Decision: Overseed tif lawn or leave it brown all winter? (yard, transit)

[DougStark]

hey forum,

I'm an experienced gardener and know how to overseed a dormant tif lawn. I'm having a hard time deciding on whether or not I want to do it though. I've never overseeded my lawn with rye for as long as I've owned the house.

Questions: Do neighbors mind if a person leaves their bermuda brown all winter? How easy is the. transition period in the spring? (I've seen ignorant gardeners let the lawns become parched for water in an attempt to kill the rye--that method hurts the bermuda as well.) I think the correct method is to mow the lawn extremely LOW during the transition. The rye won't be able to tolerate the combination of heat and very short clipping.

If I do seed it, I think the extra water use will be minimal, since it's so cool during the winter and the sun is low.

I bought the seed already (so I can still return it Opinions? yes, no?

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by DougStark

hey forum,

I'm an experienced gardener and know how to overseed a dormant tif lawn. I'm having a hard time deciding on whether or not I want to do it though. I've never overseeded my lawn with rye for as long as I've owned the house.

Questions: Do neighbors mind if a person leaves their bermuda brown all winter? How easy is the. transition period in the spring? (I've seen ignorant gardeners let the lawns become parched for water in an attempt to kill the rye--that method hurts the bermuda as well.) I think the correct method is to mow the lawn extremely LOW during the transition. The rye won't be able to tolerate the combination of heat and very short clipping.

If I do seed it, I think the extra water use will be minimal, since it's so cool during the winter and the sun is low.

I bought the seed already (so I can still return it Opinions? yes, no?

First, I hope you got perennial rye. The other stuff turns to green mush when you mow it. Second, you may have missed the boat. It is going to cool off this week and longer term suggests that a pattern change to cool and maybe wet is in the offing. It may be too cold at night soon to germinate rye. Otherwise, the transition goes smoothly. You notice brown patches in the yard as the weather warms and the rye dies. Some of it hangs on for quite a while, but the bermuda wins in the end.

[DougStark]

Thanks, Ponderosa. I seriously doubt it's too cold for my perennial rye to germinate. But, I am concerned that the lawn is too shady (only happens during the winter due to lower angle of the sun.)

I'm leaning to returning the seed to the store.