When Is The Best Time For Overseeding Lawns
When to overseed lawn depends on the type of seeds you are planting. In northern climates overseeding should be performed 45 days before the planting zones first frost. This is ideal for strengthening a weak or thinning lawn. Strengthening turf in the spring is best done when the threat of all freezes has passed their region.
Those living in southern climates with warm-season grasses should overseed to obtain winter colour, when temperatures have dropped below 65 degrees at night consistently. Prepare the area properly prior during elevated soil temperatures to promote germination.
How to Overseed a Lawn
You will need:
Step One: Mow and Rake
Begin the overseeding process by mowing your lawn on the lowest setting and bagging the clippings. Next, rake the lawn to remove any loose grass or debris, further exposing the soil to accommodate the new seed.
Step Two: Amend the Soil
Add a thin layer of one-quarter of an inch or less of enriched soil over the existing grass and gently rake it in to provide a healthy environment for the new seeds to settle into.
Step Three: Add the Seeds
Fill the seed spreader and adjust the settings according to the directions on the label, and apply over the entire area, refilling as needed. For smaller areas, you may want to use a hand spreader while a drop or broadcast spreader is more suitable for larger lawns.
Step Four: Feed the Grass
Step Five: Water the Lawn
Categories:
What Does Epsom Salt Do To Lawns
Epsom salt is an organic compound that is full of beneficial minerals for lawns. Iron in Epsom salt, for example, helps grasses to grow healthy and strong. Meanwhile, the magnesium in Epsom salt balances the PH level in your grasses so that it doesnt become too acidic.
How do I make my lawn thicker?
Which is the best natural fertilizer for lawns?
Scotts is famous for its natural lawn fertilizers, and Turf Builder Lawn Food is very popular among people who take care of their lawns. Its all-natural formula contains feather, meat, bones, and blood meals plus sulfate. A high level of nitrogen will help the grass to grow quickly and have a dark green color.
Should I Fertilize Before Or After Overseeding
If your lawn has not been fertilized recently, it might be a good idea to lay a lawn starter fertilizer before overseeding. Adding fertilizer to your lawn will encourage germination by providing the right nutrients for initial growth. You will want to avoid standard fertilizer for established grass as this rarely has the nutrients needed for root development.
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What Order Should You Follow
Lawn owners spread seeds and fertilizer in different ways some do the one first, and the other next, and some in the reverse direction. However, you can apply both the items separately, if seeds immediately, following the fertilizer next. It does not matter which order you follow to spread seeds first or next.
Two methods you can follow for the better results.
Method-1: You can apply fertilizer first. But, you have to ensure overseeding your lawn at least 6-8 week after spreading fertilizer.
Method-2: You can also plan to apply fertilizer after a certain time later from the overseeding on your lawn. You need to give attention to the seedgermination and their growth so that you can apply starter fertilizer according to the grass type you like to grow.
But make sure that, before overseeding, you have to aerate your ground carefully.
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When Should You Overseed Your Lawn
You should re-establish the lawn before it starts to thin out if you seed every three to four years. The thick and dense lawn prevents weeds from entering. If you have pets or areas that get a lot of foot traffic, you may have to reseed more often to keep your lawn healthy.
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How To Overseed In Spring & Autumn
Whether youre doing it in Spring or Autumn, the method is by and large the same both times. It just depends on how bad the lawn is at your starting point.
For example, in the past, Ive scarified twice in March and April, prior to over seeding and then used a 70/30 sand to soil top dressing before overseeding. But, all that isnt essential if your lawn is already in a half decent shape.
Here are the key steps to take when overseeding the ground in Spring.
Preparing the ground
Products To Use On Your Lawn
To ensure the best results, you should use the best products.
First, remove as many weeds as possible and get rid of rocks, sticks or other debris. Then cut the lawn short from one to two inches in height. Use a soil pH tester to ensure that the pH is between 6.2 and 7.
To regulate the pH, we recommend our MAG-I-CAL Plus formula. It not only rapidly corrects the pH but it also breaks up clay and compacted soil. This allows for better root growth and air and water penetration into the soil. It is also specially created to feed the soil microbes, making the lawn soil more alive and porous.
For proper seed germination, the soil should be fertilized. We have developed a fertilizer that supports the growth of fresh seed. Our Green Up Lawn Food for Seeding and Sodding gets new seeds off to a fast start for a lawn that is thicker and more vibrant. It is also formulated for building a vigorous root system.
The most important part of the entire overseeding process is the grass seed itself. Our Black Beauty Ultra grass seed mixture is the pride of our company and is the result of generations of research and experimentation with the best varietals of cool season grasses. Made with elite varieties of tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass it is a naturally dark green grass. It is drought resistant, heat tolerant, and has roots that grow up to four feet deep. It is the choice of homeowners and commercial sod growers alike.
