Grass overseeding first cut

8 years ago

I raked lawn about 10 days ago. I then cut it down short followed with seed(KBG with fescue and ryegrass). I added fertilizer and mushroom compost. Been watering a bit twice a day to keep moist. Grass has sprouted big time.

When can I do my first cut after this. I also had some more bare spots where I added a little more seed than the overseeed.

Can I cut back on the water now it's been a week and a half.

Live in Ontario just outside Michigan.

Thanks

Featured Answer

dchall_san_antonio

8 years ago

All that has sprouted thus far is the fescue. KBG takes 3 weeks to germinate. If you stop watering now you'll lose the KBG.

You can mow when the grass gets up to 5 inches. Then mow it down to 4 inches.

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Comments (6)

Steve Baselj
Original Author
8 years ago
Ok thanks. I water early morning and late in afternoon for bout 10min each area. Went out yesterday early afternoon still moist out there was just wondering if I should cut back or keep the same schedule.

So my first cut will obviously be at the highest setting in about 10 days then. It's driving me nuts looking at how tall it's getting
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lawniac
8 years ago
I disagree with dchall on mowing height. You should cut to 2"-2.5" when it reaches 3" and keep it there for the next 45 days. If you let it get too tall it will mat over and create a bad situation as far as mowing. Young grass lacks the stiffness needed to stand up at 4".

The KBG is going to have a tough time. Not only does it take up to 3 weeks to germinate, it spends another 3 weeks pouting. It will be hard for it to compete with the fescue/ryegrass by the time it germinates. Cutting down to 2" will also help get some sun down into the canopy to the bluegrass when it does germinate.

Finally, regarding watering, you can cut down to once a day now, and once every 3 days by next week.
Steve Baselj thanked lawniac
Tom
8 years ago
Yep, I don't know where this super high mowing height stuff got started, but its not necessary.
Steve Baselj thanked Tom
forsheems
8 years ago
With this being an overseed 5" shouldn't be a problem as the older, stronger grass blades will help support the new tender blades and keep them from flopping over. It would be a totally different story if it was all new grass. In this case the rye and fescue should be up by now and the KBG is what you're waiting on. If it were me, I would skip a day of watering and cut it at 3.5" and immediately resume the watering. Just make sure your mower blades are extremely sharp.

My height of cut is totally dictated by the weather. First cut of the year is normally around 3.5" and then I go to 3.75" through the spring. Right now I'm transitioning into summer mode as the next cut will be at 4" and will move up to 5" once the summer heat arrives and when it gets really hot and dry I don't mow. That's based on our central NC weather. If my lawn was cut below 3.5" in the summer I would lose a lot of it to drought. My lawn is 1/2 acre so irrigation is not an option due to expense.
Steve Baselj thanked forsheems
Joe BigBlue
8 years ago
That is some great looking grass.

I thought it was a no-no to seed in the Spring?
Steve Baselj thanked Joe BigBlue