Wait until nighttime temperatures drop consistently below 65°F and your existing warm-season lawn slows and begins to lose color. Some lawns might need overseeding once a year if drought or disease threaten the grass, and other lawns might … Then, scatter around the perimeter of the lawn first to make sure fertilizer reaches the edges. If the lawn has thatch (a compact layer of grass and soil), it might need aerating before overseeding. Aggressive bluegrass varieties will fill in routine damage, and perennial ryegrass adds durability in heavy traffic areas. Remember to choose a grass seed intended for your climate and perform a soil test to determine whether the lawn needs any extra nutrients to germinate and thrive. Receive free, no-commitment estimate from lawn service professionals near you. This process removes any final barriers between the grass seed and soil while also loosening the soil in preparation for seeding and germination. To prepare your lawn for overseeding: Mow your lawn shorter than you normally would. The best time for planting cool-season grasses in northern regions is late summer to early fall, when they're growing most vigorously. Grass seed grows and germinates best when daytime temperatures are around 50°F (10°C). Pennington Smart Seed products provide premium grass seed appropriate for sun, shade or high-traffic areas in lawns in northern or southern regions. If your lawn consists of Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue, or perennial ryegrass, choose a product specially designed for overseeding thin lawns, like Scotts® Turf Builder® Thick’R Lawn™ Sun & Shade, which combines grass seed, fertilizer, and a soil improver into … This encourages deep, healthy roots. The goal of overseeding a lawn is to get the grass seed in contact with the soil. Use drop or broadcast spreaders for large lawns and handheld spreaders for smaller areas. Applying the right type of fertilizer for your type of lawn and the corresponding weather conditions in your area will benefit both the old and new grass. How to maintain a gravel drive. The warm soil encourages seed germination, cool fall air stimulates growth, and soil moisture stays more constant. It requires less work than totally reseeding or uprooting existing grass, allowing you to improve and maintain your lawn more easily. A full, green lawn creates curb appeal and makes you feel like sipping an iced tea on the back patio. How lawn overseeding rates impact your lawn repair success. Fall is the best time to overseed a lawn or repair thin or bare areas.Cool nights and mild, shorter days provide the ideal conditions for seed germination. Tough, warm-season lawn weeds, such as crabgrass and nutsedge, are less active in fall, too. While seeding, the gardener adds grass seeds to the prepared soil in order to grow grass from scratch; on the other hand, overseeding is when the gardener scatters grass seeds onto a … Plus, they stay green up to three weeks without watering. How do I overseed an existing lawn? Then, when the weather starts to warm the following spring, you aerate and dethatch again, but you don’t have to reseed because the warm-season grass comes back by itself. Choose the right time of year to overseed. The premium fertilizer in Lawn Booster stabilizes nitrogen in the soil, to reduce leaching and other nitrogen loss to the environment. It can be used in sun and shade lawn areas to overseed established lawns or to start new lawns from scratch. The absolute sweet spot for most northern regions of the U.S. is August 15 to September 15. Water in the morning to maximize the water intake. How to Get the Best Results. For southern lawns and winter color, set the blade as low as it goes, and cut just above the soil—what's known as scalping. By Stacey L Nash and Bob Vila. Just about any cool-season grass seed mixture is good for dormant seeding. How to Overseed and Fertilize Your Lawn Now you can spread your grass seeds evenly around the lawn using a broadcast spreader, drop spreader or handheld spreader. Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance ; "Simple Tips," October 2014. Learn when to overseed a lawn and how to overseed lawns for a lush green tu… But if bare spots peek through and weeds overpower the grass, the lawn might be more of an eyesore than a point of pride. Be sure you do not apply any pre-emergent herbicide prior to overseeding your Tall Fescue lawn. Soil amendments are different from fertilizers in that amendments have specific nutrients and chemical compositions for specific soil types. At its most basic, overseeding adds more grass to a lawn without turning the topsoil. "For many homeowners, overseeding is part of general lawn maintenance. Whether you're tending your first lawn or have years of experience, learning how to overseed your lawn can improve your results. Pennington, One Step Complete, Smart Seed, and Ultragreen are trademarks of Pennington Seed, Inc. Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance is a registered trademark of NexGen Turf Research, LLC. How to remove snow from a gravel drive. For lawns in southern regions, overseeding warm-season grasses with cool-season reinforcements adds green color during winter. This is accomplished by scalping and de-thatching, which is the removal of leaf and thatch accumulation to ensure the seed gets down to the soil. This easy-to-use product simplifies overseeding to give your lawn the boost it needs. As grasses mature, thinning is normal—especially if you enjoy your lawn and use it often. You need to water the seeds into your lawn immediately after spreading, and continue to water daily until the seeds germinate, which can take up to two weeks. