Should You Overseed Your Lawn This Spring
A common question we receive in the spring is in regards to overseeding your lawn. If you live in an area with warm season grasses, like Centipede or Bermuda grass, reseeding is not a very common practice and it does not work all that well. For those who live in areas where cool-season grasses like bluegrass or turf-type tall fescue grow, seeding can be a successful and a necessary part of caring for your lawn.
The best time to overseed an existing lawn is late summer until early fall. If you did not have a chance to do so last year, it might be something you want to take care of this spring.
You can overseed in the spring, but here are 4 important aspects that you should consider:
When Is It Too Late To Aerate And Overseed The Short Answer
Its too late to aerate if the ground is frozen and its too late to overseed if there is snow on the ground. If you want to do both of these at the same time, you need unfrozen ground. If you want your seeds to germinate in the same year you plant them and you want those seedlings to survive and later thrive, you need about 4 weeks of temperatures above 50F. However, you can also aerate and overseed in the fall and have those seeds germinate in the spring.
What Is Overseeding A Lawn
Aeration and overseeding are, in fact, separate lawn care tasks, but theyre often performed at about the same time. Overseeding simply means spreading new grass seeds onto your current lawn. Once youve aerated your soil, conditions are ideal for overseeding. Overseeding your lawn will help you fill in bare patches and promote thick, healthy grass.
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What Happens If You Plant Your Grass Seed Too Late
If you plant your grass seed too late in the season, youll shorten its period of good growth. The root system will not have had the time to work its way down into the soil well. The grass blades will not have had time to adequately establish themselves and harden for the upcoming winter conditions.
When the air and soil temperatures begin to drop in the fall, these plants are less equipped to handle dormancy than seeds planted earlier. Because of this, you will likely see an increase in winterkill, with fewer plants surviving to spring.
The Hole Truth About Aeration
Aerating is a process that allows your lawn to breathe. Its conducted by poking a series of holes in the soil where the grass grows. These holes allow proper nutrients, moisture, light, and air penetrate the soil better and reach the root system. Ultimately, it makes your lawn healthier.
Often referred to as core aeration, the technique uses special tined equipment to create a pattern of holes in the soil. Hollow tines are better than solid because they remove a plug of soil. The holes left behind create an ideal environment in which the root system of the grass can expand. After aeration, the small plugs of soil eventually blend back into the lawn.
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Is It Too Late To Overseed My Lawn
I realize I should have overseeded my lawn a few weeks ago, but was not able to get to it. Is it too late to do it now? If yes, when is the best time? Thanks.
Thank you for contacting the Toronto Master Gardeners with your question.
The best time to overseed your lawn is in the fall, when the soil is still warm but the air is cooler and there is considerably more precipitation. Spring is the second best time.
I would recommend to try and get it done by this weekend. We still have nice mild, warm weather through the end of the month which should allow for a robust germination going into November with the right amount of watering.
We have numerous archived posts on our websites, simply type overseeding in the search bar located to the right of the page.
Best Times Of The Year To Seed Your Lawn
If you need to know when is the best time to seed your lawn, you should know that it depends significantly on the area where you live. If your home resides in the North or an area with distinct and separate seasons, and you want to plant cool-weather grass, seed your lawn from the beginning of to the middle of . Do not wait until the end of September.
There must be at least six weeks between the initial seeding and the first frost of winter. If you dont know the date of the first frost, the date is available online. Just google first frost and the city or area code where you live.
If you seed your lawn too close to the date of the first frost, the seeds will not have enough time to germinate in the ground, and the temperature will be too cold for them to do so, and any new roots or sprouts will die.
If you live in the South or a warmer area, and you want to plant warm-weather grass, the plan to sew your lawn from the end of or to the end of .
Note: If you reside in a place that does not experience low temperatures or snow during the winter, then you may be able to plant cool weather grass at any time during the winter, including December, January, February.
These weather factors are especially true if you live close to the equator. If you live anywhere in the South or the Western United States, Mexico or Guatemala, the date of the first frost should not matter if your area has won at all.
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Should I Fertilize Before Or After Overseeding
You can fertilize your lawn before or after overseeding. Your new grass seed will be fed by both tactics. The best time to fertilize is within 3 days after seeding. Its possible to spread your starter fertilizer a few days before the first frost.
If you dont have a lawn mower, you may want to consider using a hand-held lawn sprinkler. You can also use a garden hose to spray the lawn, but be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions for proper watering.
Should You Pick Up Plugs After Aerating In The Northeast
Its never a good idea to rake up or throw away soil plugs created by the aeration process. These plugs contain valuable microorganisms and nutrients that they feedback to the soil as they break down. You can even put these plugs to use to benefit your yard. Allow them to crumble naturally. Theyll be gone in 26 weeks.
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Can It Be Too Late To Aerate The Lawn
So, itâs mid october, the plug-pulling lawn Aerator that I ordered in early august got here today. In the past two weeks, as is pretty normal in my neck of the woods, the weather has looked like this, and is quickly getting colder.
Iâm thinking about still aerating my lawn, but donât want to expose roots to winter temperatures. Should I hold off until the spring, or can you aerate pretty much all year long?
