Overseeding your Lawn

Why?

Most homeowners plant grass seed once and wonder why their lawn gets thinner and weedier every year. That’s because even with proper fertilization, turf grass reproduction naturally slows down over the years and lawns simply need more seeds in order to stay thick and weed-free.

But it’s easy and shows results — promise! It gets your lawn thick again and a thick lawn, if mowed to no shorter than 2 inches, is mostly weed-free. The other benefit of overseeding is that the new seed you’ll use is probably more disease-resistant and drought-tolerant than the seed originally used to create your lawn.

Are you sure your lawn needs it? Here’s Jeff Ball’s test: Spread the grass blades and if you can see the soil, it’s too thin and needs reseeding.

When?

The best time is early September, just like for planting new cool-season lawns or patching bare spots. (Cool season lawns are bluegrasses and fescues, not zoysia or Buffalograss.)

How?

1. Mow at the lowest possible setting, with a grass-catcher if you have one.
2. Rake the area with a grass rake, leaving no debris. This is important to provide direct contact between seed and soil.
3. This is a good time to do the recommended yearly addition of organic matter to your lawn by spreading a 1/2-inch layer before seeding.
4. Spread seed — the same amount as for a brand new lawn.
5. Water, following instructions for planting a new lawn. Just like with new lawns, missing a day or two of watering can mean wasting a whole lotta of that grass seed you just applied.
6. Mow when the old grass reaches 3 inches.