When to winterize newly seeded lawn (live in, move, rated)

[hammester]

I just had my lawn aerated and seeded with fescue during the first week of October. I am now not sure what I should do to the lawn. It has not come up all that great, seemed to only come up in the holes that were made by the aerator. Should I fertilize the grass again or winterize before winter comes?

[frankpc]

Winterizing fertilizers typically have more potassium (the last number on the bag) to help with "cold hardiness". Most folks would apply this around Thanksgiving but its been warm this fall so you could wait a bit. Applying too much additional nitrogen could be a problem if we have a sudden cold snap.

The real answer is to do a soil analysis :

Soil Testing

This test will also indicate the need for lime as good pH is important for fertilizer uptake.

Frank

[arbyunc]

Just to clarify, are you saying you have a newly-seeded lawn, or did you aerate and re-seed an existing lawn? In either case, but especially the former, you should be very careful about fertilizer. Seedlings will burn if you give them too much, so use only if needed, and if it is needed, get a "starter" formula made for seedlings.

[hammester]

Sorry I will clarify. I had a pre-existing lawn that was recently aerated and overseeded. Some sections were completely bare and others still had good coverage when it was overseeded.

[Sherifftruman]

Typically, the new seed will only take in the holes, unless you also top dressed with soil or really raked the seed into the dirt. It just wont do well unless it is at least partly covered by dirt and protected from the sun.

Next year, if there are still bare spots, it would be a good idea to either slit seed those areas or to rakeand or de-thatch them to break the soil up prior to aeration, then broadcast the seed and lightly re-rake to essentially move the dirt around some to cover the seeds.

You can also try to plant again in the spring using the same techniques, but do it early, water lightly daily and make sure to use a pre-emergent that will not kill new seeds. Typically, weed killers using Tuppersan as the active ingredient are fine for new seeds, but they are not as easy to find.

[hammester]

So then I should apply some winterizer during the next couple of weeks?

[dchz1]

Was there a starter fertilize applied at the same time as the seeding ?

[hammester]

Yes there was a starter fertilizer put down when it was seeded. Didn't look like they put down much though.

[frankpc]

I would add a "Winterizer" sometime in the next two weeks although soils here are typically not lacking in potassium or phosphorus. You'll do no harm in this weather, but don't over fertilize.

A couple of shots of lime over the winter is good too, unless you know you pH is good.

Frank

[C Stauffer]

I live in NW Arkansas. I have an existing lawn but the armadillos have seriously damaged it. Hopefully, I have removed the last armadillo and now I want to over seed the lawn and really rework and seed the damaged areas. Should I apply "Winterizer " after the new grass appears or should I apply a starter fertilizer when I seed? It will remain warm in this area through October and possibly into November.