Laying Sod Vs Reseeding
Choosing between laying sod or reseeding is a hard decision. Both of them produce beautiful lawns, but the processes involved are different.
Laying sod, or sodding is more of an instant lawn solution. In this process, homeowners take slabs of grass grown on a sod farm and transplant it to your lawn. This means that youll have a fully green lawn in a matter of hours, rather than waiting for seeds to sprout.
Its a fast way to get your lawn back after a series of brown patches and thinning grass.
In contrast, reseeding involves removing your existing lawn turf and planting new seeds altogether. It takes time to see results, and you may have to wait for about 2 weeks or more for the seeds to sprout.
Can You Aerate Your Lawn Too Much
If you walk on your soil and it feels rock solid and is looking thin or patchy, these are signs that it could probably use aeration.
But if your grass is healthy and thriving and hasnt been impacted by a lot of equipment or foot traffic, it likely doesnt need aeration.
Once annually is usually enough in most cases, and for healthy lawns that receive regular maintenance and are performing well, every two to three years may be sufficient.
How To Aerate Your Lawn
Aerating your lawn is simple and easy. Regardless of which type of aerator you choose, these are the steps you need to take.
Once you are finished, water generously. Some professionals recommend applying fertilizer to assist in recovery, but its not completely necessary.
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How To Apply The Overseeding On The Soil
Once the soil is prepared, the reseeding can be spread. Since the grass seeds should be spread very evenly, a spreader is also suitable for this purpose. Make sure that there is no wind. Grass seeds are very small and light and quickly evaporate. Once the lawn seeds are distributed on the ground, there are two different approaches to how you can proceed.
Option one suggests you firm up to reseed a bit, otherwise, it will blow away the next day. You can either use a lawn roller, which you can borrow from a hardware store for a small amount of money, or you can use treads. Some amateur gardeners also just tread them down carefully if the areas are small.
Other gardeners suggest working to reseed into the soil with a rake. This also prevents the seeds from flying away. Which of the two you choose has long been a debate that has yet to produce a proven result.
What Grass Varieties Need The Least Water
Grass seeds all require roughly the same amount of water until they grow to about two inches tall. Once theyre tall enough, you can switch to an adult grass watering schedule. Fully grown grass only needs an inch or two of water each week, meaning it takes less water than seeds. There are two approaches you can take from here. Grass that germinates quickly will require less water since it will spend less time as moisture-loving seeds. You can also look for grasses that are more drought tolerant, since these will use less water over the course of their lifespan.
Some of the quickest growing grasses are ryegrasses and tall fescue, while drought tolerant grasses include fescues, buffalo grass, bermuda grass, and St. Augustine grass. The overlap between these two lists, tall fescue, is likely your best bet for overall water conservation.
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How To Choose The Ideal Mower
Choosing the right lawn mower for the job provides a smooth, clean cut, and makes the most of your mowing time. Choose from these common lawn mower types:
- Manual reel mower Environmentally friendly and quiet, manual push mowers rely on your strength and energy to mow. Theyre a good choice for small, flat lawns.
- Electric mower Available in corded and cordless models, electric lawn mowers are less noisy than gas mowers and great for small yards. Corded mowers stay plugged into electrical outlets as you mow. Rechargeable cordless models offer more freedom, but they may need a recharge mid-mow.
- Gas-powered push mower Walk-behind, gas-powered mowers have more power and maneuver more easily than manual and electric types, especially when theyre self-propelled. They are ideal for medium-sized lawns.
- Riding mower or lawn tractor For large or sloped lawns, a riding mower or lawn tractor is the best option, allowing you to get a big job done fast.
- Mulching mower Designed to chop up grass clippings as you mow, mulching mowers leave small clippings on your lawn. Mulched grass clippings left on healthy lawns add nutrients and encourage beneficial microorganisms in the soil.1
The Best Time To Aerate Your Lawn
For the best results when overseeding, our lawn aeration service advises you aerate before planting. The purpose of aeration is to break up the soil and allow it to breathe. That way new grass roots can penetrate deeper into the soil and have access to more nutrients. When should you aerate cool-season grasses and warm-season grasses?
The trick is to aerate right before overseeding. The best time to have lawn care services aerate your lawn in Midwest locations is usually around August or September. In warmer states, aerate in late spring or early summer.
