How to Scarify Soil for Grass Seeding

Lawns that become patchy and thin or turn brown in winter can be rejuvenated by overseeding with new grass seed. But often the thatch layer in lawns grows so dense that grass seed can't reach the soil to sprout and grow. In situations where thatch is too dense, scarifying the soil will allow grass seed to reach the soil and sprout. Scarifying cuts vertical slits into the soil, allows moisture to reach the soil layer and helps to remove the thatch layer. You can scarify soil with a slit seeder. Slit seeders may be rented from an equipment store.

Lawn mower
Rake
Lawn bags
Slit seeder
Grass seed
Garden hose
Hose end sprinkler

Instructions

- 1
  Mow your lawn grass down to a height of 1 inch with a mulching lawn mower. A mulching mower cuts blades into very fine pieces before ejecting it onto your lawn. Allow the grass to sit for 24 hours before bagging.
- 2
  Rake grass clippings up and bag them with a lawn bag. Wait 24 hours before bagging grass clippings to keep them from heating while wet.
- 3
  Rent a slit seeder from an equipment store. The slit seeder combines a vertical mower and a seed distributing machine in one device. Pour half the grass seed for your lawn into the seed hopper on the slit seeder. The seeder will distribute the seed directly into the slits cut by the vertical mower.
- 4
  Start the seeder as you would start a lawn mower. Push the seeder across your lawn in a grid pattern to cut the turf and distribute the seed.
- 5
  Pour the other half of your seed into the slit seeder's hopper. Make a second pass with your seeder following a grid that is 90 degrees from the first path you walked.
- 6
  Water seed to encourage germination. Continue to water daily until the seed sprouts. Mow the lawn lower until the seed reaches the same height as the surrounding grass. Then raise the lawn mower decking to the normal mowing height.

How to Keep Newly Planted Grass Seed From Eroding

When to Plant Grass in Denver?

Lawn Planting