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. In Step 4 of my fall lawn renovation and overseeding process I completed the overseeding of the existing lawn using a perennial ryegrass. How to build a rail fence. To do that, the first step is to mow the lawn. The basics of overseeding are the same everywhere, but goals and timing vary based on geography and the type of grass grown. Warm-season grass does best when seeded in the early spring to the early summer. More evaporation occurs during the afternoon and evening, which means it will take more water to get the same benefits. It is wise to apply grass seed strategically for the best results. Seeding your lawn is an economical and satisfying way to introduce healthy turf to your yard. When you're on a quest for the perfect lawn, you're bound to encounter challenges. For winter color, overseed southern lawns in fall. best time for planting cool-season grasses, grasses recommended for your regional climate, Pennington Ultragreen Starter Fertilizer 12-22-8, Professional Grass Advice for the Perfect Lawn. You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. This method of overseeding should successfully fill in the lawn with lush, green growth. This loosens and exposes soil to receive seed. Three-in-one Pennington Lawn Booster combines superior Smart Seed varieties with premium-grade fertilizer and soil enhancer. For example, liquid fertilizer requires a liquid fertilizer spreader like one of these quality backpack sprayers, and mid-sized yards are more easily fertilized with a snap or drop spreader. When warm-season grasses go brown, overseeding with a premium, cool-season ryegrass, such as Pennington Perennial Ryegrass, provides a green temporary lawn while your permanent, warm-season grasses are dormant. Growing season differs in the North and the South, and so do the types … You should try to use a seed that is the same as your grass. Additions of peat moss for clay soil and compost for sandy soil also can improve the nutrients in and condition of the lawn. "At its most basic, overseeding adds more grass to a lawn without turning the topsoil," according to BobVila.com. Arguably the best time to overseed is during September, or at least six weeks before temperatures reach freezing or there is an overnight frost. 12 Storage Solutions for the Utility Closet, This Lawn Fungus Might Be Lurking Beneath the Snow in Your Yard, Finding the Right Type of Grass for Your Lawn, The Best Grass Seed Options for Your Lawn. Next, follow a pattern similar to a mowing pattern by moving in straight rows until the entire lawn is fertilized. Moreover, the soil-enhancing gypsum in Lawn Booster corrects soil conditions to allow for better root growth, so your newly boosted lawn can flourish and be the talk of the neighborhood. The best way to overseed is to dethatch and aerate the lawn, then reseed, and top-dress (add a thin mulch). Overseeding Your Tall Fescue Lawn Part 1: The Setup. If there are puddles or the ground feels spongy, cut back on the watering time. Hands down, early fall is the best time to overseed your lawn. Rake the soil with a metal thatch rake to remove thatch, clippings and debris. Cool-season grasses seed best in the late summer and early fall. Newly overseeded lawns need consistent moisture. In just one application, your lawn will grow quicker, thicker and greener than ordinary grass—guaranteed. When is the Best Time to Overseed? After fertilizing, water the lawn for a short time each day. Overseeding newer turfgrass varieties into an older lawn can help it better withstand insects, disease, drought, shady conditions and heavy traffic. The Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance service recommends overseeding at least 45 days before your average first fall frost.1 In southern areas, overseed thinning lawns in late spring, as warm-season grasses enter active growth. Overseeding a lawn should be done when growing conditions for grass are at … Finally, water the lawn for a short time each day and don’t mow until the new growth reaches 1 to 2 inches in height. A simple weekday lawn maintenance schedule can keep your lawn lush and your weekends free. How to dethatch your lawn. Some lawns might need overseeding once a year if drought or disease threaten the grass, and other lawns might need it every few years only to brighten the grass and keep it full. Estate Mix is a blend of elite bluegrass varieties with perennial ryegrass added for quick germination in cool soils.Estate Mix is an excellent choice for late-season lawn renovating and early spring overseeding. You also can spread grass seed by hand if you don’t have a spreader. Warm-season grasses grow best in a climate like that of the southern United States. Rake the lawn to remove and break up the layers of dead matted grass or thatch. You don’t want to overwater, since this can wash the seed away, prevent germination, or encourage thatch development and the growth of fungus and weeds. Most consist of Kentucky bluegrass, fine and tall fescues, and perennial ryegrass. It can be used in sun and shade lawn areas on established lawns or to start new lawns from scratch. Avoid weed & feed products; the pre-emergent herbicides inhibit seed germination. Overseeding involves planting grass seed into an existing lawn without ripping the lawn apart in the process. The yard size and fertilizer type will determine which type of spreader is best. Work when the air is calm, so seed distributes evenly. 1. Overseeding keeps your lawn competitive and steeped in youth and vigor, without starting over from scratch. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. That means less work and more leisure time for you. With the right grass seed and timing, overseeding will restore the lawn and make it hard to resist spending the day lounging in the yard. The next step is to figure out what kind of grass you have growing in your … MATERIALS AND TOOLS Available on Amazon – Lawn mower – Rake – Soil test kit (optional) – Seed spreader – Fertilizer spreader – Hose – Sprinkler. How to eliminate standing water using a subsoiler. 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