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okienoh

recommendations for blending the stripe between KBG and tttf

okienoh
10 years ago

I have KBG around my house, roughly 5000 sq ft of it. The rest of my "yard" is TTTF. I like the darker color of KBG. I'm trying to decide what is the best way to make the color change less obvious. Do I overseed the fescue with KGB or do I overseed the fescue with the darkest TTTF available or both? Reno of the fescue is not an option as I roughly have an acre of it in my front yard and 5 or so acres of it in the back yard. I'm also looking for seed suggestions. I have no idea as to the varieties I have since the previous homeowner built the house and established the lawn.

Comments (6)

  • grass1950
    10 years ago

    This scenario is probably as old as lawns. Alot of people have tried overseeding different grass types and cultivars into a healthy established lawn in an attempt to change the character or color. I've never heard of a success story. That doesn't seem to stop us from trying. I guess it's the same part of the psyche that makes for the prolifferation so so many casinos around the country--the outcome will be different for me.
    The overseed just can't compete with the existing turf for sunlight, water and nutrients and fails.
    KBG is a real poor preformer in overseeding because it is expecially slow to germinate (3-4 weeks) so even in a case where the extablished lawn is scalped before overseeding, it grows back fast enough to shade the new seed. Attempting to keep the lawn short can injure or displace the new seed. New seed needs water and should be accompanied with a starter fertilizer, both are going to create a surge in existing lawn growth.
    You may have slightly better results with overseeding with fescue due to it's shorter germination (2 weeks).
    If it's any consulation, I'm going to be overseeding my 60% Midnight KBG lawn with Midnight again this year in the hopes of increasing the %. I've done this for three years and although I can't say I've seen any dramatic changes--I just know It'll be different this year and I'm sure it'll work out this time.

    This post was edited by grass1950 on Sat, Aug 10, 13 at 9:42

  • dchall_san_antonio
    10 years ago

    As soon as the fescue weakens for any reason, the KBG should move right in to fill the thin spots. Are you not seeing any of that?

  • okienoh
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Thank you for your responses. Grass1950, my thoughts are to use a growth regulator and tenacity just prior to seeding per instructions.

    Dchall, perhaps I am impatient. The yard is relatively young and I spent my first few summers developing my flowerbeds paying little attention to my grass. Having lived in Oklahoma and Texas most of my life, nothing compares to the aggressiveness of Bermuda. I have much to learn in my new environment.

  • okienoh
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Thank you for your responses. Grass1950, my thoughts are to use a growth regulator and tenacity just prior to seeding per instructions.

    Dchall, perhaps I am impatient. The yard is relatively young and I spent my first few summers developing my flowerbeds paying little attention to my grass. Having lived in Oklahoma and Texas most of my life, nothing compares to the aggressiveness of Bermuda. I have much to learn in my new environment.

  • grass1950
    10 years ago

    Why is a reno out of the question? A reno can be done by simply RUing, scalping and overseeding. I don't see where that is anymore more (and actually no more) costly or time consuming than your current plan and with much better likelyhood of success.
    Be advised that some PGRs advise against their use when overseeding.
    What is the reason for using tenacity? It wont have any affect on the TTTF. Tenacity works well on bare soil as a pre-emergent, but is not very effective as a pre-m on established turf. Scotts does have a starter fertilizer with mesotrione for weed prevention but the jury is still out.

  • grass1950
    10 years ago

    David,
    For your consideration:
    Long story short: I have a 6-8" srtip of TTTF between my flower beds and my KBG lawn. It has turned out to be a great buffer, keeping the KBG out of the beds. which unfortunately isn't the case where I don't have the buffer. The KBG hasn't made any inroads into the fescue.after three years.

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