There is a simple trick that has long been used by professional lawn managers that most homeowners have no clue about. Today you are going to read the complete Overseeding Your Lawn for Maximum Vigor [Essential Information]. Have you ever walked past a lawn and were simply left in awe at how lush and green it was? There were little signs of old grass just a thick green carpet. Chances are the owner of that lawn knows what we are talking about.
It’s called overseeding. This basically means that you distribute grass seeds on an already existing lawn. What this does is revitalize the lawn making it look younger and healthier.
So how can you go about overseeding your lawn? Well, that’s what we are here to discuss. Sit back and let’s get into it now.
Reasons for Overseeding Your Lawn
The main reason behind overseeding the lawn is to manage thinning of the grass. While you can overseed to correct thinning, you can also do so to prevent thinning from occurring in the first place.
If you live in warmer regions, changing of the seasons may cause your warm season grass to dry out. By adding cold season grass seeds, you can maintain a green lawn even when the temperatures drop.
Best Time for Overseeding the Lawn
For you to be successful, you need to know the right time to overseed. For cool season grasses, this is mainly around fall. Weeds that could make it hard for the shoots to develop such as crabgrass does not do well during this time giving the shoots the best chance at growth. This is for northern parts.
When it comes to the warmer southern parts of the country, the best time to overseed is when the warm season grass is starting to grow. This is usually around late spring. You can also choose the time when temperatures start to drop mainly during late fall just when winter is around the corner.
Preparing the Lawn for Overseeding
You will need to create a conducive environment on your lawn for the new seeds to take root. This will involve cutting the grass close to the ground. A reel mower will do a great job since they are normally set to cut a few inches near the ground. However, a motorized lawn mower will also get the job done.
When you finally distribute the seeds they will be in a better position to reach the ground. Before however, you can do this, pick up a rake and remove any unnecessary debris from the lawn. This will also turn the soil making it easier for the grass seeds to take hold.
Take Care of Pre-existing Problems
This could be compacted ground or depressions where you will have to aerate. You will also have to dethatch the lawn and take care of any dry spots and patches.
You can also check the soils PH and ensure it is between 6.0 and 7.5. In case it is too acidic or alkaline, you can apply the necessary lime or sulphur. Also, you can check The 5 Best Carburetor Cleaner For Lawn Mower in 2024 and When is the Best Time to Water Lawn? Top Tips and Practices
Finding the Right Type of Grass Seed
If you want that lush green lawn, any type of grass seed simply will not do. You need the right quality. Do your research and find the best seed for your climate and region.
Having procured good quality seed, it’s now time to use it on your lawn
Spreading the Grass Seeds
There are two main ways you can go about this. Using a handheld spreader, a broadcast spreader, or simply using your hand. This will depend on the size of your lawn.
If the area you need to cover is large, you need to use a broadcast spreader. To set the right quantity of seed to distribute, you can read the instructions on the label.
When the lawn is smaller, use a hand held spreader. It is more efficient this way. Simply adjust it to the recommended rate on the label.
When you want to get to the narrow places, simply using your hand will do.
Time to Fertilize
The best type is a starter fertilizer that is rich in phosphorus and nitrogen. The phosphorus will make the root system more robust and vigorous while the nitrogen allows for lush green leaves.
Depending on the region you are located in, there may be prohibitions on the use of phosphorus. This is because run offs may contaminate the water posing a serious threat to fish and other aquatic life. It is therefore prudent to check on local regulations.
Watering the Lawn
Overseeded lawns require constant moisture. This can be achieved through watering twice a day for the first five days. After that you can reduce the duration of watering to thirty minutes a day.
The best time to water the lawn is during early mornings. This gives the grass ample time to suck in all the moisture. As the temperatures warm the surface water will evaporate.
If you water in the evenings however, moisture simply sits on the leaves of the grass creating a perfect environment for fungus which will end up affecting the new grass shoots, and causing disease.
Practice Maintenance
Once the new grass has taken hold, you need to ensure the lawn is properly maintained for that neat well-manicured shape.
Water regularly, mow regularly as well and continue the practice of overseeding every time you feel like you want a greener lawn.
Conclusion
Over time the grass in your lawn may deteriorate. You might find dry patches an increase in the number of weeds or simply a lack of good green color. Most people tend to rush towards, more watering, and adding more fertilizer. There is nothing wrong with this. However, overseeding is a much simpler way of correcting the situation on your lawn.
The seeds will blend with the older grass resulting in a thicker appearance. One of the main benefits of overseeding the lawn is that the grass gets so thick that weeds simply cannot find a place to take root. This ultimately turns into a kill two birds with the same stone sort of thing. Happy gardening!
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