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Questions about what seed to overseed with #764665

Asked July 29, 2021, 3:48 PM EDT

I had some questions about tall fescue and perennial ryegrass. I'm about to overseed my lawn. Its a. 25 acre lot about 10,000 sq ft of turf. The only shade is coming from my house and the neighbors. Not much shade coming from plants and trees as they are all pretty young.. this is a new neighborhood next to a golf course so its very open as of now. My existing grass is kentucky bluegrass mixed with ryegrass. But I don't like the flowering/seeding that the ryegrass does so much and then when you cut off the stalks dies and leaves dead stalks in your turf all mixed in. Doesn't happen with all ryegrass blends? I know there are pros and cons to each. I know some grass types require a little more care but that's not bother me. I dont mind getting to work on my lawn. I just want a professional looking lawn. I do have irrigation and I do frequently fertilize with organic liquid and granular fertilizer. I did do a soil test with the U of M so I'm only putting what needs to be in the lawn. I'm so torn between ryegrass and tall fescue. Please help! -Matthew <personal data hidden>

Wright County Minnesota

Expert Response

Lawn that require moderate to high input and grow best in a sunny location require that it is watered well throughout the season. Fertilize 4 applications of 3/4 to 1 pound of nitrogen for every 1,000 square feet of lawn. Mowed properly according to how fast the lawn grows, remove no more than 1/3 of leaf tissue when mowing.The cool-season grasses include turf-type tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fine fescue. Cool-season grasses grow best in the spring and fall when air temperatures range between 60 and 75 degrees F. The best root growth occurs when soil temperatures range between 50 and 65 degrees F.

The recommended seed mix is seed with a blend of improved Kentucky bluegrass varieties or a Kentucky bluegrass/perennial ryegrass (turf-type) and a fine fescue species(hard, chewings red, and creeping red fescues). Most tall fescue varieties are too coarse and clumpy for a quality lawn.Tall fescue is a favorite for nonirrigated turf. Ryegrasses are heavy users of water and their performance is less than optimum during a drought or periods of extended low or high
temperatures. Perennial ryegrass is marginally hardy and is less likely to survive a brutally cold winter. Penn State Researchers have observed seedhead production by perennial ryegrass during mid-summer regrowths. Some turf managers prefer to mix tall fescue with Kentucky bluegrass. Such mixtures of two or more compatible species often produce a better-quality turf than a single species because one of the species will be more resistant to prevailing diseases or other stresses that
come over time. Seed distributors often sell turf-type tall fescue blends that combine several different tall fescue cultivars. Perennial ryegrass has good wear tolerance and germinates very quickly in spring and fall.

https://extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/renovating-lawn-quality-and-sustainability#seed

Pat M MN master gardener and TCA Replied July 29, 2021, 4:55 PM EDT

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