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How To Reseed Lawn In Spring

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Can I Put Grass Seed Down In April

How to Reseed a Lawn

The growth of cool-season grasses could be affected by summer heat. Warm-season grasses are supposed to be planted in the late spring or early summer. If you want to get the most out of your grass seed, you should plant it in April.

If you dont have a lot of time to wait for the grass to germinate, its a good idea to plant it as soon as possible. If you wait too long, the seedlings wont be able to take the heat and will die before they can take root. This will give you the best chance of success.

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Should You Reseed Your Grass Every Year

It is best to over-seed your lawn twice a year, once in the spring and once in the autumn. You need to over-seed in spring to prepare for the intense usage and wear and tear during the summer months. Therefore grass seeds can germinate freely without competition, resulting in less weed problems.

Should you aerate and seed every year?

Golf courses aerate a couple times a year and residential lawns should look at aerating at least every other year. This depends on soils, traffic and moisture but every other year is a good general rule. If we overseed immediately after aerating, the new seed gets direct seed-to-soil contact.

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Can I Overseed Without Aerating

To oversee a lawn without aerating, start by mowing it lower than 2 inches and follow it up with raking to remove debris and loosen up the topsoil. Raking over the grass seed is a good way to spread it.

Water the lawn lightly until the grass grows to a height of 3 to 4 inches and then fertilize with a starter fertilizer. If you have a large lawn, you may need to water it more than once a week to keep the soil from drying out.

How To Overseed A Patchy Lawn

reseeding lawn

There aremany easy fixes that will help to bring your lawn back to life and keep it lookingits best. Follow our step-by-step guide on how to overseed your lawn –

Removeany dead grass, weeds, or moss by scarifying/raking the area

Rake thearea enough so that the soil is loose and not compact

Sow some seedat our recommended rate of 35g per m2, by using a seed spreader or you hand

Rake theseed in after sowing so that the seed is in amongst the soil

Firm downby foot or by using a roller to improve seed to soil contact

Water thejust-sown seed well

If you arenew to overseeding and this is your first time doing it, you can follow ourmore detailed guide on how to overseed your lawn.

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Water But Not Too Much

Water the new lawn generously right after the mulch application, but stop as soon as you see puddles forming. One way to get even watering is to place an impact sprinkler in the corner of the lawn and set it to spray in a quarter arc. Then move it to the other corners. Keep the soil moist to a depth of 4 to 6 in. for best germination. Water regularly as the seedlings appear and grow. Gradually reduce the watering over a six-week period. Then switch to your normal watering routine.

‘Most people overwater new seed. Just keep the soil damp for the best germination.’

Bob Mugaas, Turf Expert

When To Overseed Lawn In Minnesota

If you are planning to overseed your lawn in Minnesota, it is essential that you do it at just the right time to ensure the best results. At Jonathan Green, we have been researching the best ways to grow and care for lawns for over 100 years and have developed a foolproof system. Today we supply genetically superior grass seed and an innovative family of products that will help you get the most out of your lawn.

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When To Reseed Lawn Uk

Asked by: Conor Kuhn

The best time to overseed in the UK would be spring March, April and early May, or early autumn late August to September. During these months, the weather is not too hot, not too cold, there is a high chance of rain and, as we mentioned a few times already, seeds need moisture in order to germinate.

Tips For Reseeding Bare Spots In Your Lawn This Spring

How To Reseed A Lawn

Posted byScott Stueber on May 28, 2019 10:10:41 AM

Are you disappointed with how your lawn looks this spring? Do you have bare spots? Harsh winters, insects, animals, and disease can wreak havoc on your lawn. While Im not striving for the perfect lawn, I do take pride in having a nice, healthy one.

If youre frustrated with how your lawn looks and you want to fix the bare spots, you can! For existing lawns, lawncare professionals recommend core aeration and over seeding in the fall. This process promotes overall healthy growth and can help thicken it. However, you can add seed to your lawn in the spring and experience good results.

Here are some tips for fixing your lawn.

1. Determine the best time to plant.Depending on where you live, certain times of the year will generate better results. In the Midwest, cool-season grass seeds will germinate when soil temperatures consistently range between 50 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. If you live in southern states, warm-season grass seed will germinate when soil temperatures are between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

If the soil temperatures are confusing, a less technical rule of thumb is grass seed germinates when the air temperature is consistently between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lastly, if you experience a cool spring or summer, germination may take longer, or it may fail.

  • Does your lawn get full or partial sun?
  • Do you have pets?
  • Does your lawn get light, moderate, or heavy foot traffic?

