When establishing a new lawn, seeding over an existing lawn or repairing bare spots, using the right combination of grass seed, spreader and setting is important. There are many choices of seed, and each one has specific sowing instructions. The spreader settings vary depending on the type of grass seed and the type and brand of the spreader.
Tall Fescue Grass Mixes
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Tall fescue is a good choice if you are looking for a drought-tolerant grass that stands up to heavy foot traffic. It germinates quickly and grows well in extreme heat conditions.
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If you choose to use Scotts tall fescue seed mix and a Scotts rotary spreader, use a setting of 7 1/2 for overseeding and a setting of 18 when establishing a new lawn. When using their drop spreader, use a setting of 9 1/2 for overseeding and 18 for new seeding.
Agway also offers a tall fescue grass seed. When using either their rotary spreader or an Earthway rotary spreader, a setting of 14 is recommended for overseeding, and 17 for a new lawn. If you choose to use an Agway drop spreader, a setting of 17 is recommended for overseeding and 22 when establishing a new lawn.
Sun and Shade Grass Mixes
Scotts sun and shade seed mix is designed to stay green in extreme heat and in full sun to dense shade conditions. Set a Scotts rotary spreader to 5 1/2 for overseeding and 8 1/4 for a new lawn. If you use their drop spreader, Scotts recommends a setting of 8 1/2 for overseeding and 12 1/2 for a new lawn.
Agway's sun and shade grass seed grows well in partial shade to full sun. Agway recommends a setting of 15 for overseeding and 18 for a new lawn when using either their rotary spreader or an Earthway rotary spreader. With an Agway drop spreader, use a setting of 18 for overseeding and 22 for new seeding.
Rye Grass Mixes
Scotts offers a fast-growing rye mix that is a good choice to use when overseeding Bermudagrass or in areas to control erosion. When using a Scotts rotary spreader, a setting of 6 1/4 is recommended for overseeding. Use the same setting for new lawns or on bare spot repairs; however, Scotts recommends going over the area twice. With a Scotts drop spreader, use a setting of 9 1/2 when overseeding and 15 for new lawns or to patch bare spots.
Agway's Tri-Rye mix is quick to become established and is typically used in the fall for overseeding. With an Agway or Earthway rotary spreader, use a setting of 15 for overseeding and 18 for new lawns. Use a setting of 18 for overseeding or 22 for new lawns when using an Agway drop spreader.