Can I spread grass seed now in the Mid-Atlantic area? It's going to
rain for the next few days but the temperature will be in the 50s. Is
it too late and too cold?

On Oct 15, 7:00*am, "badgolferman"
wrote:
Can I spread grass seed now in the Mid-Atlantic area? *It's going to
rain for the next few days but the temperature will be in the 50s. *Is
it too late and too cold?

Dirt temperature needs to be a minimum or 50 or 55f to germinate seed
and depending on grass type that takes 5-14 days. Im not sure but I
think it needs to then also grow for a period of time to establish or
it would die rather than go dorment. Measure dirt temp and figure your
timeline. Im midwest and already had a frost here so I am to late,
but maybe your area will be warmer longer.

badgolferman wrote:
Can I spread grass seed now in the Mid-Atlantic area? It's going to
rain for the next few days but the temperature will be in the 50s. Is
it too late and too cold?

Yes.

Good time.

On Oct 15, 8:30*am, LouB wrote:
badgolferman wrote:
Can I spread grass seed now in the Mid-Atlantic area? *It's going to
rain for the next few days but the temperature will be in the 50s. *Is
it too late and too cold?

Yes.

Good time.

You should still be OK. The window of opportunity in that area is
from early Sept until about now. It would have been better to have
done it in Sept, but I've done it in coastal NJ this time of year with
good results. Doing it earlier would give it more chance to get
established before the hard cold of winter. It also depends on what
you're doing and where exactly you are. Even here, NW NJ is a lot
different than coastal NJ, etc. And depends on the grass, tall
fescue will germinate in 6 days, while blue grass can take more than
twice as long and is slower to establish.

If you;re just hitting some problem spots, I'd definitely do it. If
it's trying to establish a whole new lawn, I might still do it, but it
is more risk. Make sure to put down starter fertilizer to help it
along.

On Oct 15, 10:46*am, wrote:
On Oct 15, 8:30*am, LouB wrote:

badgolferman wrote:
Can I spread grass seed now in the Mid-Atlantic area? *It's going to
rain for the next few days but the temperature will be in the 50s. *Is
it too late and too cold?

Yes.

Good time.

You should still be OK. * The window of opportunity in that area is
from early Sept until about now. * It would have been better to have
done it in Sept, but I've done it in coastal NJ this time of year with
good results. * Doing it earlier would give it more chance to get
established before the hard cold of winter. *It also depends on what
you're doing and where exactly you are. * Even here, NW NJ is a lot
different than coastal NJ, etc. * *And depends on the grass, tall
fescue will germinate in 6 days, while blue grass can take more than
twice as long and is slower to establish.

*If you;re just hitting some problem spots, I'd definitely do it. *If
it's trying to establish a whole new lawn, I might still do it, but it
is more risk. *Make sure to put down starter fertilizer to help it
along.

Try it. Here the soil temperature is often not that warm. But grass
grows.
Just for reference the temperature of the cold water coming into the
house several feet down is about 45 to 50 degrees all year round. With
a short summer and not much sunlight doubt if our soil temperature
gets above 60 at best of times.

"badgolferman" wrote in
message ...
Can I spread grass seed now in the Mid-Atlantic area? It's
going to
rain for the next few days but the temperature will be in the
50s. Is
it too late and too cold?


If you are just loking for some greenery or errosion control you
can put some rye grass seed out (annual) until you get your next
optimal chance to seed in the spring. Rye grows fast and i have
had luck germinating in those temp ranges when other seed would
not.

hth
robb

robb wrote:
"badgolferman" wrote in
message ...
Can I spread grass seed now in the Mid-Atlantic area? It's
going to
rain for the next few days but the temperature will be in the
50s. Is
it too late and too cold?


If you are just loking for some greenery or errosion control you
can put some rye grass seed out (annual) until you get your next
optimal chance to seed in the spring. Rye grows fast and i have
had luck germinating in those temp ranges when other seed would
not.


Fall _is_ the optimum seeding time for the cool-weather grasses and it
is highly unlikely to be too late in "Mid-Atlantic" area although that
is quite a bit of latitude of where could fall into that description.

I'd suggest OP simply pick up the phone and talk to local County Agent
and see what their recommendations are.

It's possible to throw seed out midwinter on the snow and have it melt
into the ground and get covered by the freeze/thaw cycle to germinate in
spring quite successfully in many areas.

Spring is when folks think of seeding but in many places it either turns
hot and/or dry early that is quite stressful for establishing lawns that
will do far better in fall.

--

wrote:
On Oct 15, 8:30 am, LouB wrote:
badgolferman wrote:
Can I spread grass seed now in the Mid-Atlantic area? It's going to
rain for the next few days but the temperature will be in the 50s. Is
it too late and too cold?
Yes.

