Lawns – From Scratch

Q: Your website says that May or June is best for establishing a lawn from scratch using centipede or zoysia seed. What would be the odds for success doing it this fall?

A: Both centipedegrass and zoysiagrass seeds require a couple of weeks to germinate and show greenery above ground. After germination, it takes at least eight weeks for either to begin covering the ground. You simply don’t have that much time left after fall planting. Plant the seeds in May or June, when soil temperatures are warm enough to make the roots happy. If you need something to plant to cover the area, consider annual ryegrass. It germinates rapidly but dies in late spring.