[MasterMech]

I have mentioned that I plan to overseed my "basketcase" Bermuda lawn with Annual Rye this year. Why ARG? I'm on a budget for the time being, working with 20k of lawn, and I'm not sure the weaker areas of my lawn are ready for an invasion of PRG. I would prefer the look of PRG for sure but I have some exp with PRG turf and it can take a lot to kill until the nights get very warm/humid. So on to my (silly) questions.

Some of my reading on overseeding technique says to pretty much throw and go, (after running the overseeder) others say scalp the hell out of the Bermuda first. The plan is to rent a Classen overseeder (cheap and available on short notice), carve up the lawn, and broadcast the ARG seed, perhaps dragging it in if I can find a suitable drag in time. What say you guys? To scalp or not to scalp?

Second silly question, will scalping the lawn in the spring kill the ARG if it's done in say, Mid-Late March? When is the best time for scalping in Upstate SC?

 

[Ware]

This is my plan. I am using PRG due to the more favorable turf characteristics, and plan to kill it in the spring with a selective herbicide when the Bermuda begins to come out of dormancy. For prep, I plan to reduce HOC slightly and verticut, but not too aggressive because my goal is a seamless (or near seamless) transition of green.

 

[MasterMech]

This is my plan. I am using PRG due to the more favorable turf characteristics, and plan to kill it in the spring with a selective herbicide when the Bermuda begins to come out of dormancy. For prep, I plan to reduce HOC slightly and verticut, but not too aggressive because my goal is a seamless (or near seamless) transition of green.

I like your plan. Hopefully by spring I will have a suitable sprayer. Due to the "rugged" characteristics of my lawn, I'm planning to mow the ARG at 2-2.5". Then when spring rolls around, assuming I have proper equipment (read: reel mower!) I will adjust HOC to favor the Bermuda. ARG will probably dislike sub-1" cuts while PRG is quite doable at 1/2" or perhaps even lower. For some reason PRG seed is just not on shelves (at the major retailers) around here. ARG however is clogging the lawn &garden aisles. Is there somewhere online you guys buy? Any preferred varieties specifically for overseeding duty? It won't get to me in time for this year but would be good to know for next fall.

 

[Ware]

I ordered my PRG from Hancock Seed, but there are a number of good online sources for seed.

 

[Iriasj2009]

Hello, depending on how thick your Bermuda currently is will determine what you need to do to get the area ready for overseeding. Yes annual rye grass is a throw and grow seed but it still needs good soil contact for it to grow and grow evenly across the yard. At minimum you need to mow as low as you can without being too aggressive, a "semi scalp". then use the slit seeder to scratch the top .5"-1" of soil. The slit seeder should help you achieve good soil contact, basically create furrows for the seed to fall into. Ware is going to overseed his backyard and maybe he has some ideas. I don't recommend scalping it to aggressive since it will set you back once you transition back. Bermuda WILL come back but might take longer than you would like.

As for killing off the ARG, you shouldn't have to worry about getting rid of it once the temps climb up to the upper 80s and humidity goes up. Just scalp it once the temps climb up to the 80s and the rye should start dying off. ARG is a lot more sensitive to heat than PRG.

Good luck!!

 

[Iriasj2009]

This is my plan. I am using PRG due to the more favorable turf characteristics, and plan to kill it in the spring with a selective herbicide when the Bermuda begins to come out of dormancy. For prep, I plan to reduce HOC slightly and verticut, but not too aggressive because my goal is a seamless (or near seamless) transition of green.

Oh, ware beat me lol. What he said