your access to this service has been limited. This will give an even application of seed over the soil surface. Warm-season grasses should be planted in the spring, when the soil is warm and there is plenty of moisture. http://NaturesFinestSeed.com/grass-seed In this video we explain how to prepare soil for planting grass seed. Watering is necessary during periods of low rain fall to assist with maintaining the sturdy lawn texture. Apply the grass seed through the planting area with a grass seeder. Sandy loam is the best type of soil for growing grass from seed. There are two main varieties of grass seed: cool-season and warm-season. Water, either rain or from your hose, should be divided into two or three applications (or rains) per week to keep it growing. If weeds continue to be a problem the next year, mow again before April 1 . Kentucky bluegrass and bluegrass mixes are commonly used for turf grass throughout the state of Michigan. Sowing a lawn in Michigan requires purchasing a grass seed that is hardy for the climate. Aim to seed early in the season, but wait until daytime temperatures are in the 60 to 75 degree Fahrenheit range. Test the soil pH levels with a home pH test kit. Continue to water regularly to keep the soil moist until the grass becomes … One inch of water total per week is usually plenty for most lawns. Based on frost dates and planting … Dormant seeding is most successful in soil that is loose or has been previously tilled. Fortunately, Jonathan Green’s Black Beauty turfgrass mixtures are bred to perform even under these conditions, so you’ll usually have success, even with a spring seeding. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, Michigan State University Extension: Grasses for Michigan Lawns. Since this is a long-term investment, I don’t like to cut corners. In Northern Michigan, for example, planting is best in late August. It can put up with a wider range of soil pH’s than almost every other yard plant. As a warm season grass, switchgrass thrives in the heat of summer but goes dormant in the cold winters. She now writes hobby-based articles on cooking, gardening, sewing and running. For lawns that are severely and widely damaged or that have a thick layer of thatch, you may need to perform lawn … Add water to the roller to increase the weight if necessary to lightly pack the soil surface. Tiller: This is made up of leaf blades and sheaths, the stem and sometimes a seed head. (HTTP response code 503). Overseeding means planting grass seed over an existing lawn without removing the turf or the soil. Planting calendars for places in Michigan. Through dormant seeding, grass seed can be planted in November when the weather is cold enough to keep it dormant until the weather warms up in the spring. Pack the planting area by running a lawn roller across the entire soil surface. That is because lawns thrive in quick-draining conditions. How to Plant Grass Seed in Spring. Bunch grasses spread by producing new tillers. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! But if you’re trying to generally thicken your grass rather than repairing specific areas, you should use overseeding, which entails spreading seed over a broad area. Seeds must make direct contact with bare soil. There are also fewer weeds for the grass to compete with at this time of the year. Soil temperatures are still warm, which is necessary for optimum seed germination, and cooler air temperatures are better for grass growth. She previously worked as a technical writer for a software development company, creating software documentation, help documents and training curriculum. Continue to water regularly to keep the soil moist until the grass becomes established. This roughly corresponds to the optimal soil temperatures for cool-season grass seed germination. Seed Head: This is the flower of the grass plant. If there is seed left over, repeat the process going east to west. Follow these three steps to prepare your rocky soil for grass seed. Your county Michigan State University Extension office can also help identify the problem and will suggest an appropriate herbicide. Kentucky bluegrass prefers a soil that has a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Forage Grass and Turfgrass When looking for forage grass seed for hay or pasture, the correct choice will depend on what type(s) of animal(s) you will be feeding and the climate in your region. In order to germinate, it needs the soil to be 55 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. When daytime air temperatures are lower than 55 degrees and frost is imminent, it's too late to plant cool-season grass seed. For optimum health, mow grass to a height of 3-3.5 inches. Loucks also trains for full marathons, half-marathons and shorter distance running. How to Germinate Grass Seeds in Sandy Soil. For previously stratified seed, it is best seeded in mid-spring (in the Upper Midwest). Timing: Late summer and early fall plantings produce the best results in Michigan. Generated by Wordfence at Wed, 23 Dec 2020 3:02:41 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString());. Start by seeding in one direction such as north to south. Wondering when to plant grass and fertilize your lawn? Similarly, when should I plant grass seed in Michigan? Choosing turfgrass seed will depend primarily on whether the grass will be growing in a sunny or shady area. Knowing your first and last frost dates will help you start your vegetable seeds at the right time. In some circumstances, you may see them in only a few days. You’ll need water; a tiller; compost made from materials like bark, leaves, manure, and grass clipping, or topsoil; and a rake. If possible, plant grass seed just before a rain shower, but not if the forecast predicts a torrential downpour that may wash the seeds away. The best time … Use a tiller to work the soil. Spring is the second best time to seed turf grass, beginning in late spring or early summer but no later than June 15. Cover the planting surface with straw mulch to protect the seed from wind and retain moisture for germination. Use a lightweight lawn roller after seed application if you will not be applying mulch. Spring seeding is your second best option for planting cool-season grasses. This method involves breaking open the soil in those areas, applying grass seed, and tamping that seed down. Planting grass seed in rocky soil. So, when you plant seeds be sure to … Rake the area before seeding to agitate the soil and ensure it is free of debris. If you put down grass seed in November or December, the seed will just lay dormant until the soil starts to warm in spring. If you plant your seeds too soon, weeds will try to take over. Fall is the best time. 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