When is the best time of year to overseed?
If you live in the South, the best time for overseeding is late spring through mid-summer, since warm-season grasses need warmer soil temperatures to germinate. Why Overseed? Over time, grass gets old and needs to be replaced.
When should I overseed my lawn in Georgia?
When to Overseed: Plan to overseed in mid-August to mid-September. When to Overseed: Overseed in the South during mid-spring or early summer. That's when soil temperatures are warm enough for the seeds to develop.
Why should I overseed my lawn?
Learn when and why it’s important to overseed your lawn based on where you live. Overseeding is as simple as it sounds. You plant new grass seed in your lawn’s troubled spots. But its benefits go much deeper. You should consider overseeding because: It thickens turf, which discourages weed growth.
What happens when you spread grass seed over an existing lawn?
By spreading grass seed over your existing lawn, you can thicken up the thin areas, and your lawn will start to look terrific again. (This is different from reseeding, which is when you start over and plant a completely new lawn.) Skip down to how to overseed.
When can I plant grass seed in spring in Oklahoma?
Warm-season grasses are best planted when upper soil temperatures are between 68°F to 95°F. Cool-season seed germinates readily in temperatures between 68°F to 86°F. For Oklahoma, this means that you should plant warm-season grasses between May 1st and July 1st.
What is the best month to overseed your lawn?
fallHands down, early fall is the best time to overseed your lawn. The absolute sweet spot for most northern regions of the U.S. is August 15 to September 15. That's when daytime temperatures are still warm enough to encourage growth and nights get cooler, giving new seedlings a break from the heat.
When can I spread grass seed in the spring?
Spring seeding is your second best option for planting cool-season grasses. Aim to seed early in the season, but wait until daytime temperatures are in the 60 to 75 degree Fahrenheit range. This roughly corresponds to the optimal soil temperatures for cool-season grass seed germination.
Can you overseed too early?
Cool-Season Grasses By contrast, if you overseed too early, weeds may suffocate the new seeds, and the summer soil temperatures are slightly too warm for ideal growth. For reference, cool-season grasses like temperatures of between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Can I just throw grass seed down on existing lawn?
Can you just sprinkle grass seed on top of your existing lawn? While it's possible to simply sow the new grass seed over your existing lawn, taking the time to prepare your lawn beforehand will increase the likelihood of seed germination and improve your end result.
Should I fertilize or overseed first?
Most landscaping professionals agree that it is always best to fertilize the soil first if you are seeding a new lawn. It is also recommended to conduct a soil test so that you select the appropriate fertilizer.
Is March too early to plant grass seed?
Is March too early to plant grass seed? In nearly all regions, March is too early to plant grass seed. Temperature is a better barometer; wait until days average about 80 degrees before planting grass seed for summer. March is too late to sow cool-season grasses.
Is April too early to plant grass seed?
Can you plant grass seed too early in the spring? Yes, you can plant grass seed too early in the spring. Planting too early in the spring can cause poor germination, which harms the growing seeds. As such, wait for the air and soil temperature to warm up enough to plant your grass seed.
Can I put down grass seed in April?
Stressful summer heat could slow or completely stop the growth of cool-season grasses. Warm-season grasses, on the other hand, are meant to be planted in late spring or early summer. So yes, you can plant cool-season grass in spring, and you should shoot for April if you're doing so.
Can I overseed twice a year?
Performing both aeration and overseeding services will greatly improve the aesthetics and the function of your turf, and doing this twice per year (in the Spring and Fall) will double your efforts but could quite possibly double the likelihood that your lawn is everything you've always wanted it to be!
How do I overseed my existing lawn?
STEP 1: Mow and rake the lawn.STEP 2: Amend the soil.STEP 3: Spread the grass seed.STEP 4: Add grass seed fertilizer.STEP 5: Water the seeded lawn.Final Thoughts.FAQs About Overseeding Lawns.
What is the best grass seed to overseed with?
