How To Overseed Grass Lawn
Lawn care is a crucial element of home maintenance for exteriors, and a well-groomed green lawn enhances the beauty and value of any house. No matter how much time you spend in your garden, your grass may appear thin, brown, and sloppy as time passes. You must know how to overseed grass lawn.
When this happens, weeds can begin to take over. In such cases, overseeding is an effective method to revive the appearance and health of your lawn. It can also promote year-round growth for warm-season grass, which remains dormant during winter.
Overseeding is a technique that involves spreading seeds over the surface of your lawn. Managing your lawn requires careful planning, knowledge, and timing. In the following sections, we will outline the steps involved.
When to Overseed
In the North, the best time to overseed your lawn is in the fall. This is when the soil is still warm, but the weather is cooler, and there is less competition from other plants. As your trees begin shedding their leaves, more sunlight is available.
However, spring is the next best option if fall overseeding is not possible. In the South, the ideal time to overseed is between mid-spring and late summer since warm-season grasses need warmer soil temperatures to sprout.
How to Overseed Grass Lawn in 5 Simple Steps
Step 1: Mow And Rake Your Lawn
The purpose of overseeding is to ensure that the grass seed contacts the soil. To achieve this, the first step is to mow the grass. The lawn should be cut shorter than usual to make it easier for the grass seeds to reach the soil. Be sure to collect the clippings in a bag so they don’t block the seeds from touching the soil.
After mowing, rake the entire lawn to remove dead grass, sticks, rocks, or other debris. This clears any barriers between the grass seed and the soil and loosens the soil to help seeds germinate.
Step 2: Modify Your Soil As Needed
Soil amendments are different from fertilizers. They contain specific chemical compositions and nutrients tailored to particular soil types.
For example, lime, wood ash, and poultry manure can raise the pH of acidic soil, making it more suitable for certain grasses and plants. Conversely, sulfur amendments increase the acidity of alkaline soils. Adding peat moss to clay soil or compost to sandy soil can improve the lawn’s nutrition and overall condition.
A soil test can determine its type and pH if your lawn has yet to grow as expected. The results will help identify the necessary amendments for healthy grass growth. Remember that no amendments may be needed if the soil is fertile and has an alkaline pH.
Step 3: Sprinkle The Grass Seed
Place the grass seeds into a spreader after determining the best time to oversee (based on the weather and grass type). Set the spreader to distribute around 16 seeds per inch. The seed density will depend on the size of the existing lawn so some areas may require less seed. (If you don’t have a spreader, you can spread the seeds by hand.
Select a grass seed variety suited to your climate and region and complement your existing grass. Cool-season grasses thrive in regions with fluctuating temperatures, such as Northeast or Pacific Northwest areas. Warm-season grasses perform well in warmer climates, similar to those in the southern regions.
A hardiness zone map can help determine the best grass variety for your local climate. Opt for grass seed varieties tested for drought, disease, and pest resistance.
Step 4: Add Grass Seed Fertilizer
Choose a fertilizer appropriate for your region and property, then pour it into the fertilizer spreader. Start by spreading the fertilizer around the perimeter of your lawn to ensure the edges are covered. Then, follow a method similar to mowing, making straight rows to fertilize the lawn.
There are several fertilizer spreaders: broadcast spreaders, portable spreaders, snap spreaders, drop spreaders, and liquid sprayers. For smaller yards, a handheld spreader is typically sufficient. Larger yards can be fertilized more efficiently using a broadcast spreader.
The size of your yard and the fertilizer you use will determine which spreader is best. Liquid fertilizers are typically applied with a sprayer, such as a backpack sprayer, while medium-sized yards are easier to fertilize with drop or snap spreaders. Some spreaders can handle fertilizer and grass seed, allowing you to use just one tool for both tasks.
Step 5: Water the Lawn that You Seeded
After fertilization, water the lawn briefly every day. Watering the lawn in the morning is best to maximize water absorption. Most evaporation occurs in the afternoon and evening, so you’ll need more water to achieve the same benefits.
Overwatering should be avoided, as it could wash away the seeds, hinder germination, or encourage the growth of thatch, weeds, and fungus. If you notice puddles or spongy ground, reduce the watering amount.
Watering the Lawn After Overseeding
Watering is crucial when overseeding a lawn because it helps the seeds sprout. Ensure that both the seeds and the soil stay moist. Water the lawn at least once a day until the new grass matches the size of the existing grass, which typically takes about four weeks. Afterwards, water prevents wilting and encourages strong, healthy root development.
Caring for the Lawn After Overseeding
In addition to watering your lawn after overseeding, ensure it receives the necessary nutrients to thrive. Choose the right fertilizer with the proper nutrient balance for new grass. Look for a fertilizer that contains phosphorus to support root growth and nitrogen to promote top growth and greening.
When to Mow After Overseeding
It is essential to allow the seeds to settle. Therefore, after overseeding, avoid mowing your lawn until it is well-established, has enough soil coverage, and has the mower blades set to 2.5 centimetres high. This means you should wait about seven to ten days before mowing. If you do mow, set the mower to the highest blade setting.
How Often to Overseed
Overseeding increases the density of your lawn, but be cautious not to overdo it. Regular overseeding is a good way to keep your lawn healthy and less prone to pests and diseases.
Final Thoughts
Maintaining a lawn involves understanding when and how to take care of it, which is closely related to the climate and type of grass. The best time to plant cool-season grasses is in late summer and early autumn.
The cooler temperatures slow down the growth of existing grass while allowing the seeds to germinate and establish before the grass goes dormant. It’s best to plant warm-season grass between early spring and early summer, giving the seeds enough time to grow before the hottest summer temperatures arrive. Keep the seeds well-watered to give them the best chance for successful growth.
FAQs
What is the ideal time of year to maintain your lawn?
The best time to care for your lawn is in the spring, between March and early May. Late summer to early autumn, from mid-August to September, is also a good period. Autumn is ideal for overseeding your lawn, so avoid doing this during the summer, no matter how tempting it might be.
Which months are the best time to apply grass seed?
In many climates, autumn is the best season for sowing grass seed. The warm soil in late August, September, October, and November encourages optimal root growth. The cooler air temperatures during this time prevent grass blades from growing too tall, making it the perfect window for establishing lawn grasses and fostering strong root development.
What is the best method for overseeding the lawn?
Overseeding involves planting seeds on top of an existing lawn. As grass ages, its growth rate slows; weaker areas may allow weeds to take over. Overseeding helps revitalize your lawn by introducing fresh grass to fill these areas.
What’s the main difference between grass seed and overseeding?
TIP: The simplest way to differentiate is that “overseeding” is a maintenance process that provides quicker recovery, while “seeding” is typically a one-time project with a slower recovery time.