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Factors That Impact Aeration Frequency
Compacted soil, as its name suggests, occurs when soil particles are pressed or compacted firmly together.
Compacted soil occurs most often in heavily trafficked areas, like sports fields, playgrounds, new construction lawns. It also occurs when the soil contains a high amount of dense materials like clay, which is common in states like Texas and Louisiana.
The high density of compacted soil limits space for water, oxygen, and nutrients to reach the places they are needed, like grass roots. Compacted soil also makes it difficult for grass roots to expand since breaking through dense soil takes significantly more energy. Due to the unhealthy conditions created by compacted soil, more frequent aeration is necessary.
Over time, dead grass clippings, shoots, and stems accumulate on the top layer of the lawn, creating a barrier between the grass blades and soil. This barrier is called thatch. A small amount of thatch is beneficial because it adds nutrients back into the soil, but when it builds up faster than it decomposes, it creates a barrier and blocks water and air from passing through.
Compacted soil and excessive thatch result in malnourished and unhealthy lawns. Aerating solves for both of these issues by breaking through thatch and plugging holes in compacted soil opening up pathways that were previously closed off. Whenever excessive thatch and compacted soil are present, more frequent aeration is necessary.
When To Overseed A Lawn
If your lawn is thin, patchy, or there are lots of bare spots, it is a good idea to go ahead and overseed. But what if your lawn is looking pretty solid already?
Overseeding is still a good choice even if you are overall pleased with the way your grass looks. But in this case, you should let the seasons guide you.
When should you overseed your lawn according to the season? The best time to overseed in the South is late spring into mid-summer. This is because the types of grasses that grow here in Georgia need warmer soil temperatures in order to germinate.
What if summer is gone? Have you missed your chance? Not necessarily.While it might not be the best time to overseed your lawn, it can still produce results. And if it does, it will provide extra protection against winter weather.
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Do I Need To Aerate Before Overseeding
Aerating your soil is the most important step you can take before seeding. No matter what seed you use, they cant grow in soil that isnt rich in water, nitrogen, and air exchange. Thats why its important to aerate your lawn before seeding. Aeration is the process of removing water from the soil and replacing it with fresh air.
Aeration can be done in a variety of ways, but the most common method is through the use of aerators, which are devices that are attached to the bottom of a garden hose. The aerator is connected to a water source, such as a rain barrel or a sprinkler system.
This process is known as aeration and is a great way to increase the amount of organic matter in your garden. If youre not sure what type of hose you need, check with your local garden center or garden supply store to see if they carry a hose that will work for your situation.
Grasses That Benefit From Overseeding
The practice of overseeding lawns is really nothing more than spreading grass seed over an existing lawn. The golf industry has been doing it since the sport began and is an important step in maintaining quality turf. Knowing how to do it correctly is the key. There is no need to invest in expensive equipment, just what is needed to do it correctly.
Not every grass type requires overseeding. The practice of overseeding lawns is primarily reserved for cool season bunch type grasses such as tall fescue, fine fescue, perennial and annual ryegrass and occasionally bluegrass. There are exceptions, but for most home lawns, grass types that spread by the production of ârunnersâ are not generally overseeded unless it is damaged or diseased. This includes most warm season grass varieties. An exception is bermudagrass that is occasionally overseeded in the fall using a cool season variety.
Understanding Grass Growth
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Do You Need Topsoil When Overseeding
Topsoil has fewer benefits than overseeding. Compost is your top dressing when you choose between the two. When overseeding, use compost, not topsoil. Its easier to work with compost than it is with soil. If youre not sure what type of soil to use for your garden, check with your local garden center. They can help you choose the best soil for you.
Picking And Spreading The Right Seed For Your Lawn
When choosing seed, be sure to select the right seed for your region of the country and for your yard conditions, and follow the package directions on your chosen grass seed. Use a seed spreader to make the job faster and ensure that the seed is spread evenly. If your soil is especially compacted, you may wish to aerate the lawn before you overseed. Keep in mind, though, that if you aerate before overseeding, you need to choose a type of grass seed that spreads easily, such as bluegrass. Otherwise, the seed is likely to get caught in the aeration holes, creating a patchy or clumpy lawn.
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What Is The Best Time To Aerate And Overseed
Asked by: Mr. Lemuel Connelly
The undisputed best time of year to aerate and seed a lawn is in the fall. Warm soils, cool nights and dying annual weeds make fall conditions the ideal time for aeration combined with overseeding as well as general lawn seeding. Unlike fall, spring soils are cold and packed full of dormant weed seeds ready to grow.
