Skip Overseeding – Go Gold

In the Coachella Valley, many people overseed their lawns in the fall for green grass in the winter.

Overseeding is when warm-weather Bermuda grass goes dormant and is replaced with winter rye grass.

Getting the new rye seeds to sprout is a very water-intensive process. That’s why many local water providers encourage customers to “Go Gold!” for the winter. By skipping overseeding, you can:

Save money. Seed and labor costs are expensive.

Conserve water. Overseeding uses a lot of water.

Improve air quality. Less mowing or scalping means less dust and particles in the air.

Maintain healthy grass. Overseeding can stress your lawn.

To “Go Gold,” simply let your Bermuda grass go dormant. Continue to water your lawn minimally in the evening. It will eventually turn golden. When the spring weather warms up, it will return!

Tired of maintaining grass? Replace it with desert-friendly landscaping! Your water agency may offer a grass removal rebate. For example, Desert Water Agency offers customers $2 per square foot for turf removal.

For more information and resources on overseeding, go to www.dwa.org/overseeding.

For details on rebates offered by your local water agency, go to cvwatercounts.com/rebates.