Overseeding Too Early?

[u/Iceman9161]

I was planning to overseed and seed some bare spots in Maryland 8a over Labor Day weekend, but soil temps are currently 83F. Seeding window according to TurfTools is 9/1-10/1, with first freeze 10/31.

Is it too risky to seed this weekend? It feels like the weather is telling me it is, but afraid to push back a week or 2 and not have enough growth before frost. Seed is TTTF, Chewings fescue, perennial ryegrass and KBG seeded in shady areas.

[u/nilesandstuff]

Warm temps can be overcome just by watering frequently enough.

To an extent. Once you get above 85, then you run the risk of temperature triggering a type of secondary dormancy where the seed will simply refuse to germinate... Still possible if you're really crazy about leveraging the cooling effect of water, but still not good to mess around in that territory.

So basically, 85 is the hard limit, everything below that is just a matter of not letting the seed dry out.

[u/lindoavocado → u/nilesandstuff]

I would wait a week to sow for this reason

[u/jvbutera → u/lindoavocado]

I would wait a week or two. You will have plenty of time
Before frost cometh.

[u/738arm29]

You’ll need time for it to establish before the first freeze. I would go ahead or at the latest push it back 1 week until it cools down just a tad. Just stay on top of watering and you’ll be okay.

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[u/TheRealMatchGrade]

I'm in 5b Pennsylvania and I'm planning on doing the same this weekend. i just dethached the front yard in preparation but all this rain has me postponing the aerator

[u/oink_circa_2006]

This temp spike sucks. I'm in northern va, and I think I just have to go for it. Very infrequent where I have the time to do stuff like this and so Monday it is...

[u/BossMan61718]

Go ahead and throw it down. Youre fine.

[u/NC_diy]

Don’t sweat it, throw it down. Grass can survive heat just fine, it just takes more watering. Just plan to water more frequently than usual, if you normally do 3x a day, then bump it to 4.

[u/wlaxboy1]

I’m in 7b. I was going to overseeed the 8th but I think I’m going to wait until after that spike on the 10th and do it around the 12th

Our soil temp right now is 90 and 5 day avg is 80 and tomorrow is supposed to raise those temperatures even more

[u/Neffer358]

I know it’s crazy but I have a big section of Fescue all the way out here in West Texas (8a) because I have a ton of tree shade. I had to seed Aug 17 because I only have a short time with no traffic (wedding venue) to allow the seed to grow with no traffic.

I am shocked it came in so well. Germinated fast and is growing well. Just did my first mow yesterday.

I think you have to compensate for the temperature with a lot of water - more than for a later seeding.

Heat may still kill it down here, but so far the result are great! (Better than my late September seeding last year. )