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What To Consider When Overseeding A Lawn
Overseeding a lawn means planting grass seed directly into your existing grass. You don’t have to break up your lawn or soil. It can help prevent weeds from taking over your lawn.
When to overseed depends on where you live. Overseeding a lawn in fall is ideal if youre growing cool season grasses. That’s because the soil is still warm enough for seeds to germinate and the cool air helps grass to grow a strong root system. Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass and fescue are cool season grasses. Cool fall weather starts earlier in the North, so overseed your cool season grass by late summer or early fall if you live in there.
Late spring or early summer is ideal for overseeding warm season grasses in the South. Bermuda, centipede, Saint Augustine and zoysia are warn season grasses. If youre overseeding a lawn in spring or early summer, give your seedlings frequent, light waterings. That helps them get established before hot, dry weather sets in.
There are a few things to do before you start overseeding a lawn:
When To Reseed Lawn In Fall
My lawn is in desperate need of maintenance after a long dry summer and having a dog which also brings all the other neighborhood dogs to our front yard. I swear you can almost hear my yard whispering UNCLE!
My husband loves doing yard work, so watching his beloved grass turn splotchy and dry pains him. You can imagine his excitement when I partnered with Grass Seed USA to bring you all the lawn tips youll ever need! One of the main reasons Ive decided to work with them is because the best grass seed comes from Oregon Grass Seed Farmers! Being originally from Oregon and born in the Willamette Valley, I am very familiar with these farms. How do you know if the grass seed youre buying is from Oregon? Just turn it over and youll see it listed right on the back.
This particular bag we bought is from Tangent. Thats right outside our capital of Salem Oregon.
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Seed And Fertiliser Spreader
Spreading grass seed and fertiliser is pretty easy to do by hand if you only have a small lawn.
That said, its much more accurate with a spreader and if you have a big lawn, its really the only way to do it.
You can buy small, handheld spreaders for small areas or wheeled, broadcast spreaders for larger lawns.
Kill The Weeds And Existing Grass
The best and quickest method to kill the existing grass, as well as the weeds is to use a weed killer after which, you must wait for a specific amount of time before you plant new grass seeds. Another way to do this is to mow the lawn as low as possible and soak it.
Cover the grass with plastic sheeting. Weigh the edges of the plastic with heavy stones or bricks. The heat from the sun and the moisture will destroy the lawn in around 6-8 weeks, leaving behind soil that is ready to be reseeded.
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Three: Spread Seed Across Your Yard
Now is the fun partâ scattering the seeds! Check the seed package to determine the reseeding rate. Be careful not to mix up the seeding and reseeding rates. Drop and broadcast spreaders can cover large areas quickly while handheld spreaders work fine for small lawns. Spreaders ensure that your garden is covered evenly scattering by hand isnât recommended unless the area is minimal. After the dispersion, water the area to wash the seeds off the top of the grass and into the ground.
If itâs windy outside, put a pause on the reseeding and wait for conditions to die down. Wind can blow the seeds away, creating uneven distribution leading to more patchy grass.
Best Time For Watering
After overseeding, proper watering helps to seed germination. For getting the best result to follow these:
- Before germination, waterless but more frequently. In every location, water 15-20 minutes two to three times per week.
- For the first week, water three times a day, especially in the morning to mid-morning, noon and mid-afternoon.
- For four to five weeks, water more but less frequently. In every location, sprinklers 45-60 minutes three times per week.
- For five to nine weeks, water once or twice per week.
Seed germinates within two or three weeks. It depends on the soil and watering methods. Sometimes you find small weed seed grow along with the grass, so you should remove them at an early stage.
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How To Overseed Or Reseed Your Lawn In 10 Easy Steps
In order to avoid a lawn that looks like a barren desert, you need to know how to reseed your lawn. By following these simple steps, you can create a beautiful and healthy lawn that will last for years.
Seeding a lawn is the process of planting new grass seed in an area where the grass is thin or missing. There are two ways to do this: overseeding and reseeding. Overseeding is the best way to fill in small patches of thin or balding grass. Reseeding is done when you want to replace your lawns grass completely.
Overseeding is the technique of seeding an existing lawn. It is often done in the fall when the weather is cool and the days are shorter. The new seed will germinate and grow slowly over the winter so that by the time spring arrives, your lawn will be thicker and fuller.
