SEEDING OR RESEEDING YOUR LAWN
What is Included in a Top Seeding Package from Organo-Lawn?
Four-Step Process.
Whether you are reseeding your lawn or starting from scratch, our process will help your grass seeds take hold, grow quickly, and stay healthy.
- Step 1 – Core Aeration: We start with a thicker than normal lawn aeration. Core aeration alleviates soil compaction, opens up holes in the ground, and brings dirt to the lawn’s surface.
- Step 2 – Humate Soil Conditioner: An application of Humate soil conditioner is applied over the entire lawn. Humate has been scientifically proven to increase grass seed germination by as much as 25% and foster new seedling growth.
- Step 3 – Rain Maker: Our water retention polymer called Rain Maker is a polymer that will help sustain a proper amount of moisture in the soil for a successful grass seed germination.
- Step 4 – Grass Seed: Finally, we apply the grass seed to the lawn. We have three options of grass seed types to choose from.
- Emerald III Turf-type Tall Fescue – The ideal grass type for Colorado lawns and is three different types of tall fescue grasses.
- Supreme Lawn Mix – A very high-quality seed mix of predominantly bluegrass seeds.
- Ecological Turf Mix – A fine fescue seed mix designed for low-maintenance areas.
- You will need to make sure the sprinkler system is set up to be watered properly. This is a very important step, and a sprinkler audit with Organo-Lawn will ensure that the sprinkler system is set up to water for ideal grass seed germination.**
- Patience is required because the lawn will need 6-12 weeks to fully establish. A top-seeding takes time and consistent lawn watering.
**Disclaimer: This top-seeding package is guaranteed only if Organo-Lawn performs a sprinkler audit on your system within two weeks of the seeding package.**
Important Note: With proper lawn watering the grass seeds will germinate and the lawn will become thick and lush. Please note that proper lawn watering is required for 3-8 weeks for successful grass seed germination.
Which 4 Services are Included in a Top-Seeding Package:
The first step of the top-seeding package is a thorough core aeration.
The second step of a top-seeding package is applying humate soil conditioner.
We add rain maker to our top-seeding package to help with watering.
The final step is to apply the grass seed to the lawn.
Example of a Top Seeding – Click on an Image Below to Enlarge
3 Weeks After Seeding
4 Weeks After Seeding
The seeds begin to grow out of the aeration plug holes.
5 Weeks After Seeding
The grass in the plugs is becoming thicker and distinct clumps of grass are developing.
11 Weeks After Seeding
With proper lawn watering the grass begins thickening up via rhizomes which are underground roots and the turf is becoming more lush.
Emerald III Turf-Type Tall Fescue is The Best Grass Type for Colorado
Why is Emerald III Turf-Type Tall Fescue is the best grass type for Colorado?
This type of turf-type tall fescue performs exceptionally well in both full sun and full shade, making it versatile for various landscape settings. Emerald III Turf-type Tall Fescue grass seed is the ideal choice for nearly all lawn conditions in Colorado. Lawns in the Boulder and Fort Collins areas thrive when seeded with Emerald III grass.
Emerald III is well-suited to the high pH soils found in Boulder and Fort Collins. Additionally, it features strong rhizomes that help it recover from heavy foot traffic and intense use. Once established, this grass will thrive in both hot, dry conditions and cool, moist environments.
Organo-Lawn believes that this grass seed blend is the best option for Colorado’s variable weather patterns and hot, dry summers. Emerald III fescue can also tolerate heavily shaded areas, such as those beneath deciduous trees. It is highly recommended for anyone starting a new lawn, as it requires 33% less watering compared to traditional bluegrass lawns.
conditions. Boulder and Fort Collins area lawns thrive when seeded with Emerald III grass seeds. Turf-type tall fescue does extremely well in areas of full sun or full shade. Emerald III will tolerate the high pv
Emerald III Turf-Type Tall Fescue Characteristics
- When properly watered, tall fescue grass seeds take about 16 days to germinate. Tall fescue features thick blades, but as a “Turf-Type,” it remains soft underfoot and avoids the unattractive clumpy appearance often seen in unimproved varieties of tall fescue.
- This grass is highly shade-tolerant, thriving in full sun or in areas with up to 80% shade. In comparison, bluegrass can only tolerate up to 30% shade.
- In ideal conditions, tall fescue can develop roots up to 3 feet deep, though in the soils around Boulder or Fort Collins, Colorado, they usually grow to about 12 inches deep.
