Optimum Rates of Seeding Turfgrasses1

AbstractKentucky bluegrass and ‘Seaside’ and ‘Penncross’ bent‐grasses were sown at 1, 2, 4, and 8 pounds per 1000 square feet and covered 0, ⅛, ¼, or ½ inch. Population was greatly affected by the treatments; chlorophyll index and rooting were not affected. High sowing rate resulted in high populations (13,000–42,000/ft2) of small plants, more susceptible to disease and slower to mature. These populations decreased in the process of maturing. At the 2‐ to 4‐pound rates initial and final populations were not greatly different. At the 1‐pound rate there was little disease, populations were low (900–3,800/ft2) and plants had space to grow and spread, and rapidly reached a larger mature size. This development took time to form a complete cover.Covering seed ½ inch deep reduced stands of bluegrass slightly, of Seaside up to 60%, and of Penncross up to 75%. Seaside grew well with a cover up to ¼ inch, while ⅛ inch or less resulted in the densest stands of Penncross.Rapid turf maturity resulted from seeding so there were fewer than 2500–3800 bluegrass seedlings or 5000–8000 bentgrass seedlings per square foot.