August 30, 2001

Fall Best Time to Establish Lawn

When is the best time to establish or renovate a lawn?

There’s no argument. Fall is the best time, according to Ron Smith horticulture and turfgrass specialist with the North Dakota State University Extension Service.

The reasons? "The days are warm, the nights are cool. That, along with the warm soil and water, means germination will be more rapid now than in the spring," Smith says.

Weed competition will also be reduced, he says. In the spring, annual weeds that received a winter cold treatment will germinate with a vengeance. In the fall, most of the weeds that do germinate will be killed off when the weather turns cold.

While there will be some grass top growth in the fall, a great deal of the growth energy generated by the emerged seedlings will be going into newly formed roots to store carbohydrates.

"If it has been several years since your soil was tested, do so now," Smith says. Samples (a pint of soil in a ziplock bag) can be sent to the NDSU soil testing lab. Ask for the pH, NPK, soluble salts and organic matter levels. The test will cost between $20 and $25 and can be a road map to any nutrient problems, he says.

If the lawn is thick and thatchy, Smith says to dethatch it, then fertilize and seed. The recommended seeding rate is generally 1 to 1.5 pounds of Kentucky bluegrass seed per 1,000 square feet for a new lawn and half that for reseeding.

"As soon as some of the grass is 3 to 4 inches tall, mow it with a sharp mower. Don’t wait until all the seed germinates, and don’t worry about the weeds. They can be taken care of next spring," says Smith.

Once the seed and fertilizer are down, the grass needs water for germination and growth. "While water is necessary, the seed doesn’t need to be constantly wet, or the soil soaked into a soggy state. Mother Nature usually helps in September with increased rainfall," Smith says.

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Source: Ron Smith, (701) 231-8161, ronsmith@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Gary Moran, (701) 231-7865, gmoran@ndsuext.nodak.edu