Good time.

You should still be OK. The window of opportunity in that area is
from early Sept until about now. It would have been better to have
done it in Sept, but I've done it in coastal NJ this time of year with
good results. Doing it earlier would give it more chance to get
established before the hard cold of winter. It also depends on what
you're doing and where exactly you are. Even here, NW NJ is a lot
different than coastal NJ, etc. And depends on the grass, tall
fescue will germinate in 6 days, while blue grass can take more than
twice as long and is slower to establish.

If you;re just hitting some problem spots, I'd definitely do it. If
it's trying to establish a whole new lawn, I might still do it, but it
is more risk. Make sure to put down starter fertilizer to help it
along.

Whereabouts in NW NJ?

Lou

On Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:00:19 +0000 (UTC), "badgolferman"
wrote:

Can I spread grass seed now in the Mid-Atlantic area? It's going to
rain for the next few days but the temperature will be in the 50s. Is
it too late and too cold?


I overseed with fescue in late September in east Tennessee, although
it can still be done now since it is still warm. Your region may be
too cold for good germination.

Phisherman wrote:

On Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:00:19 +0000 (UTC), "badgolferman"
wrote:

Can I spread grass seed now in the Mid-Atlantic area? It's going to
rain for the next few days but the temperature will be in the 50s.
Is it too late and too cold?


I overseed with fescue in late September in east Tennessee, although
it can still be done now since it is still warm. Your region may be
too cold for good germination.

Coastal Southeast Virginia.

--
"A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the
support of Paul." ~ George Bernard Shaw

"badgolferman" wrote

Can I spread grass seed now in the Mid-Atlantic area? It's going to
rain for the next few days but the temperature will be in the 50s.
Is it too late and too cold?

Coastal Southeast Virginia.

I'm same area. VB. Yes, we can still seed. 3 weeks ago was optimal but
we'll have enough warm days ahead that it will germinate and get a decent
bed going before long term cold hits. We'll have a few cold days but it
doesnt really get cold until mid-December. This weekend will be wet and
rainy but that won't hurt it any.

In article , badgolferman
wrote:

Can I spread grass seed now in the Mid-Atlantic area? It's going to
rain for the next few days but the temperature will be in the 50s. Is
it too late and too cold?


Your nym indicates why you might be attracted to grass, but I must tell
you, one of the best things I ever did was rip out my lawn and replace
it with gravel, a small patio area, and low-maintenance native
ornamentals.

Now I can spend less time mowing the lawn and more time practicing my
12-ounce curls on Saturdays.

-Frank

--
Here's some of my work:
http://www.franksknives.com/

"Frank Warner" wrote in message
. ..
In article ,
badgolferman
wrote:

Can I spread grass seed now in the Mid-Atlantic area? It's
going to
rain for the next few days but the temperature will be in the
50s. Is
it too late and too cold?

Your nym indicates why you might be attracted to grass, but I
must tell
you, one of the best things I ever did was rip out my lawn and
replace
it with gravel, a small patio area, and low-maintenance native
ornamentals.

Now I can spend less time mowing the lawn and more time
practicing my
12-ounce curls on Saturdays.

-Frank


I thought one of the big time saving trends of late is to rip out
the grass and put in one of the new turf grasses that fool all
but the mot scrutinous eye ?

I doubt it compares to the cost of gravel though.

On Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:23:28 +0000 (UTC), "badgolferman"
wrote:

Phisherman wrote:

On Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:00:19 +0000 (UTC), "badgolferman"
wrote:

Can I spread grass seed now in the Mid-Atlantic area? It's going to
rain for the next few days but the temperature will be in the 50s.
Is it too late and too cold?


I overseed with fescue in late September in east Tennessee, although
it can still be done now since it is still warm. Your region may be
too cold for good germination.

Coastal Southeast Virginia.


Should be okay. Protect seed with straw.

"Phisherman" wrote
"badgolferman" wrote:

Coastal Southeast Virginia.

Should be okay. Protect seed with straw.

Nope, he's way too far south to need that. Good choice for NJ or NY though!

"robb" wrote in message
m...

"Frank Warner" wrote in message
. ..
In article ,
badgolferman
wrote:

Can I spread grass seed now in the Mid-Atlantic area?

[trim]
one of the best things I ever did was rip out my lawn and
replace it with gravel, a small patio area,
and low-maintenance native ornamentals.
[trim]

I thought one of the big time saving trends of late is to rip
out
the grass and put in one of the new turf grasses that fool all
but the mot scrutinous eye ?

I doubt it compares to the cost of gravel though.

i mant to type *artificial* turf grasses as in
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_turf