My question is, will this approach work for seeding and also overseeding TTTF? Several people have told me you absolutely need a slit seeder for TTTF.

I was planning to run the verticutter before and after seeding with the spreader, using a 1.4-inch depth setting.

All of these "slit" seeders have a drop spreader that dispenses seed in front of the verticutter unit. I've used the BillyGoat and the Ryan Ren-O-Thin. I've never investigated to see if there was any seed damage, but I can attest to their ability to bury the seed into the furrows and I have had very good success with germination. Every furrow produces thick lines of grass. All I can say is that it works. You are correct that a "true" slit seeder (never seen one for rent) has verticutter blades, followed by disk blades, followed with metering tubes that drop seed into the furrow, followed by a roller to close the furrow and cover the seed.

And yes, also with the Brillion seeder, we tried to drop bentgrass seed, and the seed continued to drop even after the hopper was supposedly closed. Seed was too small.

Yup, that's exactly what I'll be doing next week.

Good luck with your project next week. I hope what you are using is similar to a Ryan Mataway Overseeder.

Grass,

Brillion makes a walk-behind unit that mirrors the operation of their tractor-mount unit.

I suspect we may be talking about different machines that accomplish the same task in slightly different ways, but with similar results.

I still contend that if you truly verticut an area that has just been seeded, your seed will be displaced away from the target area.

If I recall you work for a golf course and are familiar with equipment. These are not mataways--not even close. The only place I've ever seen a mataway or similar machine for rent is at a rental company that specializes in renting specialized equipment to golf courses and professional landscapers. They will not rent to a homeowner.

I just finished researching Ryan, Bluebird and Billygoat. They identify the basic machine as a power rake, but they have multiple reels available. one class of blade is flail and is used for dethatching. A second blade class is fixed. They identify the fixed blades as vertislicing blades--what I have been calling verticutter as I assumed the were the same thing as they look like blades on verticutters I've seen.
The Ryan machine I have used and own is called a Ren O Thin Spot Seeder. It has interchangable flail and fixed blades--fixed for seeding. It also has a drop spreader that sits on a bracket on the front and is powered by friction with the front wheels. Ryan evidently no longer makes the Spot Seeder but does still make the Ren O Thin which is identicle in looks to mine which is probably 15-20 years old.

Blueird still makes this type of seeder with a power rake/verticutter unit very similar to the Ryan but the drop seeder is at the back of the machine.

Billygoat still makes their version with a drop spreader in front and the powerrake/verticutter unit behind.

Please take a look at the link and scroll down to the OS Overdeeder and let us know if those fixed blades look like verticutter blades to you. I'd like to e able to use the proper terminolgy.

http://www.beavervalleysupply.com/sectionb/billygroa.htm

Thanks.

It appears that LawnHobby has done quite a bit of research to get to this point, and as long as he/she has the right equipment to do the job correctly, I am sure LawnHobby will be satisfied with the results of the seeding process.