Reseeding Turf & Fruit Tree Growth Below The Graft
Question:
Is it too late to reseed my lawn and should it be dethatched and aerated first?
Answer:
It’s not too late to reseed your lawn but you need to act fast. The growing season concludes with the end of Daylight Saving Time, November 6. If the temperatures cool too fast and the rainy season begins, the grass seed will never germinate. It takes ten days to two weeks for germination. It has been successful in some years while it has failed in others. I wouldn’t be inclined to aerate the turf now as the winter rains will wash away any of the drainage benefits, so I’d wait until next spring. Dethatching may be necessary but then again it may not. You might want to determine just how thick the thatch layer is first. With a shovel make two cuts at a forty-five-degree angle to each other. At the apex of the angle, lift the grass up with the shovel exposing the soil profile. The soil profile shows the grass blades, the thatch layer and how far the roots have penetrated into the soil. The thatch layer is that layer of organic matter between the blades of grass and the soil. It is normal to have some thatch, so if the layer is less than three-quarter of an inch dethatching isn’t require. Instead, I’d just rake the area vigorously to remove any loose matter and scratch the soil in the bare spots. If you’re planning on reseeding the entire lawn area then you could use a detaching machine, otherwise, skip it and just rake the bare spots. The metal tines of a dethatching machine removes the thatch layer and it also damages the existing turf; hence, the need to reseed the entire area. It’s a particular issue with clumping Fescue type grasses. If the original lawn was sodded or seeded this century, it’s more than likely a Fescue lawn. Fescue turfs are notoriously slow in filling in because of there clumping growth habit. So, it’s only recommended if you're reseeding the entire lawn area. The reseeding process is very straight forward: you scatter the seed, apply a starter fertilizer and then cover it with a thin layer of compost, mulch, or soil amendment. The last step is to water but be careful not to let the water puddle. The seed can float around and you then create bare spots in the bare spots. The seed is sprinkle morning and afternoon until it germinates.
Question:
I planted a bare root peach tree this spring. All of the growth developed below the graft. Is it worth keeping or best to replant a new tree?
Answer:
Unfortunately, your peach tree has expired, so, I’d start over with a new tree. The growth below the graft is just the rootstock. The root stock it not going to produce edible peaches.. Your favorite garden center has bare root peach trees in January.
