Join the movement. Go blonde this winter.
Skip overseeding and let your grass go blonde for the winter. By not overseeding you can conserve water, save money, and benefit your Bermuda grass.
The City of Chandler isn't requiring a reduction in overseeding but is asking residents, businesses, and HOAs to consider limiting or forgoing overseeding non-essential turf areas this fall.
There are significant benefits to going blonde for winter:
- Save as much as 12,000 gallons of water this winter and lower your monthly bill.
- Avoid the expense of grass seed, fertilizer, labor, and maintenance costs.
- Save time on installation and maintenance.
- Reduce landfill waste by avoiding rye grass mowing.
- Reduce air pollution by not using gas mowers and other equipment that contribute to air pollution.
- Avoid stormwater contamination from fertilizer and pesticide runoff.
For even greater water savings consider replacing your grass with xeriscape — beautiful, drought-tolerant plants. Learn more about Chandler's water conservation rebates.
While Bermuda grass typically goes dormant in the cold months, extending the length of its growing season and lush green appearance well into winter is possible. The University of Arizona turf specialists recommend multiple applications of iron (2-4 oz of actual iron per 1000 square feet).
Apply the first application around October 1, the next 10 days later and follow up again after another 10 days. Do not apply nitrogen fertilizers. Remember that even dormant Bermuda needs a ½ inch of water per month during the winter (from U of A Turf Tips), however you may get that from rainfall. A simple rain gauge will help you know if you still need to water after a rain event.
Check out the watering guide Landscape Watering by the Numbers for tips on how to water efficiently and check-out our free water-wise workshops, rebates, resources for residents and more water conservation tips.
Overseeding Bermuda grass lawns with winter rye will provide a green lawn through the winter months. However, it may surprise you to know more lawns in Chandler are overwatered in the winter months than in summer.
If you are going to overseed first, ask the following questions:
- Will the grass area be used? Consider only overseeding areas that are used in the winter like the backyard where family and pets play.
- Is the lawn on a slope? Sloped areas are difficult to irrigate because of runoff. Divide a single watering cycle into shorter cycles with 30-minute intervals to allow the water to soak into the soil. Lookout for over-watering: constantly soggy areas, molds or fungi growing, or yellowing of the grass.
- Is the lawn in a narrow strip? Efficiently watering strips of grass that are less than eight feet wide can be a challenge. Overspray from sprinklers can hit driveways, sidewalks, streets, and cars. Consider removing grass that’s difficult to irrigate efficiently. You may qualify for a rebate.
- Do I really need to overseed or would coloring the dormant Bermuda grass work just as well? The University of Arizona has been doing trials with coloring dormant Bermuda for the winter.
If you’re planning on overseeding, make sure to properly plant your winter grass and select areas that will be used in the winter. Find more information on overseeding from the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.
Steps to a Water Efficient Winter Lawn
| Wait | Wait to overseed until nighttime temperatures are consistently below 55 degrees Fahrenheit, usually mid-October to mid-November. |
| Stop Fertilization | Do not fertilize 4 - 6 weeks before overseeding. This slows the growth of the Bermuda grass. |
| Cut Watering Frequency | Two weeks before overseeding, cut the watering frequency in half, but DO NOT shut the water off. |
| Smart Controller Settings | Change the smart controller setting to manual for the grass stations. Use the establishment setting if your controller has one. |
| Prepare the Soil | Lightly verticut lawn area to allow the seed to contact the soil. Only allow blades to cut 1/4 inch into the soil. Any deeper will damage Bermuda stolons and rhyzomes. |
| Scalp | Mow the lawn close to the ground. Keep clippings as a top dressing once the seed is spread. |
| Broadcast Seed | Broadcast seed in two directions to achieve even coverage. |
| Dress Soil | Cover seed with 1/4 inch of mulch, lawn clippings or steer manure to help retain moisture. |
Establishment Watering
| Water 3-4 times a day, just enough to keep the top 1/2 inch soil wet, about 3-4 minutes. |
| Reduce watering to once a day when grass is 1 inch tall. |
| Reduce watering to once every 2-3 days to a depth of 4-6 inches after the second mowing. |
| Only water once a week after the third mowing or when the lawn is established. |
| Once established, change the smart controller setting to "cool season grass". Change it back to "warm season grass" in the spring. |
Information from University of Arizona Karsten Turfgrass Research Center.
Rethink Your Winter Lawn
Source: Water Use It Wisely
Skip overseeding to save water, money, and time
During a historic drought, changing climate, and Colorado River shortages, one simple but impactful way to save water outdoors and be part of the solution is to skip overseeding (planting a winter lawn). To help promote this initiative's importance, AMWUA cities are providing information on the benefits of not overseeding this winter to their residents.
10 Reasons to Convert to Xeriscape
Source: Water Use It Wisely
Maintaining an attractive, healthy lawn is not easy in our desert climate. While bermuda grass (our summer-active turf) is drought and heat tolerant, it still requires a great deal of time, resources and energy to keep it looking good. If a year-round green lawn is desired, winter rye grass needs to be seeded each fall, creating more work and requiring more resources to maintain it properly. Convert to Xeriscape and reap the benefits.