When do i overseed my lawn

Even if your lawn is looking healthy right now, overseeding is an inexpensive way to ensure that it stays that way all year long. Aerating the soil is a simple process, but it does wonders for a yard. Overseeding is exactly that — laying down lots of weed-free grass seed. As they walk from one activity to another, they wear down the grass.

In time, it is so thin that soil is exposed and weeds can move in. Another big factor is mowing. Mowing at the correct height is essential. This allows sunlight to reach exposed soil where weed seeds are waiting to germinate, and it cuts off the critical energy stores in the lower portions of grass blades. Exposed dirt and weakened grass adds up to the perfect recipe for a diminished stand of grass—and a surging population of weeds.

One final element is the quality of the initial turf. If your lawn was not well-seeded, to begin with, it will never fill in correctly without some further intervention. Creating a thick, full lawn is not a one-step process. It requires the initial establishment with repairs made as needed, usually through reseeding.

The need for it often drives the timing of grass establishment. That is, if you have had to dig up your water line for repairs, it makes no difference what time of year it is. Overseeding is a little different. Contrary to what many big-box stores would have you to think, overseeding in spring is not the ideal technique. Stores stock those items during the spring when everyone is ready to get outside and do something, but overseeding in spring often fails due to weed competition and rising average temperatures.

Summer can provide some excellent opportunities for overseeding. First, the existing grass has begun to slow its growth a little bit thanks to the hotter temperatures.

That reduces the competition for new grass, giving it a chance to push through the canopy and grow. Weeds are also slowing down, reducing their impact on your new seedlings. For summer overseeding, cut the grass shorter than usual.

Apply a good lawn fertilizer, then rake and dethatch the area to remove obstructions between the seed and soil. Remember, the seed will not germinate anywhere but in the soil, so any seed that fails to get through other material and hit the actual earth will never grow.

Keep the soil moist at all times until the seeds begin to germinate, then slowly reduce the frequency and depth of watering. If you water too much, the grass will become too shallow-rooted and will die if you stop watering.

This is an excellent time to mention how to overseed lawn without aerating. The answer is that you can overseed effectively without aerating. You can get good results without aerating by simply clearing and raking the soil before applying seed. Many homeowners find that overseeding in the fall works very well. The techniques are very similar to summer. Aeration is optional, but it may not be practical in smaller spaces. If you do choose to do it, utilize a core aerator which removes plugs of soil and distributes them on the soil surface as opposed to a spike aerator which creates holes by further compacting the soil around them.

This should be easier in most parts of the country due to increased precipitation and lower temperatures in fall, and if you live in an arid area where water rationing often prohibits irrigation, the fall can be an even better time for overseeding.

When you do your overseeding in the fall, you should know that the fertilizer will have two effects on your lawn. First, the new grass will stay greener than the existing grass, assuming your fertilizer is only in the overseeded areas. Second, that extra nitrogen will keep you mowing a little later into the fall or even into the early winter. On the plus side, though, the nitrogen will help create stronger roots for all the grass, enabling it to withstand dry conditions next year.

Wintertime might be the last season that you think you would work for overseeding lawn with weeds, but it can be surprisingly effective. First, the underlying causes of your poor lawn quality are not part of the equation in the winter. Second, your biggest enemies—the weeds—are also out of the picture. Reseeding a lawn in winter follows most of the other seasons pretty closely.

You will need to get your mower warmed up and running to cut back on the obstructions, just as in summer and fall. Fertilization will play an important role as well. What will be drastically different is the temperature, of course, and this can work to your advantage. Now is when freezing and thawing becomes relevant. We know that water expands when it freezes, so the frozen soil actually swells up and breaks apart.

When it thaws, the soil is more aerated and is broken apart. This is a perfect place for grass seeds! When they land on this broken-up soil, the further freezing and thawing just works the seeds deeper into the upper layer of soil, giving them a better chance to be surrounded by aerated soil and ready to germinate. Ready to germinate—but not actually germinating. In just one application, your lawn will grow quicker, thicker and greener than ordinary grass—guaranteed. Lime-enhanced, pure-bred Pennington Smart Seed, backed by years of breeding and research, adds beauty and sustainability.

Once established, these water-conserving grasses require up to 30 percent less water than ordinary grasses. That's year after year, for the life of your lawn. Plus, they stay green up to three weeks without watering. That means less work and more leisure time for you.

The premium fertilizer in Lawn Booster stabilizes nitrogen in the soil, to reduce leaching and other nitrogen loss to the environment.

Your seed gets nitrogen for immediate feeding and for extended feeding for up to eight weeks, without extra fertilizer inputs on your part.

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. For the lawn of your dreams, don't wait to overseed until your lawn looks less than its best. Give your lawn the boost it needs, step-by-step or all-in-one.

Pennington's here with premium grass seed and lawn care products to help you keep your lawn at its peak. When you're on a quest for the perfect lawn, you're bound to encounter challenges. Water conservation and a healthy, beautiful lawn aren't mutually exclusive.

You can do your part to manage water usage, and keep your lawn. Seeding your lawn is an economical and satisfying way to introduce healthy turf to your yard. How to Overseed or Reseed Your Lawn. Establish Your Goal Homeowners overseed to correct thin lawns, but pros overseed to prevent thinning. The first watering should be a heavy watering about an inch of water.

After that, your watering can be lighter. Once the grass has germinated, be sure to water every few days giving the grass a good deep soaking.

When the grass is fully established and the same height as the existing lawn, water it according to the instructions for that type of grass. While the new grass is getting established, try to limit activity on the lawn and avoid mowing as long as possible. Once the grass is the same height as the existing lawn, you can continue to mow as you normally would.

Most homeowners only need a lawn mower, rake, and seed spreader to overseed the lawn. In some cases, you may need to invest in an aerator or have your lawn aerated by a professional lawn care company beforehand, but otherwise, simple tools are all that are needed.

There are some benefits to hiring a professional lawn service A professional lawn care company can help you make sure that overseeding is something your lawn actually needs.

Since patchy, scraggly lawns can be caused by other problems, you could be wasting your time and money on overseeding. A professional lawn care service can thoroughly evaluate your lawn and come up with a more complete plan to get your lawn green and healthy.

Professional lawn service also have more advanced equipment than most homeowners. Tools like de-thatchers, power rakes, and slit seeders get the job done quickly, accurately, and more effectively than you can with a rake and a seed spreader.

Ensuring that the job is done right the first time is often well worth the investment. Regardless of your approach, overseeding is an easy and effective way to give your lawn a boost and help it look great for years to come.