Aerate For Your Soil Type
Aeration frequency often depends on the soil type you have around your home. The traffic levels it receives can also influence the work.
Here are the principles youll want to follow with todays three common soil types.
- For homeowners with a high-traffic lawn or clay soil, its usually necessary to aerate twice per year. These areas tend to experience the most compaction. ]
- When loamy or silty soil is present with moderate traffic levels, an annual aeration appointment with your lawn is usually enough to meet its health needs. ]
- If sandy soil is present, or the grass doesnt get much foot traffic at all, it might be sufficient to aerate every other year. ]
Its often better to time aeration work with the other lawn care tasks that need to be finished. If you plan to overseed, youll want to do that right after youve done the aerating work. Weed control, fertilization, sod establishment, and watering all influence how successful the results will be with this investment.
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How To Care For Your Overseeded Lawn
After the seed has been planted its time to water.
Its important to maintain soil moisture and not allow the seeds to dry out.
To do this you will want to water 2-4 times a day without creating puddles in the lawn. This is best achieved with watering between 5-10 minutes each time.
Test this before you plant your seeds.
You will want to maintain this practice until the new seedlings germinate and the new grass is about an inch in height. At that time you can back off on your watering and return to your normal watering schedule.
Once your new grass has reached about 3 inches in height it will be time for your first mow.
When performing your first mow take caution on turns as the new grass is not rooted well and can be easily lifted up.
At this time we also recommend giving your overseeded lawn a dose of starter fertilizer or a fertilizer with a 1-1-1 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Look for products such as a 10-10-10, or a 20-20-20 fertilizer for example.
Once your newly seeded lawn is established it is important to maintain a good mowing schedule to help it thicken up and promote a healthy lawn.
This is best performed by following the 1/3 rule and never removing more than of the leaf blade in a single cutting.
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How To Overseed An Existing Thin Lawn
When the existing turf is thin or bare, applying new seed within the proper growing windows can make a big difference in the turfâs appearance. Youâll want to seed when several weeks of good growing conditions will follow. For cool-season lawns such as Tall Fescue, September through October is ideal, and early to mid-spring is also acceptable.Follow These 7 Steps When Overseeding a Thin Lawn:1. Aerate the turf before overseeding. 2. Mow the grass lower than usual, but DO NOT SCALP IT. You are only trying to open up the turf canopy. 3. Remove clippings to help the seed reach the soil. 4. Add new topsoil to low-lying bare spots or over visible tree roots. 5. Broadcast the seed or work it into the soil. 6. New seeds need Phosphorus to promote root growth and establishment. Apply a fertilizer high in Phosphorus like TurfGro 6-20-10 ProStarter Fertilizer. 7. Lightly cover seed with 1/81/4 inch of fine mulch or seed topper to maintain moisture and warmth, and protect the seed from birds.
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How Do I Prepare My Lawn For Aeration And Overseeding
Prior to aeration and seeding, a lawn should be mowed at a height of 1.5 to 2 inches. Any clippings left on the lawn after this close cut, should be bagged, blown or raked off the lawn. This is necessary to maximize seed to soil contact as the seed is spread. This is a key factor in successful germination.
Should You Grow Your Grass From Sod Or Seed
What should you choose for your lawn, lawn or seeds? Start your journey on a new lawn. If you have a vacant plot of land or an existing garden, which is undesirable, you are going to redesign your garden from scratch. Choose between grass or seed. The choice between peat and seed is primarily a personal decision. Advantages and disadvantages of herbs and seeds.
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The Best Time To Overseed Grass
Overseeding means planting new grass to fill in any bare orworn patches. This is helpful for having a gorgeous lawn that looks thick andhealthy all year long. The best time to overseed depends on two factors: whereyou live and what kind of grass you prefer.
Many homeowners in northern states choose cool-seasongrasses, and southern areas often select warm-season grasses. Each type ofgrass has distinctive growth patterns and needs, so make sure to speak with ourlawn professionals if youre not sure what variety to choose. Here are theoptimal overseeding times for several locations and grass types:
- PacificNorthwest : Plant new grasses about six weeks beforethe first projected snowfall. These are generally cool-season grasses.
- SouthwestU.S. : Early spring is the best time foroverseeding in these areas.
- Southernstates : April, May and June are good times tooverseed in this huge area. The best time may vary each year depending on soiltemperatures. You want warm-season grass to have a cozy environment togerminate in.
- Northeaststates : Due to the cold temperatures prevalent in theseareas, its best to start planting grass seeds in August or September to givethem some time to grow before winter hits.
- MidwestU.S. : Weather conditions vary quite abit depending on how far north you live, but a safe bet is to overseed lawns bythe end of August or early September at the latest.