As July comes to a close, it is time to make plans to seed fall cover crops. Cover crop species, seeding method, seeding rate, and timing will all depend on the goals for that cover crop. In broad terms there are three methods: 1) overseeding, 2) drill seeding, and 3) broadcast seeding with incorporation. Each of these methods has pros and cons, which will be discussed in this article.
Overseeding. Overseeding can be done into a standing corn or soybean crop either by broadcasting with an airplane or using high clearance equipment. Overseeding allows the cover crop to be planted earlier, which can lead to greater biomass growth in the fall. However, overseeding does have some drawbacks. For one, distribution of seed can be more variable with aerial seeding. The best distribution comes from uniform seed lots and heavier cereal grain such as cereal rye and winter wheat. Additionally, stand establishment can be lower than with other seeding options due to rodents and birds scavenging seed as well as if dry conditions exist following seeding. To ensure adequate establishment, overseeding should be done late August to early September, assuming adequate soil moisture. Some of the most successful overseedings are done shortly before a rainfall. The seeding rate for over seeding should be 15-25% higher than drill seeding.
Drilling. Drill seeding provides the most uniform seed distribution and excellent seed to soil contact for establishment, which results in a more consistent stand. One of the biggest drawbacks of drill seeding is that corn and soybean harvest can delay cover crop planting beyond ideal planting dates. Delayed planting can result in reduced biomass growth and less nitrogen uptake. Drill seeding should be completed by mid- to late October.
Broadcasting with incorporation. Broadcast seeding with incorporation after corn and soybean harvest is also a viable option to plant cover crops. It can be accomplished as a 1-pass or 2-pass process. One-pass systems typically have an air seeder attached to the combine or broadcast cover crop seed with fertilizer application. Incorporation can be accomplished with vertical tillage or other tillage implements, but care must be taken to ensure that incorporation is not too deep for plant emergence. Broadcast seeding with incorporation can improve overall stand establishment compared to broadcast seeding without incorporation. Like drill seeding, broadcast seeding with incorporation should be completed by mid- to late October.
For more information on cover crop species and cover crop management visit:
Cover Crop Decision Tool - Midwest Cover Crops Council (MCCC)
Herbicide Grazing Restrictions – ISU Extension and Outreach (ISUEO)
Post Corn, Going to Soybean: Use Cereal Rye – ISUEO and MCCC
Post Soybean, Going to Corn: Use Oats – ISUEO and MCCC
Cover Crop Resources – Iowa Learning Farms
Cover Crop Resources – Practical Farmers of Iowa
Conservation Choices: Cover Crops – USDA NRCS
When it comes to growing new, healthy grass, the way in which you go about seeding a lawn can make a tremendous difference. We have talked previously about how choosing the best grass seed is a critical decision. But if you choose top-quality seed and then plant it in an ineffective way, it’s not going to get you very far.
In this article, we’ll dive into how to plant grass seed, discussing which option is best for your Louisville lawn.
How to Plant Grass Seed
Planting grass sounds like one of those relatively simple tasks that anyone can do. But the truth is, the way in which you seed can really make or break how much grass actually grows.
For the purposes of this article, there are three primary ways to go about seeding a lawn: Just tossing it down (maybe by hand or using a spreader), aeration and overseeding, and power seeding.
Let’s look at each.
Applying Seed by Hand or with a Spreader
Of the three ways to seed a lawn, this is the least effective (yet you see people do this all the time). This is going to lead to the worst germination rate of the three methods. That’s because seeds require good seed-to-soil contact in order to grow. That means that the seeds need to get down into the dirt.
Think of it this way…you would never install a plant by just sticking it on top of your plant beds. You would dig a hole first.
The biggest trouble with seeding grass by just tossing it down is that the soil in our region tends to be compacted so a good majority of the seed is just going to sit there and eventually dry out, blow away, or get eaten by the birds!
Seeding grass by just tossing it down is a good way to waste your money.
