How to overseed your lawn in fall and when to do it
It’s been a tough summer for lawn care, to say the least. The endless heatwaves have questioned many of us how much you should water your lawnand if you couldn’t keep up with the demand, the result is dead grass everywhere crabgrass in abundance. Many lawns are now left with ugly, bare patches of dirt as far as the eye can see.
While you may be thinking, you are learning how to plant grass seed is the answer, overseeding may be a better method when dealing with exposed soil patches. Fall provides ideal conditions for reseeding, but as winter approaches, your window is closing fast and you’ll need to act fast if you’re going to cover those patches and get them growing in time to survive. Here’s what you need to know about overseeding your lawn in the fall.
When should you overseed your lawn in the fall?
Reseeding is best done in early fall, between mid-August and early October – this gives you time to repair your garden. The main event you want to avoid is the first frost as all seedlings will perish.
The type of grass seed you sew can also affect the best soil conditions; Cool-season grass, such as Kentucky bluegrass, prefers soil temperatures below 65°F, while warm-season grass, such as Bermuda grass, prefers temperatures of at least 65°F.
You can use a simple soil thermometer to check conditions, e.g. B. the Urban Worm soil thermometer ($10.29, Amazon (opens in new tab)). For this reason, it is better to oversee warm-season grasses earlier in the year, from late spring to early summer.
While you may think that the remnants of the summer heat create ideal growing conditions, don’t overdo it at this point. Grass seeds are fragile and actually prefer humid conditions and lower temperatures to germinate. So if you’re still dealing with the end stages of a drought, hold off on overseeding. Due to moisture preference, reseeding is best done a day or two after rain, but remember you want the soil moist, not saturated.
It is also good practice to oversee your lawn once it has been aerated. Better air circulation and access to nutrients in the soil give grass seed a better chance of growth. Also, if the seeds end up in the puncture holes, they have a better chance of retaining moisture. Check out our guide how to aerate a lawn for full instructions on how to do this.
There should be fewer weeds at this time of year (another reason fall overseeding is ideal), but you should remove any remaining weeds before overseeding. The roots of weeds are strong and dominant – these will hog the nutrients in the soil, which will stunt the growth of your weed seedlings.
Check out our guides how to get rid of dandelions and how to get rid of crabgrass for specific instructions. Be careful if seeds have developed on weeds before removing; If these dissipate when removed, more weeds could emerge next season. We recommend Grandpa’s weed puller for daily weeding ($39.99, Amazon (opens in new tab)). Be careful if you plan to use herbicides as these can often kill grass seeds; Always read the label to be sure.
How to litter a lawn
1. Choose the right lawn seed – Before anything else, make sure you’re planting the right type of grass seed to match the rest of your lawn. Cool season grasses are often found in the north, while warm season grasses are found in the south. If in doubt, consult an expert at your local department store.
2. Mowing the Lawn – When it comes to overseeding, the first step is to mow your lawn to a low height. Cut it to about 1.5 to 2 inches long.
3. Rake the Dead Grass – After that, take a rake to your lawn to remove dead grass. You may think this will make things look worse, but this frees up the area for the seeds to reach the ground.
4. Check Your Floor – Check your soil’s conditions with a soil test and add changes as necessary to improve livability. We recommend the Luster Leaf 1602 Soil Test Kit ($13.07, Amazon (opens in new tab)).
5. Aerate Lawn – Now you want to aerate the lawn to breathe new life into the soil. This loosens and rotates the soil, allowing for better airflow and nutrients, so this is an important step.
6. Overseeding — Apply the grass seed by hand or with a spreader to the areas where you want fresh growth. Make sure you follow the dosage directions as per the label. Once you’ve aerated your lawn, aim to spread the seeds over the holes left behind. We recommend the Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard Mini Broadcast Spreader ($44.90, Amazon (opens in new tab)).
7. Apply Fertilizer— Now that your weed seeds are in place, you need to give them all the help they can get, including fertilizer. Apply a fertilizer that helps young grass grow, such as B. Scott’s Turf Builder Starter Food for New Grass ($22.99, Amazon (opens in new tab)).
8. Water Regularly — When grass is young, it is fragile and needs constant moisture to support its growth. The soil needs to be watered 1-2 times a day initially, although you should keep in mind that you want moist, non-saturated conditions. Grass seeds can take 1-3 weeks to germinate, so be patient and keep tending them. Once the grass has reached a height of 1 to 2 inches, you can reduce the frequency of watering.
How often should you overseed the lawn?
The answer to this largely depends on the environmental conditions. When inclement weather such as B. repeated droughts, takes its toll, the grass may need to be reseeded annually to keep up with the damage. In most cases, however, reseeding is only necessary every few years. When you notice your grass looking thin and worn, it’s essentially a sign it’s time to overseed.
For more lawn tips, tricks and guides, check out our how-to guides on planting grass seed, how to make your lawn greener, how to graze your lawn, how often and when to fertilize your lawn, laying sod, 7 common lawn care mistakes you’re probably making then you should stop mowing your lawn for the winter and read more about the 7 ways to revive dead grass.