Overseeding bare spots in your lawn is not difficult, but requires more than simply spreading grass seed. Follow the correct procedure for overseeding your lawn to save on time and money.
Overseeding for Entire Lawn Restoration
Overseeding your entire lawn is usually not required and if your lawn looks thin all over, you will have better results reviving it with healthy lawncare techniques and sound fertilization practices. However, if your lawn is extremely sparse overall, first have a soil test done and correct any deficiencies. You may then follow the procedure listed below for overseeding bare spots, applying it to the entire lawn.
Overseeding Bare Spots
Overseeding bare spots in the Midwest and Northern U.S. and Canada is best done early in the spring or in the fall since grass seedlings will perish during hot summer days. Decide if the area being overseeded is sunny or shaded and choose a corresponding seed blend that is appropriate for your area. Quality seed will be more expensive, but you will get better results with better seed as it has a higher germination rate.
Starter Fertilizer
Starter fertilizer is available anywhere lawn fertilizer is sold. If your budget is tight, do not use starter fertilizer for overseeding your lawn as it really is not necessary. You are better off putting your money into fertilizer used later in the process, or if you have had a soil sample analyzed, buy the amendments recommended by the lab to correct deficiencies in the soil instead of using starter fertilizer.
Steps to Successfully Overseeding Your Lawn
Grass seed will only germinate if it makes good contact with soil, so follow these steps to get the most successful overseeding:
- Mix the seed about 50/50 with top soil.
- If any grass is growing where you are re-seeding, mow it very low. Using a firm garden rake, remove debris from the bare spot and rough up the soil a bit, or rent a tiller for working large areas.
- Spread the soil and seed mix at the rate on the seed package, or put down about 1/4 inch layer of the soil and seed mixture.
- Rake the seed into the roughed up soil, and spread a thin layer of peat moss by hand over the re-seeded area to help with moisture retention.
- Tamp or press the seed into the ground. You can do this with your feet for small areas, or rent a lawn roller for large areas.
- Water the overseeded area well without flooding, and continue watering enough to keep the spots moist. Depending on the weather you may need to water several times a day, and a timer for your hose can automate this for you.
- Once you see grass sprouting, keep watering twice a day for three or four weeks until the grass blades mature.
- Finally, apply a high nitrogen fertilizer six weeks after you seed. If you overseed in the fall and are following a good fertilizing schedule, you can incorporate this fertilizing in with your late fall high nitrogen fertilizing.
If you opt to reseed in the spring or fall overseeding grows enough to require mowing, wait until the new grass is three inches high before your mow it. If you mow too soon, you can tear up the new grass and its delicate root structure.
Shelley Elmblad - Shelley Elmblad has been writing about personal finance and reviewing money management software since 2005.
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