Overseeding your lawn

There’s a secret behind achieving a beautiful, lush lawn. Landscape professionals know what it is, but many homeowners don’t. Overseeding—as part of a comprehensive, proactive plan—keeps lawns looking great. Whether you’re tending your first lawn or have years of experience, learning how to overseed your lawn can improve your results.

Overseeding is spreading grass seed over an existing lawn. Done right, it’s a straightforward process that gets results. As grasses mature, thinning is normal—especially if you enjoy your lawn and use it often. Overseeding keeps your lawn competitive and steeped in youth and vigor, without starting over from scratch.

The basics of overseeding are the same everywhere, but goals and timing vary based on geography and the type of grass grown.

Why is Overseeding lawns Necessary?

After several years, mature plants begin to slow down their reproduction rate. Since a blade of grass lives only an average of 45 to 60 days, production of new tillers must continually outpace the dieback of older leaves. Young grass will produce tillers faster than older grass. Therefore, one of the most important secrets to maintaining a healthy, thick lawn is to make sure your grass is young. The practice of overseeding lawns is the easiest way of Keeping grass young.

Time the Task

The best time for planting cool-season grasses in northern regions is late summer to early fall, when they’re growing most vigorously. The warm soil encourages seed germination, cool fall air stimulates growth, and soil moisture stays more constant. Tough, warm-season lawn weeds, such as crabgrass and nutsedge, are less active in fall, too. The Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance service recommends overseeding at least 45 days before your average first fall frost.¹ Wait until nighttime temperatures drop consistently below 65°F and your existing warm-season lawn slows and begins to lose color.

Avoid weed & feed products; the pre-emergent herbicides inhibit seed germination. Starter fertilizer, such as  12-22-8, delivers essential nutrients for new grass. Phosphorus supports vigorous root growth, while nitrogen fuels top growth and greening.

How Much Seed to Apply

The amount needed for overseeding lawns are usually recorded on the label. It is different with different seed varieties. The rates can be adjusted depending on the thickness of your lawn. If you currently overseed on an annual basis, less seed is preferred.

• Use 2 to 4 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft if your lawns is thick already. It is more of a maintenance activity for thicker lawns.

Keep Your Lawn Well-Watered

Newly overseeded lawns need consistent moisture. Keep seed and soil moist with frequent, light watering’s three times per day for the first 4 days and then twice a day for the next 26 days.

Return to Regular Maintenance

Keep your newly revived lawn looking its best with a regular, comprehensive maintenance plan that includes diligent watering, best mowing practices and proactive overseeding. A simple weekday lawn maintenance schedule can keep your lawn lush and your weekends free.

Premium starter fertilizer 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.

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. Doctor Sprinkler is here with premium grass seed and lawn care products to help you keep your lawn at its peak.

Call or email Doctor Sprinkler for pricing on fall overseeding your lawn.