Overseeding a Yard

Reasons to Overseed

• No matter how healthy your lawn looks now, the fact is that grass will gradually grow old and die, just like humans do. As the grass begins to die out, you will notice patches of empty areas in your lawn. This thinning out of healthy grass also leaves more of an opening for weeds to invade the lawn. You may also need to overseed to cover areas damaged by pets or constant wear and tear. Applying a fresh layer of healthy grass seed will thicken the healthy grass and help prevent future damage and weed growth, as well as restore the beautiful appearance of your yard.

Timing

• The timing for overseeding your yard varies based on the type of grass you are using. Essentially, there are only two times of year that are safe to overseed a lawn: spring and fall. Overseeding during these seasons allows the new grass seed to root in and begin to grow before the stresses of extreme heat and extreme cold, as well as the drought that often occurs in summer and sometimes even in winter when there is little snowfall. Cool season grasses should be sown in early fall, with warm season grasses planted in early spring for the best growing results before the stressful seasons.

Preparation

• Get your lawn ready to supports its new grass seed with a few basic steps. Mow your lawn as short as you possibly can; this will allow sunlight and rain to get to the grass seed to aid germination. Dethatch and aerate your lawn to increase air circulation, reduce the risk of mold growth and remove old and dead grass clippings and debris. Grass seed will not germinate unless it is in direct contact with the soil. Finally, thoroughly soak the topsoil of your yard so that the material is moist when the seed sets in. Moisture is key to grass seed germination.

Procedure

• Use at least the full amount of seed you would need for seeding a new yard, despite the fact that you already have some grass. No matter what, not all seed will hit the soil surface; use extra to make sure you get enough to germinate that your lawn is appropriately covered. Fill your broadcast spreader with half of the seed and spread it around, working in parallel lines in one direction across your yard. When you use up the first half, add the second half and work in the opposite direction with the spreader. This will help to ensure even distribution of the seed over the surface.

After Seeding Care

• Keep people off of your newly overseeded yard until the grass seed has germinated and reached at least 3 inches tall. To encourage germination, water the lawn at least twice per day so that the soil is consistently moist. Once the seed has germinated and reached 2 to 3 inches, you can reduce watering and return to your normal lawn care schedule.