How To Overseed A Lawn Lawn overseeding refers to the planting of grass seed into existing turf directly without having to tear up the soil or the turf itself. This is the easiest way you can use to fill the spots that have nothing, enhance the density of the turf, improve the lawn color and also come up with improved lawn varieties. While some people may prefer only fertilizing (it is very important to apply fertilizer to the lawns) their lawns, the rate of reproduction of the grass plants is seen after years. Therefore as time goes by, those lawns that were not overseeded will become thin and unhealthy and thus making it easier for weeds to grow and overtake them. If you have a large lawn, you may find overseeding to be timeconsuming, but it is not that hard, and the results are definitely worth the effort that you will put in. The following are the steps of how to overseed a lawn: Step 1. First of all you will need to identify the right time to overseed. The best time is usually at the beginning of fall when the temperature is cool and the soil it still warm. Step 2. Make sure that the grass seed that you purchase is of good quality. Not more than 0 to 1/2 percent of the grass should have weed seeds for it to be of good quality. Kentucky bluegrass and fescue are suitable for northern climates while Zoysia, Bermuda grass and St. Augustine are suitable for southern climates. Step 3. The next step will be to prepare the soil as well as the turf. If the soil is heavy, you should consider renting a core mechanical lawn aerator or you can just hire someone to aerate the soil for you. An alternative will be to spread over the lawn half inch of screen compost in order to improve the soil. Step 4. After that you will need to scalp the lawn that is already there. Make sure that the mower is put to its lowest setting so that it will be able to cut 1/2 inch or even shorter than that to ensure that there is a good contact of the seed to the soil. Step 5. Once you have done that, you will then use a drop spreader to apply the right amount of seed depending on the species of grass. Just check the package for directions and what the right amount of seed is.
Step 6. You will need to water the new seed that you have planted daily for a period of one month. Note that it is not necessary to water deeply as you will do on a lawn that is much established, but just ensure that the seeds are kept moist for them to germinate. It is advisable to carry out two watering sessions of 30 minutes interval daily as opposed to a single deep watering session. After you have done the overseeding, the new grass should start to emerge after 5 to 7 days as long as the soil moisture as well as temperatures are adequate. These will also depend on the type of seed. In about eight weeks, the overseeded lawn should be fully established. If you are looking for more information on creating your own garden lawn and the tools required then Click Here to learn more...