With spring in full force here in the United States, lawns have already been growing and homeowners have needed to start mowing again. This may be the time when you begin noticing areas in your lawn that are bare or thin.
These bare patches are not only an eyesore, but they give weeds ample opportunity to take over and grow in the place that should be grass.
If you’re looking to have a thick and lush lawn, then overseeding may be something you want to consider. Follow along as we discuss all about overseeding, and whether you should perform this in the Spring or Fall.
What is Overseeding?
Before we discuss when you should overseed, lets first dive in to what this practice is. Overseeding is the process of adding grass seed over your existing lawn without turning the soil.
This is appealing to many homeowners because they do not need to tear up their existing lawns in order to start fresh from bare soil.
Many attest that this process easily thickens the thin patches in their lawn. They also state that their lawns color is enhanced and more vibrant.
Homeowners love this approach as the overall health of their turf increases, allowing it the ability to defend against weeds easier.
How to Overseed?
Now that we know what overseeding is, you may be wondering how to tackle this process. Here are five basic steps to take when you overseed your lawn.
Mow Low
First start by mowing your turf shorter than usual (be careful to not scalp it). This allows the seeds ability to reach the soil easier. After mowing, some recommend to collect and bag the freshly mowed clippings.
Check The Soil
If your lawn hasn’t been growing properly, or is dull in color, performing a soil test should be your next step. Based off your results, add any amendments necessary to the soil in order to bring it back to a healthy baseline.
Aerate your Lawn
In order to give your turf the best outcome with overseeding, aerating your lawn is a must. Lawn aeration loosens up and rotates your soil.
The holes created by the aerator allows the soil better air circulation so that oxygen, water, and essential nutrients can aid the new grass seeds and roots of your existing grass.
You can learn more about common lawn aeration questions from this blog.
Overseed and Feed
After your lawn is aerated, it’s time to apply the grass seed.
It’s important to note that you should select a grass seed that not only matches, or compliments, your existing turf type, but also one that is designed for the region you live in.
(For example, if your lawn is a cool season grass, you don’t want to select a warm season grass seed, and vice versa). If you are unsure what your lawn type is, contact a lawn care professional.
Using a spreader, load your grass seed and apply based off your seeds packaging guidelines.
If you don’t have a spreader, and have a smaller lot size, you can spread the seed by hand (but keep in mind that using a spreader gives a more even application).
Once your seed is applied, your next step should be “feeding” the seed with a starter fertilizer. Do your research on the best type of starter fertilizer for your newly applied seed type, and apply it all throughout your lawn. This will help to enhance the growth of the freshly laid seed.
Water
The final step is making sure to keep your newly seeded lawn watered. Some homeowners try and time this project before a few days of rain in their area. Others will likely have to rely on their sprinkler systems or manual sprinklers. Lawns naturally intake more water at the beginning of the day, so be sure to water your turf in the mornings.
When to Overseed?
So, when exactly is the best time of year to overseed? Many believe fall is the perfect season for this project. Fall is generally a time where weather has shifted to cooler temperatures, and weeds have begun to die down as winter approaches.
Overseeding in the fall allows the new growing grass to not compete with the existing weeds, setting it up for optimal success come spring.
Others believe that spring is still an ideal time to overseed if it’s done early enough. This process has to be done after the last frost, but before too hot of weather sets in, so that the new growing grass isn’t killed off immediately, or have to compete as much with any weeds that are resurfacing.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a “one size fits all” answer. It ultimately will depend on where exactly you live in the United States. For most central and northern states of the U.S., overseeding in late summer to mid fall is best for those regions.
This is best done at least six to eight weeks before the first frost or snowfall. For southern states, spring is the ideal time to overseed for those regions.
For North Texas lawns, overseeding in the spring (after mid-April) is best for our warm-season grasses. If your lawn is winter ryegrass, then overseeding in the winter is optimal, and if your lawn is fescue then overseeding starting in November is ideal.
The Gecko Green Difference
If you’re concerned for your lawn’s overall health, or no longer have the time to continually care for it – it may be time to consider hiring a professional lawn care company.
Whether you’re looking to have your lawn aerated or have multiple treatments done throughout the year, Gecko Green is ready to step in. Our licensed technicians are extensively trained and equipped to properly care for our North Texas lawns, taking the burden off of you.
Are you ready to take the next step? If so, call us today for a free quote!
