CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 10/24/13

Plant new seed into tall fescue lawns now for great results later

By Clint Waltz, Becky Griffin

September and October are the perfect months to interseed tall fescue lawns. Tall fescue is a bunch-type grass with no runners to help it spread. The grass may start to thin by the end of summer.

By interseeding the existing fescue lawn with new fescue seed in the fall, the new grass has a chance to develop in the cooler months and will be hardier when the warm season months return. The reward is a thicker stand of tall fescue in the spring.

Fall is the best time

Seeding too early may leave the new grass susceptible to disease. Seeding too late may not give the seedling a chance to develop before really cold weather hits. Spring overseeding is not recommended because of the shorter establishment time before the hot temperatures develop.

Once the decision to interseed is made, it is often daunting to know which seed to choose for the project. With a few guidelines from University of Georgia Extension this process can be simplified.

New seed works best

Plan on purchasing new seed. Time and moisture reduce the germination rate of grass seed. Seed that is properly stored in a closed container in dry conditions for just a year may be fine, but germination rates may be lower. To ensure success, purchase new seed.

Figure out how much seed is needed. There is no need to purchase a larger, more expensive bag of seed when the smaller bags will meet your needs. The recommended establishment-seeding rate for tall fescue is 6 pounds per 1,000 square feet. To determine how much seed you will need, estimate the amount of thinning that has occurred. For example, if 25 percent of the lawn is bare, multiply 0.25 X 6 to determine that 1.5 pounds of seed are needed. In this case, there is no need to purchase the 40-pound bag.

Check the date on the seed label

Read the seed label. In Georgia we do not grow tall fescue for seed. Most tall fescue seed comes from Northern states like Washington or Oregon. Therefore, the Georgia Crop Improvement Certification label will not be on any tall fescue seed bags. However, make sure the seed has been tested for viability, and check the “sell by” date. This information should be listed on the seed bag or an attached label.

Tall fescue seed is usually sold as a mixture or a blend of seed cultivars, and these will be listed on the bag. Specific cultivars are chosen intentionally. One cultivar may show drought tolerance while another shows heat tolerance.

Others may show shade tolerance or even disease resistance. The manufacturers usually put together a suitable mix. The mixtures will vary year to year, depending on what is available to the manufacturers.

Depending on the manufacturer, this may include all tall fescue seed blends or a mix of tall fescue seed and Kentucky bluegrass, often the ‘Thermal Blue’ cultivar. ‘Thermal blue’ was developed for heat tolerance, so it may be appropriate for a north Georgia mix.

Some tall fescue evaluated in Griffin

The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) is a non-profit program developed to evaluate cultivars of turfgrass. Locations around the county are chosen to test varieties through field studies. Over the past several trials, the UGA campus in Griffin, Ga., has been a location. In the study tall fescue seeds are grown and evaluated under Georgia’s environmental conditions. The trials run for five years. Results are collected and reported to NTEP for use by manufacturers and plant breeders.

Results of NTEP studies are reflected in the cultivars included in seed blends. For example, in the 2007-2011 study, the cultivars ‘Gazelle II’ and ‘Wolfpack II’ both scored high at the UGA trial site. These are two cultivars that are now being seen in blends available today.

For more information on caring for turfgrass in Georgia, see the website www.GeorgiaTurf.com.

Clint Waltz is a Cooperative Extension turf specialist with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Becky Griffin is a community and school garden coordinator with UGA Extension.

Authors:
Clint Waltz
Becky Griffin
Experts/Sources:
Clint Waltz
Becky Griffin
Tall fescue research plots on the University of Georgia campus in Griffin, Ga.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
HurricaneHeleneGreenhouseDamageCropped CAES News
UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera
Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.
At the 2024 Georgia Life Sciences Summit held Oct. 21-22 in Atlanta, Professor Quingguo “Jack” Huang of the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences received the Golden Helix Innovation Award for his research in technologies to mitigate “forever chemicals” in water resources. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker) CAES News
Nothing lasts forever: CAES professor finds solutions to break down ‘forever chemicals’ 12/05/24 Carson McAfee
University of Georgia Professor Qingguo “Jack” Huang always wanted to do one thing: solve problems. Growing up in a small city in central China, Huang’s favorite subject in elementary school was math, granting him the opportunity to work on many problems. In high school, his passion transitioned to science, where he learned he could feed those same interests in a way that benefited others. He was finishing high school in the 1980s when Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring made its way to Chinese newspapers, capturing Huang’s attention.
Georgia Simmons at the office of U.S. Sen. Warnock CAES News
Georgia 4-H alum, CAES student spends semester serving at the nation's Capitol 12/03/24 Josie Smith, Cooper Hardy
Third-year University of Georgia student and Banks County 4-H alum Georgia Simmons has been in the center of the political action this fall with the Georgia 4-H Washington DC Intern Program. Simmons, an environmental resource science major in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, works in the office of U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock. As an intern on his staff, she interacts directly with policy experts and lawmakers, participating in the legislative process while earning a semester of credit hours.
Longtime faculty member George Vellidis was named the first permanent director of the Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture. IIPA was launched in 2022 and has grown to include more than 70 faculty members. (Photo by Paul Privette for UGA CAES) CAES News
Vellidis named director of Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture 12/02/24 David Mitchell
University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Professor George Vellidis has been named director of the Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture (IIPA). His term began on Nov. 1, and he will serve as the unit’s first permanent director. “Dr. Vellidis has been a vital member of our UGA faculty for years and played a key role in launching IIPA,” said Chris King, interim vice president for research. “Whether it’s his impact as a first-class researcher and educator or the work he does behind the scenes to elevate our reputation in the field abroad, his presence has made UGA a hub for precision agriculture research.”
Mergoum at Creature Comforts CAES News
That's the spirit! 11/18/24 Maria M. Lameiras, Claire S. Kinnard
Wheat breeders spend years meticulously crossing varieties to coax the best traits out of each species, carefully propagating plant varieties that are healthier, heartier and better suited for the environments where they are grown. Professional brewmasters are equally painstaking when choosing the components that will give their beers a specific flavor profile.
TiftonCampusSunset2 CAES News
CAES Transfer Pathways Program expands enrollment access for rural students 11/12/24 Emily Cabrera
The Transfer Pathways Program is opening new doors for rural students who dream of attending the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). In partnership with Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and Southern Regional Technical College, students who complete required coursework at these institutions can transfer to CAES to complete bachelor’s degrees in one of three majors — agribusiness, agricultural education, and agriscience and environmental systems.