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Mow Grass On A Low Setting

The first thing you need to do before overseeding your lawn is to give it a nice, low cut. Be careful not to mow it so short that it burns, but you want to go shorter than you normally would. You should use a bag rather than a mulcher and rake the lawn when youre finished to remove stray clippings and debris. A clean, short lawn will make the soil more accessible to the new seeds, improving soil contact and promoting root growth.

Dethatch And Aerate The Lawn

For new grass to grow, the seeds have to be able to reach the soil. Dethatching and aerating your lawn before spreading the seed can help with that. This step isnt absolutely necessary, but it will lead to more successful seed germination.

First, dethatch the lawn if the layer of thatch in your yard is thick enough that you cant see the soil through it. After dethatching, aerate the lawn by poking holes in the soil with a core aerator machine. You only need to aerate now if you havent done so in the past year.

Read Also: How To Spread Seed On Lawn

Reseeding In The Spring

Most lawn-care experts agree that the best time to reseed is in the fall. There are several reasons for this:

  • The summer heat, which is really hard on new grass, is behind you.
  • Prime season for weed growth is behind you as well.
  • Growing conditions are ideal.
  • The new grass has a great head start when spring returns.

Planting grass seeds in the spring and seeing them make it can be a challenge because if the new grass doesnt mature and strengthen before the summer heat, theres a good chance it will die, and then you can end up with thin or bare spots ripe for takeover by weeds.

Seeding in the spring is, however, sometimes exactly the right thing to do. If there are just a few bare or damaged areas, then spot seeding is in order. When large sections of lawn are thin but not bare, reseeding is the way to go. Either way, you are addressing an immediate concern because if you dont, weeds and bugs will, and in a way you wont like.

Spring seeding is effective if you plant early enough that the new grass has time to grow strong enough to endure the summer and if you follow a schedule of frequent light watering. Ways to bolster that new growth include aeration, fertilization, and weed control .

The Complete Guide To Overseeding In Spring

Tips for reseeding lawns in spring

If your lawn looks thinner than it usually does or is starting to become overrun by weeds, overseeding could return it to its former lush, green glory. Overseeding is not too difficult, but it does require some basic lawn care tools, some knowledge of the process, and a bit of preparation. All you need are a lawnmower, some fertilizer, a spreader, and the right grass seed for your climate.

While its definitely possible to overseed your lawn yourself, most people will get better results by using a professional lawn care service like TruGreen. Letting lawn care experts overseed your lawn ensures youll have the best grass seed and fertilizer combo that meets your lawns specific needs and that it will get done at the perfect time to promote optimal growth.

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Prep The Soil For Reseeding

Once the old grass and weeds are gone and its safe to lay down new seed , its time to prep the soil.

Remove any large debris, then use a garden rake to level the ground and break up any large clumps of dirt. If the area is covered with mulch or compost, lightly work it into the top couple of inches of soil.

If your soil is compacted, you may also want to aerate it at this point. After aerating, rake the area level and loosen the top ¼ inch of soil. As a final step, spread a 1-inch layer of Scotts® Turf Builder® LawnSoil evenly across the entire lawn. Its specifically formulated with a blend of rich, composted materials to provide an excellent growing environment for young seedlings, and also makes it easier for them to sink their roots in.

When To Reseed Lawn

The best time to reseed a lawn with cool-season grass seed is in the early fall, between mid-august to early october, and at least 45 days before the first frost of the growing season.

If you are reseeding your lawn during the summer, you will need to wait until the last week of August before you can start the seeding process. This will give you enough time for the seeds to germinate and for them to be ready for planting in late August or early September.

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The Problems With Spring Seeding

As winter reaches its welcome end, you begin to have visions of a lovely lawn all the neighbors will envy. Both literally and symbolically, spring is a time of renewal and fresh growth, and you are feeling the spirit. This year, you are going to have that lawn that you vowed you would every previous year. Its finally time.

And its the perfect time, right? Temperatures are warming, and a long growing season lies ahead. Its time to get out there and reseed all those bare spots and shore up the healthy-looking areas.

Well, maybe not. Yes to the warming temperatures and the long growing season, but no to the perfect time. Actually, two key factors make spring a very difficult time for seeding. More accurately, spring is not a difficult time to seed, but it is difficult for spring-seeded grass to survive. All that time and money you put into the lawn could very well go to waste.

Tips For Spring Grass Reseeding

PlantTalk: Renovating a Lawn by Reseeding

When your lawn revives in the spring, it may not be as thick or green as you would like. Even if you are mowing, fertilizing, and watering your lawn properly, a yearly reseeding might be necessary to keep it in tip-top shape. Here are ten easy steps to help you with the reseeding process.

