Sahara Bermuda grass over Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue

New Turf Man – posted 30 May 2004 01:23

My question is at the bottom of this, but I feel you need a little background on my lawn first. My dilemma is that I recently brought a town home in the Central Texas area (20 miles NE of Austin), which had a lawn that was in very bad shape with weeds and you name it (I cleared all of this out as soon as I moved in). Since this was first real home with a lawn, after living at home and away at college, I decided to buy a 5lb. bag of Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue at the local Wal-Mart. I threw down the bag to get the lawn started in mid-March with top soil and everything was fine until about early to mid-May. My backyard is about 500 sq. ft (no shade except for a small tree in a corner that doesn’t provide much to begin with) and the grass came out fine/fully and was green until I started noticing some brown patches about early to mid-May. This is when the temperature starting getting into the middle to upper 80s. After doing some research about Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue I found out that it is a colder climate grass that is usually grown in the transitional zone or upper parts of the country. I read the claims for Kentucky 31 on the bag, which say it is excellent in good heat, sun, and drought tolerant, but I guess that is what I get for buying what was on sell at the local Wal-Mart without doing any research first. Now I know why!Well, a couple of days ago, on Friday May 28th, I cut the Kentucky 31 very low and raked/pulled most of the dead grass from the soil. After my lawn was pretty well, though not completely rid of the Kentucky 31, I covered the whole area with some top soil and put down a 5lb. bag of Sahara Bermuda grass (Hulled & Penkoted seeds)and raked it in. I also added extra top soil to make sure every seed was covered properly. Then I watered it and continue to water it for about 10 min. a day, by hand, with a gentle shower nozzle. Now the temperature during the last few days of May in Central Texas has been in the upper 80s to lower 90s and will only continue to rise during the coming summer months. I know this is perfect for any Bermuda type grass and will help it germinate faster.

My question then is this; will the Sahara Bermuda grass eventually take over the remaining Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue? I am just scared that I will have these little brown spots of brown Kentucky 31 mixed in with my new Sahara Bermuda grass that will hopefully start to come out in a week or so. Also, in your opinion, what would be the best grass to overseed this with before the fall/winter seasons in Central Texas? Would Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue work since it does well and stays green while the temperature is cold and mild, or would some other type of grass like annual or perennial Ryegrass be better in Central Texas?Any help you can provide me with would be greatly appreciated! Having my first real lawn I want to make sure it will be nice and green for all of my parties and family get togethers, especially, July 4th. Also, my new wife would probably enjoy it as well.

Regards,

Marc V.

ted – posted 30 May 2004 15:53

fellow texan, kentucky 31 is not a turfgrass, it’s a pasturegrass. anything at Wal Mart is going to be a load of crap, rest assured… you’re definitely better off with the bermudagrass. k-31 is just too cold of a grass to be sowing in texas. most lawns in texas are sodded with warm weather grasses. you’re best bet for a winter overseed would be perennial ryegrass, say sometime in October in your market. quit buying this stuff at wal mart!!! even though it’s a small lawn, go buy your products at a local Lesco Service Center, or at least at a farm supply store or something.