General recommendation is no later than three months before first frost... Looked it up and you're in NW Alabama?

Honestly, I think it's too late, but if you don't mind the risk of losing the money if it doesn't survive the winter, I guess it's worth a try. If it doesn't make it, at least you'll know it before it would be time to seed next year -- and won't have to try to kill off a Bermuda lawn -- and you can do it again.

 

Honestly, I think it's too late, but if you don't mind the risk of losing the money if it doesn't survive the winter, I guess it's worth a try.

I really want to give it a go, but will probably do as much research as I can first. I know someone out there has seeded this close to the cutoff in a similar region, and maybe they see this and can chime in.

I will say that I probably have enough seed to try and then try again if it doesn't make it.

 

I'd wait. Youre also fighting a diminishing sun angle even though the soil temps are ok. Warm earth won't matter if the grass cant make energy via photosynthesis.

 

To throw some math into it... With seed, typically only 50% - 80% will germinate and still be surviving 8 weeks later. The first winter that young bermuda goes through will have anywhere from 25% to 80% return from dormancy. So worst case, you'll only have only 12% of that 10lbs come out of dormancy next spring. Best case would be 64%. If you are bored and wanting to throw money around, then certainly go for it. It might look good by October, but next May will still be pretty thin I'd bet. A better thing to do would be to wait 8-6 weeks before your first anticipated freeze and start hitting your lawn with roundup before it goes dormant. Then hit again come next March, and THEN plant your seed.

 

If we have another late summer/early fall like we did last year they might stand a chance. But if we don't...

 

@ryboturf There's a vid on YouTube of a pro guy who talks about seeding a Bermuda lawn late and it looking great, him thinking he did a great job, the customer was happy... Until spring when the grass simply never woke up. I think he was in Tennessee, so probably north of you a bit but not too far off.

Actually, if you don't mind knowing there's a good chance the seed money will be lost, it would help to have the experience of actually doing it... Sowing it, getting your watering right, fertilizing, seeing how long it takes to sprout, etc. And at least if some does make it, you'll be that much ahead for next year. And it would keep the weeds down for next year. I had that happen on a late seeding I did last year that didn't survive (but I wasn't happy with the grass variety and put very little effort into it anyway).

Maybe you could put down some clear plastic sheeting before the first frosts?

 

I am further north than you but I can chime in with what was said. I seeded my yukon last year at the beginning of August. Figured I had all of August and September heat to work with and I did get solid grow in. I thought I did well. Then after winter I realized about 70% of my backyard never woke up. What I thought was dormancy was more winter kill. My guess is the grass grew but the roots didn't make it to survive a winter.

This year I have full coverage in my backyard after pushing growth all summer. I think if you seed now, you will see results but next season may hurt your eyes. As opposed to seeding, what about stealing sprigs or plugging from the existing 419? Plugging will transport the mature roots with the plug so those should stand a much better chance. That would be my choice just to do something right now.

 

@Darrell_KC I have sprigged some areas back there with decent success. With this area being in between a tree line and my house, I want to give this project (having warm season grass) the best chance for success. I feel like I will know this time next year I will know whether we can have bermuda back there or need to move on.

Everyone has basically said I should wait, so that's what I'll do ☹.

That being said, I am still concerned about the slope back there and will be putting down some PRG when the time is right for that. I look forward to getting a good deal on a 50lb. bag of PRG and hope to keep everyone updated on that.

 

@ryboturf

Since this is a safe place to share and all...
This was my backyard at the end of October.



I thought I was in pretty good shape, and had done a good job. I haven't posted these pics, but here was my backyard in April. I took these during a rainstorm so I could see where the flooding was happening, and took one of my dog sunning herself in the dirt. Notice, the distinct lack of grass...




Here was my lawn in June, just starting to finally recover. I nearly had given up on it


Here is the lawn now


I am not telling you it can't be done. I am just saying, it could be awful painful during transition.

 

@Darrell_KC so you never re-seeded?

 

I tried re-seeding a couple spots in the back where I have drainage issues, but with very minimal success. Same with one strip on the side of the house which I think is getting too much shade from the garage. Most of that fill in is simply pushing fertilizer and mowing 2-3 times a week. I also have done a good amount of stolonizing and sprigging, and had pretty good success with plugging.

If I had to give you my top ways to spread bermuda, the first way is easily taking care of the bermuda you currently have with fert/water/mowing maintenance. 2nd is Sprigging/Stolonizing. You can plant pretty big clumps of grass you pull out of good areas and plant them with a shovel, and within 2 weeks they are off and running. Next would be plugging. Plugging for me meant 2 weeks of the plug going through transition, then 2 weeks later it would start spreading. Last would be seeding. Seeding in itself is not hard, but it is so prone to disaster. Bad storm, dry spell, cold snap, etc. Any one of those can doom weeks of work. To me, seeding is for getting started when you have nothing to work with. If you have bermuda to work with, get it healthy and spreading and then borrow from that as often as you can with sprigs and plugs.

 

I haven't read past your remark of already having 419, and then wanting to add seed. Whatever the question is about that being a good idea - The answer is no. They won't match. Don't do it.

 

I haven't read past your remark of already having 419, and then wanting to add seed. Whatever the question is about that being a good idea - The answer is no. They won't match. Don't do it.

Agree 100%. Don't overseed your 419. It will look awful with mismatched color and texture. If you push the 419 hard, it will spread like crazy in the next couple of months. Use sprigs or plugs from the healthy areas to fill in large bare spots quicker.

 

I haven't read past your remark of already having 419, and then wanting to add seed. Whatever the question is about that being a good idea - The answer is no. They won't match. Don't do it.

@Redtwin Without going into major detail, while still the backyard, I will be seeding in separate areas from the area with 419. I am currently pushing that area (see pic) with 34-0-0 and spreading peat moss. I don't plan on putting any seed in the area pictured.