Lawn Care Forum banner

Fall Overseed/Reseed and Herbicide Disaster

3334 Views 10 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  thegrassfactor
I've been reading this forum and others since May of this year to plan a renovation and reseeding (9k sq feet) in Zone 7a. Been putting down milorganite per schedule since May. Got a soil test done, put down a little fast acting lime. OM % is low, but not much I can do with that. Been using 2,4-d/quinclorac/glyphosate as recommended in the forum to get rid of weeds/crabgrass and prepare renovation areas.

Plan was to put seed down last Sunday...and then boom a commercial contractor accidentally sprayed my yard with another herbicide. They mixed up my house with a new client -- don't know how that happens. They broadcasted Solitare (sulfentrazone + quinclorac) across the entire lawn. The label says - "Reseeding, overseeding or sprigging of treated areas within one (1) month after application of this product could inhibit the establishment of desirable turfgrasses. Slit seeding is recommended."

so my entire project is delayed until Sept 15ish. 50% chance of first frost is Oct 18, with 90% Nov 1.

1) I'm guessing that is probably too late for bluegrass in my zone. Is it too late for TTTF?

2) In my case, what is the fall nitrogen plan? I have access to Urea 46-0-0. My soil test calls for a little phosphorus, so I'm going to put down Scotts Starter w/ Mesotrione (tenacity) at seed down.

Thanks for the help and the great forum.
1 - 4 of 11 Posts
GrassDaddy said:
In the meantime I would water heavy immediately.
too late for that. I didn't find out what happened until days later my neighbor asked me how much my new "lawn service" was costing me -- he was home when they sprayed.
thegrassfactor said:
What did your Reno plan entail to maximize seed to soil contact? Aerating? Tilling? Slit seeding?
But first steps first, what's your plan for establishing seed to soil contact?
Thanks for the response Matt.

My original plan was aeration and top dressing some parts with peat moss -- I'm renovating some parts and reseeding others. I know aeration is not always needed, but I do have some areas of compaction from heavy equipment used to build my patio. The hope is the mesotrione will stop any weeds from germinating.

Now, since the label for solitare suggests using slit seeding -- I'm willing to do that. Just worried that Sept 15 will be too late for TTTF. I don't want to waste money on expensive seed if the results will be poor.
thegrassfactor said:
A cheap option would be to apply a high rate of humic acid and fertilizer, then slit seed.

The goal would be to bust up as much of the ground as possible. Expose it to the elements. Even if you run slit seeder and don't drop seed. Run it two directions, no seed, water it, then give it a week,and do the same thing dropping seed, and water to germinate.
If I wait out the full 4 weeks that the label recommends, I'll be around Sept 15. Do I still need to bust up the ground or is slit seeding enough?

thegrassfactor said:
Where are you located? 9/15 is optimal time for TTTF in my area.
I'm in Jersey -- zone 7a.
1 - 4 of 11 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top