The grassland also suffered a lot from the dry periods last season. As a result, the grass has developed less well on many plots and weeds have had a chance and/or there are many hollow spots. In both cases, overseeding can be an excellent solution to have a productive turf again in the spring. If there are a lot of weeds, you will have to fight that first.
weed control
Late summer is the right time to tackle (root) weeds in the turf. Weeds usually grow well during this period and therefore absorb resources quickly and well. Root weeds, such as sorrel and dandelion, also have a downward sap flow in late summer. They transport the absorbed resources to the underground parts, where the herbicides do their job. Read more about weed control in grassland in late summer. Ask your specialist for advice.
Optimal conditions for overseeding
Grassland can easily be overseeded in October, possibly after weed control. Conditions are often ideal in October, because the soil temperature is still high and the vigor (and therefore competition) of the existing turf is less. Important issues:
Mow short
Cut the grass short, or let your cows graze the grass before overseeding. As a result, it takes longer for regrowth of the existing grass to start and the competitiveness of the new grass plant is reduced. In addition, you increase the chance that the new seed will make good contact with the soil.
Grassland harrows
Before overseeding, remove coarse and dead grass with a grassland harrow. With this harrow, the turf is opened up considerably and the shallow-rooted weed grasses such as roughbeam and annual annual grass are simply pulled out of the ground and rendered harmless. At the same time you comb out the dead grasses and weeds are removed. Opt for a 'straight' grassland harrow over the weed harrow. A grassland harrow works more aggressively in the turf. Please note that a grassland harrow in a grass-clover plot reduces the clover proportion, but white clover will recover.
Seed quantity
If you want to repair your grassland, for example after a period of drought, then a sowing quantity of 20-25 kg per hectare is sufficient. If you opt for overseeding to periodically maintain the botanical composition of your grassland, then a sowing quantity of 10-15 kg per hectare will suffice.
TopGrass Overseeding, the right overseeding mixture
Guaranteed emergence is the most important property of a good overseeding grass mixture. Topgrass Overseeding is a mixture of 70% tetraploid and 30% diploid perennial ryegrass and is composed of the top varieties of the variety list, all of which germinate quickly. Perennial ryegrass best combines all desired agricultural properties such as a high dry matter yield, good stability, high nutritional value, sufficient drought resistance and winter hardiness and a high grass intake, both when grazing and when feeding grass silage.
Sowing depth
If the seeder can work in the grass seed, sow at a depth of twice the seed length, usually 12 to 15 mm deep. Ensure the best possible contact between the seeds and the soil; if desired, roll with a Cambrigde roller and, when using a disc overseeder, ensure that the cuts close as much as possible. For overseeding, preferably use an overseeder such as a 'trench seeder' with rollers. Consult with your contractor. If the seeder does not have rollers to compact the seed properly, roll the soil after sowing.
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