2011 Great Grass Giveaway

The Town of Wake Forest's Fourth Annual "Great Grass Giveaway" is set for Saturday, April 28, at the Public Works Operations Center, 234 Friendship Chapel Road. The giveaway begins at 7 am and continues until the supply of Bermuda grass seed is exhausted. Anyone wishing to take part in this popular event is strongly encouraged to arrive early because the supply of grass seed doesn't last long. In fact, in 2011, the Town gave away over 1,200 lbs. of seed in less than two hours!

OVERVIEW
Most lawns in our area are planted with Fescue grass. Fescue is a cool season grass that isn’t well-suited to surviving our region’s long, hot summers. In fact, in order to keep it alive, Fescue requires approximately one inch of water per week. Bermuda grass requires approximately one-third the water of fescue. Since it goes dormant in the winter, some may wish to over-seed in mid- to late-fall with annual rye to preserve a green lawn. However, over-seeding should not be done the first winter after planting.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE
If you live inside Wake Forest's corporate limits, and you're willing to convert your lawn from Fescue to Bermuda grass, then you're eligible to participate in this year's "Great Grass Giveaway." Simply visit the Public Works Operations Center on Saturday, April 28, and provide your address and the size of your lot. While supplies last, we'll give you enough grass seed to cover up to an 8,000 square-foot lawn. 

PLEASE NOTE: The program is not designed for residents with existing Bermuda or other warm season grass seed lawns. In addition, no reservations will be taken and the event is first come, first served.

For more information, contact Betty Pearce at (919) 435-9570.

PLANTING BERMUDA GRASS

When to Plant: Bermuda grass is a warm season turf grass. Plant Bermuda grass seeds in spring and summer when soil temperatures are consistently above 65° F (18° C). The optimum soil temperature for germination and root growth of Bermuda grass is 75° to 80° F (24° to 27° C) - Higher temps are ok, provided moisture is maintained.

• Site Selection: Plant Bermuda grass in full sun on well-drained soil. Proper drainage is essential for successful establishment and the development of mature healthy turf.
• Soil Test: Prior to seeding, a soil test is recommended. Apply fertilizer and other amendments per test. Add lime as needed to establish a minimum 6.0 soil pH. A lawn starter fertilizer is an ideal choice to apply prior to planting.
• Seedbed Preparation: Loosen soil to a depth of six inches (15 cm). Level area to proper grade with approximately .5 inches (14 mm) pulverized soil at the surface. Rake smooth prior to planting. Do NOT use any herbicides or weed & feed fertilizers during planting. You must allow a period of 10-14 weeks prior to, and 10-14 weeks after seeding date in which NO herbicides or weed & feeds can be applied. Keep area mowed frequently to control weeds.

Seeding Rate for New Turf Applications: Plant 2 to 3 pounds of Bermuda grass seed (coated seed) per 1000 square feet (1 kg/100 square meters) for new turf applications. More seed may be needed when stands are established early or late in the season to ensure full coverage. The planting rate for lawns is much higher, than for pastures, due to the desire to have a higher plant population per square foot in lawns. This works to create a dense turf when mowed.

Planting: Care must be taken not to cover the seed with too much soil – no more than ¼ inch of soil covering the seed is recommended. However the seeds MUST have proper soil coverage (ideally 1/8 inch) for good germination to occur. Effective planting methods include broadcasting by hand, using seed spreaders, and hydro-seeding – Rake or drag planted areas to provide soil coverage over seeds. If over-seeding, aerate prior to seeding. To kill existing fescue, apply regular Roundup - not "extended release," 4-month Roundup or equivalent). Wait 10-14 days before planting bermuda. Do NOT use herbicides when seeding 10-14 weeks before, during or after planting date for seeds. 

• Watering: Soil moisture around the seed must be maintained for about 1 to 3 weeks. The seedbed must be kept moist during germination. Once established, provide less frequent, deep waterings to encourage deep root growth.
• Germination: Bermuda grass has very good seedling vigor. Under ideal conditions, germination begins within 7 to 10 days. Again, soil moisture must be maintained during the germination period. Allow 14 to 18 days after the first seedlings emerge for complete germination. 
• Establishment Time: Under ideal conditions, full coverage is attained 6 to 10 weeks after seeding. If planting is early or late in the season, more time may be needed for establishment.

First Mowing, Minimum Mowing Height and Mowing Frequency: The turf is ready for the first mowing approximately 3 weeks after seeding or when most of the grass has filled in. To avoid scalping the turf, do not remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade per mowing. Minimum recommended mowing height (reel mowers) is .5 to .75 inches (12.5 to 18.75 mm). After the first mowing, mow every 3 to 7 days. Rotary mowers require higher minimum height (around 1”) to prevent scalping. Frequent mowing reduces the “brown look” on Bermuda. 

Winter Over-seeding: Winter over-seeding of dormant Bermuda grass may be done for year round green color. It is not generally recommended on immature turf (less than 6 to 8 months of age). The safest practice would be to wait until second year (fall / winter) after your Bermuda is established. Late season plantings and newly established Bermuda grass may also be damaged by the vertical cutting and scalping procedures, leaving it unable to compete with the over-seeded species during the spring transition. Ryegrasses are the primary over-seeding species.

• Click here to download printable instructions on "How to Plant Bermuda Grass"