- Tall fescue has strong rhizomes (grass roots), making it an excellent choice for high-traffic areas since it can quickly repair damaged spots. This characteristic is particularly beneficial for households with dogs or young children.
- Due to its rapid growth, tall fescue may require more frequent mowing (approximately once a week) compared to fine fescue grasses.
- As a clump grass, tall fescue grows in clusters. Under favorable conditions, these clusters can create a thick, lush appearance. However, during drought conditions, the grass may reduce to smaller clumps, resulting in a patchy look that indicates drought stress.
- While tall fescue is not drought-proof and can die without water for 1 to 3 months, it is very drought-tolerant and typically consumes about one-third less water than bluegrass.
- Tall fescue is tolerant to many lawn diseases like Necrotic Ring Spot and Ascochyta/Dollar Spot.
Emerald III Turf-type Tall Fescue:
Grass Seed Mix
33 1/3% Jaguar II
33 1/3% Mustang
33 1/3% Rebel II
Photos of Emerald III Turf Type Tall Fescue
Supreme Lawn Seed (Bluegrass Mix) is a Very Good Grass Type for Colorado
Supreme grass seed is ideal for sports turf or to match an existing Kentucky bluegrass lawn.
The Supreme Lawn grass seed mix is a carefully selected blend of fine-textured lawn grass seeds designed to create a dense and uniform sod. This mix boasts an outstanding deep dark green color, excellent durability, strong heat and drought tolerance, good winter hardiness, and notable resistance to lawn diseases. It incorporates the benefits of the Allblue bluegrass blend while adding Creeping Red Fescue, which can thrive in the poor soil conditions commonly found in Boulder and Fort Collins area lawns.
This grass seed is a high-quality Kentucky bluegrass type that is particularly well-suited for Colorado lawns and is frequently used by grass seeding companies for areas with ample sunlight. It features fine blades, a rich dark green hue, and excellent tolerance to foot traffic. Additionally, it offers fair heat and drought resistance, as well as good winter hardiness and disease resistance.
One limitation of bluegrass, however, is its poor establishment in heavily shaded areas. To thrive in Boulder or Fort Collins, bluegrass requires about 70% sunlight throughout the day. If homeowners have struggled to successfully seed a lawn area, it is likely due to insufficient sunlight for the bluegrass to survive. In such shaded areas, Emerald III grass seed would be the preferable alternative for regions that do not receive ample sunlight.
Bluegrass is the most commonly used grass type in Colorado lawns. This popularity stems from its easy sod installation and its ability to withstand drought conditions. While bluegrass does require more water to maintain its vibrant green color, it can enter a dormant state if it goes without water. Remarkably, even after an extensive drought—lasting up to a year—bluegrass can reactivate and regain its health once water becomes available again. Thus, bluegrass is often considered virtually drought-proof.
Bluegrass Lawn Characteristics
- Bluegrass seeds take approximately 23 days to germinate. The strong rhizomes of bluegrass, which are roots that grow underground and produce new grass blades, make it effective at filling in bare patches. This characteristic also contributes to its durability in high foot traffic areas. As a result, bluegrass is a suitable choice for sports fields, lawns that experience heavy dog activity, and areas where children play.
- While bluegrass lawns require more water to stay vibrant compared to fescue lawns, they will not die during severe droughts. Instead, bluegrass can go dormant and turn brown quickly if water is scarce. Thus, while bluegrass is considered drought-proof, fescue is more drought-tolerant.
- It’s important to note that bluegrass does not thrive in full shade. To remain healthy, bluegrass lawns need about 70% sunlight per day.
- There are over 100 different cultivars of bluegrass. The bluegrass included in the Supreme seed mix is specifically chosen for its high tolerance to heat and drought stress, as well as its overall health and color.
Supreme Lawn Grass Seed Mix
Bluegrass Seed Blend
70% Kentucky Blue, Allblue20% Perennial Rye, Four-Play
10% Creeping Red FescueII
Ecological Grass Seed Mix (Fine Fescue) is a Good Grass Type for Non Irrigated Areas
A grass type designed for low-maintenance areas!
Ecological Seed Mix is a grass seed blend recommended for non-irrigated and low-usage turf areas around homes. This mix establishes quickly, creating a dense and low-growing turf that requires less mowing, water, and lawn fertilization compared to bluegrass or turf-type tall fescue blends.
