What kind of grass do you have? And what kind of grass are you planning to plant? This will determine the best times for seeding.

TTTF, which is what we're planning on planting.

Thanks. Just looking to make a little headway on the lawn...understand that the fall will be the best time to get some progress.

Most of it will probably come up, as long as you get enough moisture. In the spring, you can usually get enough from natural precipitation.

There are a couple of problems with spring seeding as you probably already know. One is that you're more likely to get weeds since the conditions needed for the grass to germinate are the same as weeds need. The other is that the grass will have less time to establish before the heat of the summer. You may need to water more often to help the new grass make it.

If you want to seed, you should probably do so as soon as possible. Core aerating first will expose more soil and give more seed to soil contact, so that's not a bad idea.

For a spring seeding, you should probably put the seed down as soon as possible. I suspect it's close to warm enough there for the seed to germinate. If it's still too cool, it's not a problem. The seed will sit there until it's warm enough. If you seed before it's warm enough, it will sprout as soon as it's ready. If you wait until it's already warm enough, you'll probably lose some time. Getting a jump start increases the likelihood that more will survive through the summer.

If you use chemical fertilizers and pre emergents, you can use a fertilizer that says it is a STARTER with crabgrass control. This would have Siduron/Tupersan in it, which will allow the grass to sprout, but not the weeds.

Other than trying to get the right kind of per emergent, I don't think it makes a lot of sense to use a chemical fertilizer when planting. The grass can only use fertilizer when it's growing, and chemical fertilizers (unless they're slow release) are gone before the new grass germinates.

Since organic fertilizers take more time to take effect, it might make sense to use one while seeding.

Thanks for the info. I should have mentioned that up until now we've used only organic fertilizers. I'm not wild about going non-organic (we're on a well, two dogs running around outside, and kids) but we are hoping to get some better results from seeding, and so far it's been pretty mixed.

Should we presume we might do better with a good "regular" starter fertilizer with pre emergent, rather than throwing out a few hundred pounds of soy meal (which the dogs like...it tastes good!)?

Starter fertilizer with pre-emergent doesn't exist as far as I know because pre-emergents stop seeds from germinating. Unless you are just sprigging or using sod I wouldn't use a pre-emergent.

Starter fertilizer with pre-emergent doesn't exist as far as I know because pre-emergents stop seeds from germinating. Unless you are just sprigging or using sod I wouldn't use a pre-emergent.

Actually, Scott's makes a starter fertilizer with a pre-emergent. The product uses Siduron, which can prevent crabgrass seed from germinating without hurting your grass seeds.

It is fairly short-lived (like four weeks) and doesn't prevent as many weeds from germinating, as say HALTS.

It is also pretty expensive, compared with HALTS. But if you HAVE to seed and want to stop weeds, it might be worth it. Just be sure to apply a 2nd application after a month or so.

I live in the Blueridge Mtns in Northern VA and put my seed down last Sunday - perfect timing with the rain we had this past week. I was orginally planning on waiting until mid April based on some advise that i got from a local farmer but the conditions were just too good to wait. It must be a little warmer down your way - now seems like a perfect time.

I have a new home just finished this past Dec and have 50% new grass and 50% dirt. Based on the advise I received on this forum, I aerated first, seeded, and then rolled. I should have put starter fert down first but I did not have enough time since we made the decison at 6am on the day I started and I had to run out to get the seed - then 1 full day of tractoring and walking. The DW then spread the starter fert out this past Wed - 3 days after seeding. We have about 1.5 acres of cleared area where we want/need a lawn.

I used Lesco Team Mates Plus which is a TTTF with some perenial rye and KBG - another recommendation I recieved on this forum. I posted the cultivars of that seed on this forum a few days ago. I was having trouble figuring out what seed to use and the pro's on this forum really helped me out. In areas where I have some erosion issues, I applied some additional annual rye which will pop fast but only last this season. I will plant over in the fall.
I also used Lesco starter fertizer which is an 18-24-12 25% PPSCU mix.

The spring is not the best time to seed but I have no choice since I still have to close out my project with the county and they want to see an established lawn. That is why I went with the team mates plus - it has some PR in it that should pop fast to help with the erosion control and help hold in the fescue seed. AFter I get things going good I may switch over to the Lesco Transiiton Blend which doesn't have the PR in it.

Best of luck with our lawns. I think today might be a great day to get your seed down, the sun is shinning up here.