How to Grow a Beautiful Lawn After Winter With Rye Grass

Rye grass grows well in warmer climates, especially those that fall into USDA hardiness zones 5a through 9b. In order to grow a beautiful lawn full of rye grass in the winter, you need to overseed your current lawn with rye grass seeds. Overseeding is when an existing lawn is mowed down and new grass seeds are sown in between the current blades of grass. Since rye grass will thrive in the winter months while other types of grass do not, overseeding with rye grass will ensure that you have a green lawn year-round.

Lawn mower
Fertilizer containing 18-6-12 formula
Rake
Garden hose or sprinkler

Instructions

- 1
  Mow your current lawn down until the grass is 3/4 inch tall.
- 2
  Prepare the fertilizer according to directions and spread it evenly over your lawn. You need 5 pounds of fertilizer for every 1,000 square feet of grass.
- 3
  Sprinkle an even layer of rye grass seeds over your existing, fertilized grass at a ratio of 2 pounds of seeds per 1,000 square feet of lawn.
- 4
  Rake over your lawn to ensure that the rye grass seeds have fallen in between the existing blades of grass. They cannot grow unless they are on top of the soil.
- 5
  Water the rye grass seeds lightly on a daily basis for the first three weeks to one month after planting. Push your index finger into the soil after watering to check the moistness of the ground. If it goes in a quarter-inch, then the soil has sufficient water.
- 6
  Water the rye grass bi-monthly throughout the winter if possible; sooner if the blades begin to yellow.

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