Identify grass and overseed recommendations?

9 years ago

First timer here!

Looking to get a little more serious with my lawn care. I live in the Northeast (upstate NY).

I figure the first step is to see what types of grass I have in my existing lawn. Any help identifying would be appreciated.

My next steps would probably be getting a professional soil test and work on improving any deficiencies.

I plan to overseed in the fall, but I'd like to do it smart (not waste money or overwork).

In addition to identifying my existing lawn, any recommendations on a type of seed that would have a high success rate based on my area and the type of grass I have?

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Comments (5)

User
9 years ago
Looks like Kentucky Bluegrass. It spreads via rhizomes , so unless you have large bare patches the best course of action would be to care for it and encourage it to spread on its own. The grass should be kept at around 3"-3.5" and mowed often enough that you only cut 1/3 of the blade off. Mowing also encourages spreading.

Do you have irrigation? Where in Upstate NY are you? I lived in the Sacketts Harbor area for about 6 years.
Matthew Jones
Original Author
9 years ago
I hacked together a DIY irrigation system. I Installed some poly pipe underground with RainBird sprinkler heads.

I live in the Albany area.

Some sections of the yard look decent, others are patchy, thin, and a yellowish color.

I also have a couple bare patches from trees that were removed a couple years ago. No luck seeding them last year. I was hoping to try again this fall.

So overseesing in the fall with KBG could be unnecessary since that type of grass can spread on its own?

Thanks for your advice!
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User
9 years ago
Did you fertilize at all this year?

KBG will spread, but it will take a while to fill in large bare patches. It will fill in maybe a foot diameter bare spot in a year. You best bet for a quick resolution to that problem would be to seed. That should take place about mid-August in your area. Matching the existing grass as far as color is going to be problematic, it may end up looking patchy.

You could also choose to kill everything with glyphosate beginning of August and reseed the entire lawn. That would get you a nice even lawn, but it's more work, more risk, more money.
Matthew Jones
Original Author
9 years ago
I ended up purchasing a LawnDawg Fert/Weed control program to start the year off (que the eye roll?).

New addition to the fam, so I won't have time to focus on the lawn during spring/summer.

Heres what LawnDawg has done so far (Late April)...

So for the time being, I'll mow tall (3"-3.5") and keep it watered?

I do still have an unopened bag of Milorganite in my garage. Is there an ideal time to use that based on my situation?
User
9 years ago
I'd drop the Milorganite right about now and then just keep it mowed and water as needed (about 1" every 10 days in your climate)