This afternoon, our PA33 Poa annua test plot was seeded at a rate of 1.3 lbs of seed/1000ft2. A 12-24-8 starter fertilizer was applied at a rate of 1 lb of Nitrogen/1000ft2. Stater fertilizer typically has twice the amount of phosphorous in it compared to Nitrogen. The numbers on a fertilizer bag represent the percentage of Nitrogen-Phosphorous-Potassium in the bag. In this case, the bag is 12% Nitrogen and 24% Phosphorous. Phosphorous is predominately used by plants in the formation of roots. This is why it is important to apply fertilizer with high Phosphorous at the time of seeding. Once the seed germinates, we'll back way off the Phosphorous and control plant growth with the other two elements.
Our Poa annua plot is approximately 3,500ft2.
A drop spreader is used to apply the seed to the root zone. These spreaders work better to apply tiny seed like bentgrass compared to a rotary spreader.