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Sustaining a lush, green lawn throughout the year is appealing to many home and
business owners. However, the additional water needed for cool-season grasses is
difficult to justify when water is such a precious resource, especially now as
Arizona contends with an extended drought.
By learning to accept a less than lush lawn during the winter months,
property owners will not only realize significant water savings for themselves
and their community, they will also save a lot of time and money. So if you're
looking for a reason not to overseed, take a look at these …
Top Ten Reasons Not to Plant a Winter Lawn
10. Save time - No need to scalp the lawn, prepare the seedbed, seed,
water, or mow.
9. Save water - Getting ryegrass seed to germinate requires watering
three times a day or more, and spikes in water usage are always noticeable
during the months of October and November when winter rye is seeded. By not
overseeding, over 8,000 gallons of water can be saved for every 1,000 square
feet of grass each season.
8. Preserve water quality - Less fertilizers and pesticides will be
needed. Much of our water pollution comes from runoff of these products from
urban landscapes.
7. Save money - Save on the cost of seed, labor, water, and gasoline
for mowing. Also, wastewater rates are often determined by your winter water
usage. If you use more water in the winter, your utility bill wastewater rates
will be higher the rest of the year.
6. Save landfill space - Scalping Bermuda grass creates a great deal
of waste for the landfills. Ryegrass clippings can create additional waste all
winter and spring.
5. Save the air - Gasoline mowers and other lawn equipment contribute
to our air pollution problems, and the scalping process releases dust and other
particles into the air.
 4. Decrease noise pollution - Mowers, weed whackers, and leaf blowers
have become a major source of background noise in many neighborhoods. The drone
of lawn equipment contributes to an already noisy world.
3. Save frustration - Problems with seed germination, fertilizers,
diseases, and irrigation are all common when planting a winter lawn.
2. Set an example -We live in a desert and this is an opportunity to
demonstrate your community leadership with a responsible outlook towards our
water supply (this is the fifth year that Mesa has asked members of the
community to join in this voluntary effort).
And the number one reason not to plant a winter lawn …
1. Give your Bermuda a break - Overseeding can be stressful for your
Bermuda grass. In the fall, scalping the summer grass before dormancy doesn't
allow for adequate storage of energy in the roots. In the spring, the rye
competes with Bermuda, and customers often withhold water to transition from
winter to summer grass. Unfortunately, this will also stress the Bermuda.
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