How Long Does It Take Grass Seed To Germinate And Grow
Grass seed can take from 5-30 days to germinate and this depends on several factors which include
- The type of grass seed you choose
- How much moisture and warmth is in the soil
- The weather in general, and
- How fertile the ground is
That said, most people should see germination within a couple of weeks.
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Is It Ok To Reseed Lawn In Late Fall
When its October, people often wonder if it is too late to plant new seed. The good news is if you hurry, seed can still be planted in October with the hope that it will survive the upcoming winter. Although September is the best time, often we can still plant grass seed up to October 15 with good results.
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Why You Should Regularly Seed Your Lawn
Regular seeding of your lawn can in turn save your time in long run. Lawns are made up of lots of little grass plants. Some of these die every year and need to be replaced. To keep your lawn looking thicker, fuller and lush, new seeds need to be sown to replace the old grass. This is what we refer to as over-seeding your lawn.
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Remove Current Grass And Weeds
The first step in reseeding your lawn is to kill off or at least greatly reduce the amount of existing grass. You can do this in one of two ways: by using a non-selective herbicide that will kill any vegetation it is sprayed on, or by covering the existing lawn with black garbage bags for a few weeks.
If you choose to use a herbicide, be very careful to follow the instructions carefully, and make sure not to get any on any other plants or flowers you may have in your yard. If you do use an herbicide to get rid of your grass, wait at least a month before planting new grass, so that the lawn is completely free of any remaining herbicide chemicals!
If you choose to use garbage bags, make sure to overlap the seams of each bag and keep them sealed tightly. The bags will need to be left on for at least 2-3 weeks to be effective.
After either method is complete, you will then be able to rake up the dead grass and weeds, and dispose of them in the trash or compost pile.
When To Overseed A Lawn
The best time for overseeding your lawn is determined by the type of seed. For most species, spring is the best time to overseed the turf.
When you are overseeding for winter coverage, you may put down seed in early fall, but it requires quite a bit more management and irrigation to get the seed to take off.
Most grasses need a germination temperature of 59 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit . Do not seed when heavy freezes or snow are expected.
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When To Reseed Lawn And Tips For Reseeding
Knowing when to reseed lawn can be just as important as knowing how to do it. After sharing tips for Simple Lawn Care for Fall, it may not surprise you to learn that the best time to overseed a lawnis now!
Fall and Autumn are the best times to give your grass a good boost and set you up for success in the spring and summer. Reseeding in the fall is better than spring overall.
When You Should Reseed Your Lawn
Geography determines the best time to reseed your lawn. Heres why fall is the best time for reseeding lawn in the North:
- For starters, thats when grass normally matures its own crop of seeds, if left to its own devices
- An ideal time would be at least 45 days before the first average fall frost date
- Unlike spring, the soil is already warmed up, encouraging germination.
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Advantages And Disadvantages Of Seeding And Sodding
If your lawn is in rough shape, you may be wondering what the best course of action is to restore your lawn to a green and healthy state. There are a few factors to consider when deciding whether you should reseed or resod your lawn. Both options have their own set of advantages and disadvantages that should be considered.
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Choose The Best Grass Seed
All grass seeds are not the same. For the best results, you will need to choose a high-quality grass seed that is appropriate for your lawn seeding situation.
Used by leading sod growers across the country, Jonathan Greens genetically superior Black Beauty® grass seed creates a lawn full of grass that:
- Is deep rooted
- Exhibits an invisible waxy coating that wards off disease and locks in moisture
- Has leaves that are dark green, lush, and uniform in texture
- Grows well in both full sun as well as partial shade
- Is endophyte-bred for natural insect resistance.
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How Much Grass Seed
When youve decided which lawn seed to use, the instructions should tell you the rate at which it needs to be applied. Quite often the over seeding rate is lower than the rate for starting a new lawn though sometimes adding more, particularly if rye grass is included, will speed recovery. However, if you are trying to improve your lawn by changing the type of seed then adding more will cause more of a change.
Do NOT automatically assume more is better! Ive seen patch repairs done where you cant see the soil for grass seed. This will cause extremely dense growth that will stick out like a sore thumb. If in doubt stick to about 10 to 20 seeds per square inch.
The next page will cover all the variables for seeding rates.
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Best Time To Aerate And Overseed Your Lawn
Theres nothing better than a lush lawn that lets you spend time with your family in the back yard, laughing and having fun. But, to keep grass healthy, techniques such as overseeding and aeration are important. This leads us to the question, when is the best time to aerate and overseed your lawn?
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