If you were to use this method, at the very least, you should take time to rake out the soil and create some grooves before planting grass. That’s a lot of manual labor but it’s also going to get you better seed-to-soil contact.
Aeration and Overseeding
Aeration and overseeding are a step up from just tossing seed down with a spreader.
This method involves using an aerator to create holes in your lawn by pulling cores of soil from the turf. Once aeration is completed, overseeding is performed (tossing seeds on the lawn) with the idea that those seeds will fall into the holes for optimal seed-to-soil contact.
But as you might have guessed, there are many seeds that are still left sitting on top of the ground when this seeding method is complete. This takes you back to the same dilemma as the first method…you’re ultimately spending money on high-quality grass seed that becomes bird food (or dries out or blows away).
While this method of planting grass will get you a better germination rate from just tossing the seed down (without any aeration), it’s still not the best way to seed a lawn.
We’ll talk about our preferred method of planting seed grass, next.
Power Seeding
Hands down, the best way to seed a lawn is with power seeding.
Power seeding, which has also been called “slice seeding” or “slit seeding,” is the process of using a machine to cut rows into the soil and plant seeds. It’s a service used by golf courses to achieve some of the thickest, healthiest turfs around.
With power seeding, the cutting of the soil and the planting of the grass seed is all methodically completed in a mechanical way so that you know your grass seed is actually being planted in the ground. Much like a farmer would cut rows into the soil to plant his or her crops, with power seeding, you are installing a lawn in an efficient and effective way.
This is completely different from just tossing seed down and hoping for the best. We are actually planting seed grass when we perform power seeding.
When it comes to getting the best germination rate, power seeding is the way to go. There’s simply too much uncertainty with other methods.
Do I Really Need to Worry About Seeding my Lawn?
We know that a service like power seeding is an “extra” and sometimes people don’t want to pay for anything else. As to whether you need power seeding, it really does boil down to your expectations.
If you don’t mind the occasional bare spot or thin area, then you might be able to live without power seeding. Of course, it’s also important to remember that those bare spots tend to be where weeds creep in. Even if you’re keeping up with regular weed control, opportunistic weeds will find their way into bare spots in the lawn.
But a thick and thriving lawn will start to choke out weed growth. It can also better withstand potential trouble like disease and pests.
When we seed a lawn, we’re also introducing high-quality and improved grass species that will perform better. At Limbwalker, we seed with professional, high-quality Turf Type Tall Fescue.
For homeowners who truly want the best results, we do recommend keeping up with planting new grass through power seeding every other year. This will keep your lawn thick and healthy while pushing out pesky weed growth.
Achieving the Best Results from Power Seeding
When it comes to hiring a lawn care company to perform power seeding, we recommend looking for a company that has your best interest at heart. At Limbwalker, one of our biggest differentiators is something that we call the “Limbwalker Way.”
This is simply the fact that our way of doing things mostly goes against the typical customer experience. That’s because we are incredibly focused on delivering excellent customer service.
We know that a lot of lawn care companies simply aren’t that committed to the customer experience. They’re just trying to treat your lawn and move along as quickly as possible.
But any time that we perform a service, we’re focused on how it can be the best.
When it comes to power seeding, that means performing quality checks to make sure that the grass is growing as it should. And if there are any issues, you can count on us to remedy them.
We’ll also set you up with the best recommendations to make sure that your grass is growing healthy and strong. Watering is a big key to the success of planting grass, so we’ll advise you on what you need to do.
We’re often shocked by how often lawn care companies will perform a seeding service but fail to advise the homeowner to water. This could be the difference between your new grass germinating or not.
Your Happiness is Our Priority
At the end of the day, it all boils down to your happiness.
At Limbwalker, we’re aiming to make everything as easy and as successful as possible…so that you’re a happy customer. We care deeply about the folks that we work for and want them to be able to get the most out of their lawns.
Are you ready to have a thick and healthy lawn that’s getting everything it needs at your Louisville, KY home? Get in touch with us to get a quote for our lawn care programs, which include three lawn care pricing options, and about adding power seeding to one of those programs.