Top 8 Best Grass Seed for OverseedingScott's Turf Builder Thick'R Lawn: Best Overall. ... Scott's Turf Builder Fall Mix: Best For Fall Application. ... Pennington Smart Seed Bermuda Grass Mix: Best For Bermuda Lawns. ... Jonathan Green Touch Up Tri Rye: Best For Cool Season.More items...•
What is the best way to overseed an existing lawn?
How to Overseed an Existing Lawn in 8 StepsSupplies Needed to Overseed a Lawn. ... Step 1: Dethatch and Aerate the Lawn (If Necessary) ... Step 2: Mow the Lawn Short. ... Step 3: Rake to Remove Debris. ... Step 4: Add Enriched Topsoil. ... Step 5: Spread the Grass Seed. ... Step 6: Fertilize the New Grass. ... Step 7: Water Your Lawn Generously.More items...•
Is it better to overseed in the spring or fall?
Fall is the best choice. The soil is still warm which means the seed will germinate faster. Also, weed growth tapers off after summer, so your new grass won't have to compete for sunshine, water, and nutrients. Overseeding in spring is the next-best option.
How often should you overseed your lawn?
If you reseed every three to four years you re-establish the lawn before it begins to thin out. This ensures the lawn stays thick and dense, which prevents weeds from invading. If you have pets or areas that receive a lot of foot traffic, you may have to reseed more often to prevent bare patches.
What temperature should I overseed my lawn?
1. Overseed at the right time. Cool season seeds germinate when air temperatures are about 60 to 75°F, and when soil temperatures are about 50 to 55°F. Planting too early or too late in the season will lengthen the time it takes for the seeds to germinate, or prevent them from germinating at all.
When is the best time to core cultivate turfgrass in Oklahoma?
Core cultivation also reduces excessive thatch layers. The best time to core cultivate is during periods of active plant growth. Core cultivate warm-season turfgrasses just prior to green-up in late winter or early spring and core cultivate cool-season turfgrasses early in the fall.
When is turfgrass cut in Oklahoma?
Table 3 presents turfgrass species commonly grown in Oklahoma and their seasonal cutting height. The warm-season turfgrasses are cut higher in the fall to provide insulation for low temperatures. When they are growing during the summer, they are cut lower to promote lateral spread and a “tight” turf.
How does turfgrass absorb oxygen?
Turfgrass plants absorb oxygen and emit carbon dioxide through root surfaces. An adequate amount of air space in the soil is needed to provide aeration and proper soil water movement into and through the soil. Due to heavy use, the upper 2 to 3 inches of soil may become compressed into a more dense, hard soil mass, restricting air and water movement. This is called soil compaction. Hard, tight, clay soils also impair the movement of air and water into and through the root-zone soil. In both situations, root growth is restricted, leading to a shallow-rooted turfgrass unable to withstand the stresses of traffic, extreme temperatures, and low moisture.
How to remove cores from soil?
This practice is called core cultivation or aerification. Normally, a machine inserts a hollow metal tine or spoon into the soil and extracts a core from the turf. The length of the cores will vary due to soil strength and penetration capacity of the coring device, but they should be at least 2 inches in length for effective aeration. Adding weight to the machine and wetting the upper 4 to 6 inches of soil one to two days prior to core cultivation will aid in the penetration of metal tines or spoons. At least two passes should usually be made with the coring unit for each cultivation. Cores displaced on the surface should be allowed to dry, then chopped with a rotary mower. Proper eye and ear protection as well as a dust mask may be necessary when chopping up cores with a rotary mower. Incorporate the soil back into turf by hand raking with a garden rake or dragging a flexible steel door mat or piece of chain-link fence over the area.
Can weeds be in a lawn?
Weeds interfere with the beauty and function of turfgrass areas. However, a small number of weeds in a lawn is tolerable. Weeds may indicate the turfgrass community has been weakened by some environmental condition, pests, and/or improper maintenance activities.
Do bermuda grass and tall fescue need fertilizer?
The cool-season turfgrasses, tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass, do not need as much fertilizer as bermudagrass. A second difference is that the cool-season turfgrasses need most of their annual fertilizer in the fall, with small amounts in the spring, and very little if any during the summer. A fertilization program for tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass is outlined in Table 2.
