Native Grass Seeding
Warm-season grasses germinate at a minimum soil temperature of 60 F. Optimum seeding time is usually in May, although seeding may be done through the month of June if adequate rainfall or irrigation is present.
Plant ¼ – ½ Inch deep in a firm seed bed for fine textured soil & ½ to 1 inch deep in a sandy soil. Pack or roll soil after planting to insure good seed to soil contact (A must for proper germination). Planting seed to deep is sure to result in uneven stands or total stand failure.
Dormant seeding can be done in late fall, weather permitting, usually any time after November 1st and /or once the soil temperature has dropped to a point where it is too cold to germinate.
Drilling Native grasses is the preferred method of seeding although smaller areas (less than 1 acre) may be broadcast or seeded by other methods of spreading as long as care is taken to get proper coverage of seed and good soil to seed contact is achieved.
Very little top growth may be seen the first year depending on weed completion & available moisture. This does not mean that you don’t have a stand of grass, as native grasses tend to spend most of their time growing down during the establishment year. Warm season greases grow very slowly with most of their energy being directed towards developing an extensive root system.
Broadleaf weeds can be controlled with 2,4-D at a rate of ½ lb. per acre. Do not spray 2,4-D until grass seedlings have at least 4 leaves. Mowing/shredding may reduce shading of young seedlings. Clip at 2-3 inches when weeds seriously shade new seedlings with mowing equipment that will not smother seedlings with the clippings.
Do not graze or harvest hay from warm season greases during the first growing season. Plants are not established well enough to recover rapidly from defoliation. However, if a vigorous stand develops with many plants in head, light grazing is possible after frost, in October or November.