Is it too cold to plant winter grass? (buy, bill)

[tacha]

Not sure if we missed the cutoff for seeding : ( I have a small area I need to plant winter grass in.

[bryans1620]

As warm as it still is, you will probably be OK if you put soil or steer manure on top of it to keep it warm and give it plenty of water. Un-composted manure is best because it warms up as it starts to compost, the downside is that it stinks.

[hikernut]

One of our neighbors seeded about a week ago and it's germinating. Worth a try, but do it asap.

[DougStark]

It will be no problem. Seed it.

[sh9730]

Heck, my bermuda still looks pretty good - not perfect - but I am not even going to bother this year with what hopefully will be a short winter - I mean 85 on Thanksgiving? Wow!

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by bryans1620

As warm as it still is, you will probably be OK if you put soil or steer manure on top of it to keep it warm and give it plenty of water. Un-composted manure is best because it warms up as it starts to compost, the downside is that it stinks.

I literally put down seeds and starter fertilizer pellets and it has come in really nicely. No need for all this.

[DetroitN8V]

Side note, I'll never allow my landscapers to use manure again. The smell goes away but it's 3-4 days of hell.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

I have 3-4 spots (20 square foot) where I am trying to quickly re-seed. The seeds initially washed away during the 1st go around. So I over-seeded again a couple of weeks ago. Then the pigeons/morning doves cleaned me out. So I re-did it again and this time, I appied some black dirt on top of the bare areas. Those damn pigeons are going to town on the seed again by using their feet to kick the dirt out of the way. Sprinklers don't bother them either as they eat in the water. I've chased them 30 times, tossed rocks from a distance, etc. I feel like Bill Murray in Caddyshack. The fat ones won't leave till I am right on top of them; I guess you can say they are "flipping me the bird".

I'm looking for a something to apply so that the seed becomes less desirable. @Wit-Wit... Any ideas?

[DougStark]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

I have 3-4 spots (20 square foot) where I am trying to quickly re-seed. The seeds initially washed away during the 1st go around. So I over-seeded again a couple of weeks ago. Then the pigeons/morning doves cleaned me out. So I re-did it again and this time, I appied some black dirt on top of the bare areas. Those damn pigeons are going to town on the seed again by using their feet to kick the dirt out of the way. Sprinklers don't bother them either as they eat in the water. I've chased them 30 times, tossed rocks from a distance, etc. I feel like Bill Murray in Caddyshack. The fat ones won't leave till I am right on top of them; I guess you can say they are "flipping me the bird".

I'm looking for a something to apply so that the seed becomes less desirable. @Wit-Wit... Any ideas?

I've had the same concern too. I've never planted a winter lawn over my tif before, but thought I'd do one this winter. But then I thought about all the pesky birds and pigeons that would start picking through the seed

A couple thoughts I had: spread a light layer of straw over the seeded lawn until seeds sprout, or temporarily cover the entire lawn with landscape fabric pinned down on the edges with metal stakes. Has anyone tried these techniques?

PS re: manure. I'm not a big fan of putting down bagged manure. Besides, it's usually very high in salts (something our already salty soils do not need more of.)

[hikernut]

I've never tried it myself, but some people claim that mylar party balloons work as a deterrent. Buy a couple and stake them to the ground. I'm not sure how far about the ground they should be though.