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College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

Introducing the Turfgrass Establishment Series

By Tyler Carr, Ph.D.

We are rapidly approaching the time of year to establish turfgrass from seed. In Ohio, seeding is typically recommended between August 15 and September 30, with the earlier plantings (August 15 to September 15) suggested for those in the northern parts of the state. Slower-establishing species such as Kentucky bluegrass should be seeded earliest, whereas tall fescue and perennial ryegrass can be seeded closer to the latter part of the window. However, seeding in the early part of the window will likely result in quicker establishment, allowing for additional growth and development before the winter months.

Whether you plan to completely renovate your site or opt to overseed into an existing turfgrass stand, we will provide the tools you need through the Turfgrass Establishment Series. Over the next seven weeks, the OSU Turf Team will outline the steps to establish turfgrass from seed. These topics will include:

  • Weed control
  • Soil testing
  • Turfgrass selection and seeding rates
  • Seedbed preparation
  • Planting and mulching
  • Irrigation
  • Mowing
  • Nitrogen fertilization

Keep an eye out for discussion of these topics on weekly episodes of Turf Team Times, which can be found on YouTube and podcasts on Apple and Spotify.


Tyler Carr, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor and Turfgrass Extension Specialist in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at The Ohio State University.
Twitter @TylerTalksTurf