Overseeding is definitely an critical portion of
lawn maintenance because it thickens your lawn and fills in
bare spots. For
cool-season lawns, overseed in September for any lush lawn the following spring or
overseed in early spring to provide the grass time to become established just before the heat of summer arrives. When overseeding, you should use twice as significantly grass seed as you would if seeding bare soil.
- Mow your current lawn, cutting at your mower's lowest setting to cut the grass close for the soil. Use a collection bag to catch the clippings as you mow the lawn or rake the lawn afterward to remove all the grass clippings.
- Remove thatch from your lawn making use of a metal rake or possibly a mechanical dethatcher that cuts through the thatch and pulls it totally free. Heavy thatch buildup can prevent new seeds from reaching the soil, resulting in difficulty in starting new grass.
- Aerate your lawn making use of a core aerator. The core aerator removes small plugs of soil from the ground, loosening compacted soil and making it less complicated for both air and water to penetrate for good root development.
- Sow your grass seed using a crank-operated spreader or similar device that assists to assure an even spread of seeds. Walk from one side of your yard to the other although spreading seeds, then spread seeds once again although walking in the front of your yard for the back so that seeds are spread in two different directions.
- Rake your lawn lightly to help spread the seeds and enhance their contact with the soil. Use a lawn roller to help secure the seeds as well if your lawn is thin or has bare patches.
- Apply a starter fertilizer that is certainly high in phosphorus to your lawn right after seeding is complete. Phosphorus can be a important nutrient in root improvement, so the starter fertilizer will assist the new grass in establishing strong, deep roots.
- Water frequently during the day, keeping the soil moist but not allowing it to become saturated. As the new grass starts to sprout and grow you can progressively shift to a normal watering pattern more than the course of two to three weeks.
Tip
You can check your soil's pH if desired ahead of overseeding and add amendments for the soil as needed. Although this is not needed, it may make the soil more grass-friendly in the event the pH is at the moment too high or too low.
Warning
If possible, keep off of your lawn for two to three weeks right after overseeding to enable time for the young grass to grow and become established. Too a lot traffic over the lawn can damage or kill grass seedlings.
