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Brad Wolfe, owner of Organic Lawn Care, spreads grass seed on a Boulder lawn (Photo by Paul Aiken).
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Going to seed – Grass seed will fill in drought's brown spots
By Amanda Okker for the Daily Camera, May 16, 2003
Christine Throgmorton pointed her foot toward a tub of tall fescue seed, a deep-rooting grass, and asked a McGuckin Hardware associate for half a pound — hardly enough for a lawn.
"Oh, I'm not putting it in my yard," says Throgmorton. "I grow it in pots and set them on my deck. I like to have some grass to look at."
Last year, like many Coloradans, Throgmorton watched her yard turn brown due to the drought and watering restrictions placed on homeowners. She says she didn't like looking at her dull, dry lawn, so she decided to grow grass in pots, adding "a little splash of green that made (her deck) almost 'Zen garden-ish.'"
This spring — with no watering — her lawn is coming in green, with the exception of a few dry patches.
It's a similar story across Boulder County: green lawns with dry, dead areas. But there is no reason for homeowners to live with the brown, say area landscapers and garden specialists. Seeding is a practical and popular alternative to new sod.
Seeding allows homeowners and landscapers to fill in brown and dead spots with new grass seed, which germinates over a number of weeks and often fills in the bare spots.
Brad Wolfe, owner of Organo-Lawn, a landscape company with branches in Boulder and Fort Collins, says there is rarely a need to start over. Brown and dry does not mean dead and hopeless, he says.
"Even a yard with old damage and an old lawn can benefit from seeding," Wolfe says.
The key to ensuring successful germination, however, is making sure the old, dead areas are heavily raked away, loosening up the ground beneath and allowing new seed to settle in.
"The dead stuff inhibits the new stuff from growing," Wolfe says.
In general, all plants in a yard compete with each other for space and water, says Eric Burrus, owner of Easy Seasons Grassworks in Longmont. Reducing the size of the turf area by replacing outer grassy areas with other plants or xeriscaping may also improve chances of successful seeding.
"Grass doesn't compete as much for water when you have smaller turf areas," Burrus says.
On average, about 60 percent of seed that is thrown down will come up to revive dead patches, Wolfe says.
To improve those chances, seed companies are selling blends — mixtures of seeds from a variety of grasses, says Steve Shadel, garden department manager at McGuckin Hardware in Boulder. While some seeds may not germinate, others in the mixture may.
Arkansas Valley Seed combines three types of fescue seed to create its Earth Carpet blend, called "Survivor." Fescue is native to Colorado, stays greener longer and requires less water. In Arkansas Valley's "Wear-n-Tear" blend, rye is blended with fescues and bluegrass. Rye germinates and fills in quickly while other grasses germinate more slowly.
Kentucky bluegrass is the most common yard grass in the area. It generally requires more water to maintain its deep green color and hardiness because it is not native to dry climates. On the other hand, bluegrass is a tough grass and can go dormant and be revived seasons later. Fescues and ryes are not as easily rejuvenated.
"Certain grasses are more winter-hardy, and Kentucky bluegrass can take harder winters," Shadel says.
He also points out how important it is to be familiar with the turf area when deciding which seed to use. Is it shady? Is it sunny? Shadel says grass generally doesn't prefer shade, but certain grasses are more appropriate for shady spots, such as creeping red fescues.
In general, it's important to start the seeding process when the temperatures are warmer, around 57 degrees. Once seeds are spread, it is best to leave weeds alone until the grass begins to fill in. The weeds may be removed once the lawn is stable.
Fertilizing is another factor. Kevin Cook, McGuckin's garden department assistant manager, says non-organic fertilizers release nitrogen more quickly, leading to bigger flushes of growth, which need more water. Organic fertilizers, such as Pro-Rich by Rich Lawn or Nature's Cycle and Lawn Restore by Ringer, are better for dryer conditions.
"Organics are much slower to release (nitrogen) and don't need as much water for support," Cook says.
Finally, watering is key for seeds to take root. Seed must be watered heavily initially but then simply needs to stay damp to maintain its health, Shadel says.
Throgmorton has decided she will stick with her potted grass on the deck, water her lawn less and see what happens.
"So far, it looks great. We haven't turned on the hose yet," she says.
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