Characterized by a very fine texture, Ecological Seed Mix can thrive in full sun while also demonstrating good tolerance for shade and drought. It performs well in poor soil conditions and areas with low soil fertility. However, this grass mix is not suitable for high-traffic areas or athletic fields.
While it is rarely used in residential lawns, it is more commonly utilized in septic tank leach fields, berm areas, and non-irrigated sections of lawns. We incorporate this mix into our lawn seeding services for areas with low foot traffic. The Ecological Seed Mix is a superior choice for lawns in the Boulder and Fort Collins areas compared to buffalo grass, which is a warm-season grass.
Fine Fescue Grass Characteristics
- Fine fescue takes 16 days to germinate after we perform our lawn seeding services. While the blades of fine fescue are strong, its rhizomes are not very robust, making the grass less tolerant of foot traffic.
- Once established, fine fescue requires less frequent mowing, fertilizer, and water to remain healthy compared to bluegrass lawns. However, it is not drought-proof and can die if left without water for an extended period (1 to 3 months).
- Fine fescue is a clump grass, meaning it grows in small clusters. When conditions are favorable, these clumps create a lush, full appearance. In contrast, during drought conditions, the clumps may shrink, resulting in a patchy look, which is a clear indication of drought stress.
Ecological Grass Seed Mix
Fine Fescue Seed Blend
20% Hard Fescue20% Chewings Fescue
20% Creeping Red Fescue
25% Kentucky Bluegrass
15% Perennial Ryegrass
When Should a Lawn Be Seeded?
Ideal Times to Seed a Colorado Lawn:
April 7th – May 20th
August 10th – September 1st
*IMPORTANT TO NOTE: We guarantee the germination of our grass seeds if the top seeding package is completed within the specified dates and Organo-Lawn conducts a sprinkler audit within two weeks of the seeding package. Fall top seeding packages are guaranteed, except in cases of weather events such as frost or major snowstorms that may harm the newly germinating grasses.
Top Seeding Season in Colorado:
Spring: April 7th – May 31st*
Fall: August 10th – September 15th*
*IMPORTANT TO NOTE: We guarantee the germination of our grass seeds if the top seeding package is completed within the specified dates and Organo-Lawn conducts a sprinkler audit within two weeks of the seeding package. Fall top seeding packages are guaranteed, except in cases of weather events such as frost or major snowstorms that may harm the newly germinating grasses.
Schedule an Expert Lawn Evaluation
Organo-Lawn is your local professional lawn care expert and can set up a seeding program for your lawn. Call today to talk to one of our professional lawn care technicians. (303) 499-2000 Boulder or (970) 225-9425 Fort Collins
FAQ – Over-Seeding a Lawn
When is the best time of year to seed a lawn in Colorado?
In Colorado, the optimal time for seed germination is between August 10 and September 1. During this period, soil temperatures are ideal for germination, and nighttime temperatures are gradually cooling down. If you prefer to seed your lawn in the spring, the best time for that is from April 7 to May 31.
When can a lawn be seeded after applying weed killer?
This depends on what type of weed killer was used. It is best to read the label of the weed killer that was applied before seeding a lawn.
Is Kentucky bluegrass shade tolerant?
Bluegrass requires approximately 70% sunlight each day to remain healthy. If you have attempted to seed a lawn under a tree multiple times without success, it may be due to insufficient sunlight for the bluegrass to thrive in that location. A better option would be turf-type tall fescue, as it can tolerate up to 80% shade.
Is turf-type tall fescue ugly?
Turf-type tall fescue is an aesthetically pleasing grass that is softer underfoot compared to unimproved coarse tall fescue. Unlike some unimproved varieties that tend to have an unattractive clumpy appearance, turf-type tall fescue maintains a more appealing look. This type of fescue is highly shade-tolerant and can thrive in full sun or in areas with up to 80% shade. Additionally, turf-type tall fescue is capable of withstanding heavy foot traffic thanks to its aggressive rhizomes and deep root system. It also requires 33% less water to remain healthy and green than bluegrass.
Are fine fescue grasses drought-proof?
No, fine fescue is drought tolerant because it needs about 33% less water to stay green compared to a bluegrass lawn, but fine fescue is not drought-proof and will die if left without water for a long period of time (1-3 months with zero water).
What type of grass is the ugly clumping grass that grows in lawns?
Unimproved tall fescue grass is a clump-forming grass, which means it grows in uneven patches that can appear unattractive. This variety of tall fescue is often rough to walk on and lacks visual appeal. In contrast, turf-type fescue looks much better and is softer on the feet.