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Darbys Earn Recognition
A well-esuiblishvd lawn, maturing trees and variegated foliage create an inviting setting at the home of
Ellen and Hud Darby, 629 Mill Slough Imuc, Sea Trail, the September yard of the month of the Sunset
Sands Ciarden Club. The Darbys are shown above with club representative Ruth Asmussen (left). The
Darbys moved here II years ago from Dover Plains, N.Y.
Overseeding? Start With Healthy Turf
Dear Plant Doctor: I would like
to ovcrsccd my yard but I am not
sure about what to do. Please tell
me what grasses to use, when to
plant, what to fertilize with, and
how to maintain. Any publications
or advice you could offer would be
appreciated.
Answer: Ovcrsccding is the
practice of seeding cool -season turf
grasses into a warm-season turf pri
or to the onset of winter dormancy.
Ovcrsccding is most commonly per
formed to provide a lush, green turf
during the winter months during
which warm-season grasses arc
brown and dormant.
All warm-season grasses can be
ovcrsccdcd. However, centipede
grass and St. Augustine grass turf
stands arc often severely damaged
by routine ovcrsccding.
Turf stands that arc weak and
sparse before ovcrsccding will usu
ally be in worse shape the following
summer. A healthy, vigorous stand
of grass is an essential ingredient
for ovcrsccding The best warm
season grasses to ovcrsccd are
bcrmuda and zoysia.
The ideal seeding time is three to
four weeks prior to the first frost
date or when the soil temperature at
the 4-inch depth reaches 75 degrees
Fahrenheit. For the coastal Caro
linas, the first week of October is
usually a good time to ovcrsccd.
Common annual rye grass is the
seed most often used for ovcrsccd
ing home lawns. Higher priced
perennial rye grasses arc used for
golf course greens or other high
maintenance, high traffic areas.
Recommended seeding rates of an
nual rye grass for residential lawns
range from four pounds to 15
pounds of seed per I, (XX) square
feet. I prefer lower seeding rates (5
pounds to X pounds per 1,(XX)
square feet) because disease prob
lems arc usually less and there
seems to be better recovery of the
underlying warm-season grass the
following season.
Successful ovcrsccding involves
good seedbed preparation.
Extremely close mowing just pri
or to ovcrsccding is essential. Most
bcrmuda grass lawns benefit from
raking or moderate vcrticutting.
This helps to eliminate some of tlte
thatch and other lawn debris.
Uniform application of seed
across the seedbed is essential for a
beautiful lawn. Using a centrifugal
(rotary) or drop-type spreader, apply
half the seed in one direction and
THE
PLANT f
DOCTOR 1 #
C. BRUCE
WILLIAMS
Extension Area
Turf Specialist
1
ilic oilier half moving ai right angles
U> the first pass. A drop-type spread
er is also really useful in defining
edges. A drag-mat or old piece of
chain link fencing should be lightly
dragged across the newly
seeded surfacc to ensure good seed
penetration and soil contact.
A specially prepared soil or
weed-free sand is often used by pro
fessional turfgrass managers to
lightly topdress newly seeded areas,
hul this is usually too expensive and
labor intensive for the homeowner.
Water the newly seeded grass un
til the soil is thoroughly wet three to
five times daily. You want to use
frequent light watering for estab
lishing the grass. Rye grass w ill nor
mally germinate in three to four
days alter seeding. Once seedling
grasses are established gradually de
crcasc the rate of irrigation. In our
soils, mature grass stands require .5
to 1 .0 inch of rain water or irriga
tion weekly.
Begin fertilizing about three
weeks after seedlings emerge. Fer
tilization should he based upon a
soil test. But in the absence of a soil
lest, apply three to four pounds of 8
K-K per 1,(XH) square feci. Continue
this fertilization program every lour
weeks throughout the winter.
Begin mowing when ihc new
stand is 30 to 40 percent taller than
the desired mowing height. Home
lawns arc best maintained at a mow
ing height ol 1 to 1.5 inches. Do not
allow the young rye grass to get
loo long before mowing. A sharp
mower blade is essential to
maintaining a ryegrass ovcrsccd
since dull blades will pull up and
damage the seedlings.
1 have iust given you Ihc bare es
sentials. North Carolina State Uni
versity has an excellent booklet,
Oversecdin# Burmudayrass Turf,
Brochure AG -352, that you can ob
tain from your local extension office
or by sending a SASI-. to The Plant
Doctor.
Send your gardening questions to
The riuni Doctor, I'.OJtox /OV.
Bolivia. N.C. 2S422.
t PLANT A
FOR THE V FUTURE
Trees are a natural way
to add beauty to your /? ^?w' ^
living area.
Harrelson's has a
variety of trees and
shrubs for do-it
yourself landscapers!
See our large selection
We also offer expert landsccaping services by a trained
landscape contractor.
"J*
Plant Your Shade, Flowering & Fruit Trees Now5j
* ? 1?1
Harrelson's
Farm & Garden Center
Just off Hwy. 17 S., Shallotte, 754-6373
I,' _
4
i?.K>Y *S>. i ??>.
||||||ll "<lll|||||
Daily
Luncheon
Specials
"""Him
Sunday Lunch Buffet
Relax, we'll do the cooking. 1 1 :30-2 PM
Closed Sunday evenings.
Seafood ? Sandwich Plates ? Prime Rib
Lunch Specials ? Salads ? Carry-Outs
I IWY. 2 1 I
SOUTi 1PORT
457-658H
HVVY. 130 E
SHALLOTTE
754-8168
0y TAT O lfAH*
Yards Share Monthly Honor
Heautifttl complementary landscaping prompted the Carolina Shores Garden Club in select two adja
cent homes for its September yards of the month. The green lawn of llez and J annua McCain (right
above), 16 Hayberry Circle, and the pine straw yard of Hill and Peggy Goode (left above), I, s Hayberry
Circle, create a parklike setting that beautifies the area as well as each home, lioth couples have plant
ed assorted shrubs, trees and flowering plants in well-planned arrangements pleasing to the eye.
THE CAPE
FEAR
FOOT
CENTER
SOUTH HKI NSWICK ISLANDS
MKD1CAI. l'AKK
IIW'Y. 17 SOCHI AM)
UNION PRIMARY SCIKXJI. ROAD
Professional, Thorough and Gentle Foot Care
?I leel Pain / I led Spur
?Bunions, Corns, Calluses
?Warts, Ingrown Nails
?Insurance Forms Filed For You
? Blue Cross Costwise Provider
Or. Gregory Young, DPN1
Medical Surgical Specialist of the Foot and Ankle
?Running / Sports Injuries / Broken Bones
?Diabetic Foot Care / Nail Care
?Alternatives to Surgery
?In-Office Surgery
?Most Insurances Accepted
? Medicare Assignment Accepted
Bv Appointment Only 579-0828
'? ?? ??? - '--.A . N
/ Thinking
/YOU'D
RFTTF
I Uli ? ? mm
JUMP
I ON IT
$
September 15-21 is National Bed Check Week
CAN YOUR BED
PASS THIS TEST?
1. Age: Is your bed more than 8
to 1 0 years old?
2. Appearance: Is your bed
soiled, stained, torn or sagging?
3. Ache: Are you sleeping less
comfortably or waking up with
aches and pains in your neck or
back?
One or more "yes' answers mean your
bed fails to make the grade. It's time to
invest in a new mattress and foundation.
//
Special Sale
During National Bed
Check Week all
//
Quality Bedding
will be up to
50% Off
Suggested Retail
Hwy. 17, Little River, (803)249-6188