What Does Overseeding Do For Your Lawn?
Lawn overseeding is the process of sprinkling new grass seed over the patchy, brown, or scalped areas of your lawn. These could be areas where the mowing deck was set too low and the grass has been scalped, crowns or high spots in your lawn, bald spots, brown patches, or areas where the grass is just really thin. Overseeding helps your lawn grow thicker in these areas.
What Does Lawn Aeration Do For Your Lawn?
This process delivers oxygen, water, and nutrients directly to the roots which encourages the roots to grow deeper and works to improve their uptake of nutrients and resilience to produce a more vigorous lawn. Aerating has long been a lawn care secret that golf courses and sports fields groundskeepers have employed because it really makes a difference especially when used as part of a total lawn care program. We use a special machine called a “lawn aerator” to aerate our clients lawns.
When is the best time to overseed a lawn?
Best Time to Overseed Lawns in the South. When to Overseed: Overseed in the South during mid-spring or early summer. That's when soil temperatures are warm enough for the seeds to develop.
Why overseed a lawn?
You should consider overseeding because: It thickens turf, which discourages weed growth. It repairs burned or bare spots of grass brought on by summer’s heat. It improves the overall strength and vigor of the lawn. It’s the best way to create a uniform-looking lawn without having to do a full renovation.
How to get more air in grass seed?
Aerate! By poking tiny holes in the soil, or aerating, you help more air, water and nutrients reach grass roots. Then, when you plant your new grass seed, they’ll have a better chance of sprouting and growing strong roots.
What are the last things you want to see in your yard?
When you look out into your yard to admire its lush, green lawn, the last thing you want to see is stringy weeds, brown patches or bald spots.
Does a weed killer thicken turf?
It thickens turf, which discourages weed growth.
Why Overseed?
Overseeding is a fast, inexpensive way to help bring your lawn back to its lush, green self without tearing everything out and starting over.
When is the best time to oversee a lawn?
In the North, the best time to overseed your lawn is in the fall, when the soil is still warm but the air is cooler, and there are fewer weeds for new grass to compete against. Since your trees are starting to shed their leaves, there's plenty of sunlight.
How to get grass seed to root?
Before overseeding your thin lawn, cut your grass shorter than normal and bag the clippings. After mowing, rake the lawn to help loosen the top layer of soil and remove any dead grass and debris. This will give the grass seed easy access to the soil so it can root more easily after germinating. 2.
How to give new grass seedlings nutrients?
To give your new grass seedlings the essential nutrients they need for fast growth, apply Scotts® Turf Builder® Starter® Food for New Grass after you've spread the grass seed. (No need to do this with Scotts® Turf Builder® Thick’R Lawn™ since it already contains a fertilizer.) Afterward, no matter which product you used to overseed, be sure to keep the soil consistently moist by lightly watering once or twice a day until the seedlings have reached the height of the rest of your lawn. For more information, check out our in-depth watering article.
What to do if your lawn is thin?
If your lawn is looking thin and worn, overseeding can help you get back to the thick, lush , green lawn you've always wanted.
Can you spread grass seed over existing lawn?
By spreading grass seed over your existing lawn, you can thicken up the thin areas, and your lawn will start to look terrific again. (This is different from reseeding, which is when you start over and plant a completely new lawn.) Skip down to how to overseed.
Mowing
Remove no more than 1/3 of the leaf blade at any one time. Recycle clippings using a mulching mower. Regime 1 is for a higher mowing height, Regime 2 is for shorter mowing height.
Watering
Suggested amounts are only estimates. Always adjust watering schedule based on rain. Water when footprints appear in grass after walking over lawn. Consider having a non-irrigated brown bermuda lawn for community water savings during severe drought.
White Grub Control
Preventive (P): Products containing imidacloprid (Bayer Advanced Seasonlong Grub Control ®, Merit ® ), clothianidin (Arena ®, Green Light Grub Control with Arena®), chlorantraniliprole (Acelepryn ®, Scott’s GrubEx ® ), or halofenozide (Natural Guard Grub Control ®, Spectracide ® Grub Stop™). Apply late April to mid-May.