  • Dont jump the gun and plant before the temperatures are right. Cool-season grass seeds will germinate when soil temperatures are between 55 and 65°F, and warm-season grass seed will germinate when soil temperatures are between 70 and 80°F. Your lawn should be actively growing when you reseed, and there shouldnt be any danger of another frost. When these temperatures occur will depend on where you live, so make sure you are listening to weather reports and relying on an accurate thermometer.
  • You dont just have to sit around and wait for the timing to be right. Make sure that you know a) what kind of seed you are planting, and b) what kind of soil you are planting them in. Be sure to choose a product that has a high live seed percentage. Choosing a different grass variety or even a different species to reseed with will increase your lawns tolerance for stress.
  • Consult your most recent soil test or have one done. If the pH level is too acidic for good grass growth, now is the time to do a lime application.
  • Remove anything that makes the ground uneven: sticks, stones, leaves, etc.
  • Using a straight rake, rake across the lawn to get the soil loose and ready for new seeds.
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    Fertilize The New Grass

    Using the fertilizer spreader once again, spread a lawn starter fertilizer anywhere you just added seed. Starter fertilizers are especially formulated for new grass. They help the seedlings establish strong roots and sprout faster.

    When choosing a fertilizer, avoid weed and feed combinations. The herbicides in weed and feed would keep the new grass from growing.

    Note: If your seed mixture already contains fertilizer, skip this step.

    Why You Shouldn’t Overseed Your Lawn In The Spring

    Spring is typically the time most people associate with planting and growingafter all, it is the season of “renewal.” However, overseeding a lawn in spring, especially in Missouri, is a losing battle. When you overseed in the spring, the seeds will not have enough time to establish themselves before the summer heat begins, resulting in stunted growth and sub-par results.

    Another factor to consider about spring overseeding is pre-emergent weed control. If you typically apply pre-emergent weed control in the spring, we definitely advise against overseeding at the same time. Your pre-emergent weed control won’t be able to tell the difference between a weed seed and a grass seed and will end up blocking all seeds from sprouting.

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    Fertilize Your New Grass

    The best time to fertilize overseeded areas of your lawn is after the new seedlings have germinated and started to grow. A light fertilizer application will help the new seedlings get off to a strong start. Choose a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen and low in phosphorus. This type of fertilizer will help the grass to grow thick and healthy. Be sure to water the lawn well after you apply the fertilizer. Stay away from weed and feed products. Seed germination is inhibited by pre-emergent herbicides.

    Oozing Orange Sap On Birch Tree

    When to Reseed Lawn and Tips for Reseeding

    In spring, it is a common phenomenon to observe bright orange slimy sap residues on the tree trunks of bleeding trees like birch, ironwood, maples, elms and walnut. In bleeding trees, any unsealed wounds on the tree trunk cause the spring sap to naturally ooze out externally. It is observed that the yellow-bellied sapsuckers are associated for causing spring wounds by drilling horizontal and vertical holes.

    The oozing sap is rich in sugar and serves as a growth media for bacteria, fungi and yeast that turns the colorless sap to bright orange in color which catches our attention. Once the wound on the tree trunk is sealed by the trees natural compartmentalization process, the sap will stop flowing and the oozing materials will start to dry out.

    Though the orange sap residue may give an unaesthetic appearance, it doesnt affect the trees health.

    Vijai Pandian is horticultural agent/educator for Brown County University of Wisconsin-Extension. For questions and advice, contact the Extension’s Horticulture Help Desk at 920-391-4615 or [email protected].

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    Do I Need To Aerate Before Seeding

    If you plan to overseed a lawn to fill in spots, you should aerate before seeding. It is a good idea to avoid aerating lawns when they are going into dormancy. It is best to aerate in late spring and early summer for warm-season grasses.

    If your lawn has a lot of dead or dying grass, it may not need aeration. However, if the grass is healthy and growing well, then you may want to add a small amount of fertilizer to the soil to help it grow. If you are not sure, check with a professional lawn care professional.

    Why Should You Overseed Your Lawn In The Spring

    The reasons why spring overseeding might be the best option for revitalizing a thin or damaged lawn with bare patches are the same as they would be for fall overseeding. If the lawn contains just a few bare or damaged areas, then spot seeding is usually the more appropriate procedure. Overseeding is used for larger areas where the turf is thin but not bare.

    While the best time to reseed or overseed your lawn is in the spring or fall, overseeding is similar in most other respects. Using the seed of new and improved types of turfgrass will make the lawn better resist stresses caused by diseases, insects and drought. Its important, however, to pay close attention to soil moisture when overseeding in spring. The tender turfgrass seedlings will need frequent light watering to get them established before the hotter, drier weather of summer arrives.

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