Fall is the best time to aerate. I wouldnât do it when temperatures at night are regularly at or below freezing but your temperatures look balmy, now. I am assuming you have cool season grasses since you are looking forward to a winter and freezing, so go ahead and aerate. Leave those plugs right where they fall. They will disintegrate adding soil and bacteria to the surface that will greatly help with reducing thatch . Core aeration reduces compaction and also gets more air into the lawnâs bed to boost your micro and macro flora and fauna health.
The fall is also an important time to do the last fertilizing. The formulation is different than earlier in the season. Do not use a fast acting, high nitrogen fertilizer. You donât want fresh, new, more vulnerable grass photosynthetic matter going into the winter. This will set you up for major fungal disease problems in the sping.
How To Overseed A Lawn
1. Choose the right grass seed Before anything else, make sure youre planting the correct type of grass seed to match the rest of your lawn. Cool-season grasses are often found in the north, while warm-season grass frequents the south. If in doubt, consult an expert at your local home department store.
2. Mow your lawn When it comes to overseeding, the first step is to mow your lawn to a low height. Cut it down to about 1.5-2 inches in length.
3. Rake the dead grass Take a rake to your lawn afterwards to remove any dead grass. You might think this is making things look worse, but this clears the area for the seeds to reach the soil.
4. Check your soil Check the conditions of your soil using a soil test and add amendments as necessary to improve it’s habitability. We recommend the Luster Leaf 1602 Soil Test Kit ).
5. Aerate the lawn Now you want to aerate the lawn to give the soil a new lease of life. This will loosen up and rotate the soil, allowing for better air circulation and nutrients, so its an important step.
6. Overseed Apply the grass seed by hand or using a spreader to areas where you want fresh growth. Make sure you follow the dosage instructions according to the label. If you aerated your lawn, aim to spread the seeds via the holes left behind. We recommend the Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard Mini Broadcast Spreader ).
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The Benefits Of Fall Aeration And Overseeding
Choosing to aerate and overseed in the fall has a number of benefits for your lawn.
Stimulates Fresh Growth
While grass can live for years, a fresh one is always welcomed. Without fresh grass, your lawn will look old and worn out, with bald patches in the corners. Aeration and overseeding take care of this problem by stimulating fresh growth of new and healthy grass and keeping your lawn green and healthy at all times.
Reduces Weeds
When you aerate and overseed, you give the roots air boost. The roots of your grass have more access to water, air, sun, and other nutrients necessary to expand through the soil. Invasive weeds wont grow in a lawn that is full of healthy plants and strong roots.
Stronger Grass Roots
In early fall, your grass will start to slow its growth. However, if your soil is lush and productive, the roots will continue to grow. By helping the roots have access to water, air, and essential nutrients, you are helping them grow stronger and deeper into the ground. The deeper the roots, the more resilient the turf. The more resistant the turf, the lesser the weeds.
Resists Harsh Winter Temperatures
Aerating and overseeding in the fall will prepare your lawn for the upcoming temperatures and set it up for progress once spring comes.
Is September A Good Seed
Time to Seed September is not only good for fertilizing it is also the ideal time to sow new grass seed. Warm soils, bright sunshine and cooler nights make September ideal for establishing new plants. September is the best month to plant grass seeds because the soil is warm and moist and the grasses are ready to germinate.
Grass seed germination can take anywhere from two to four weeks depending on the type of grass and how well it has been watered. If you are planting a seedling of a perennial grass, you will need to wait a little longer to see the first sprouts. This is especially true if your grass is a drought tolerant perennial.
You will also want to make sure you have a good supply of fertilizer on hand to help your plants grow.
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Considerations For Seeding Lawns In Late Fall
Is October too late to seed?
The best time to plant new tall fescue and bluegrass seed is in early to mid September. When it’s 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. The problem with late season seeding is that Mother Nature is working against us. Shorter days and cooler temperatures prolong the germination of the seed and its establishment.
Establishment of the tender grass is a must for it to survive the winter. Grass that is seeded late can die as a result of the cold harsh conditions, or due to drying out. Freezing and thawing of the soil, coupled with a lack of moisture, leaves the tender roots and crowns susceptible to desiccation.
Seeding late into the season still requires the same steps. Proper soil preparation is a must. This is best accomplished by either verticutting the lawn or through core aeration. These machines open the surface and allow the seed to come in contact with the soil.
Timely irrigation is also very important. Once the seed is sown the upper surface of the soil should remain damp at all times. This may require daily, light applications. It all depends on the amount of sun and wind. Be prepared to water when needed as lack of water will slow establishment.
How To Overseed Your Lawn In Fall And When To Do It
Looking to overseed your lawn before winter hits? Heres what you need to know
Its been a difficult summer for lawn care to say the least. The endless heat waves have left many of us questioning how much you should water your lawn, and if you couldnt keep on top of demand, the result is dead grass everywhere and crabgrass galore. Many lawns have now been left with ugly bald patches of soil scattered as far as the eye can see.
While you might think learning how to plant grass seed is the answer, overseeding may be the better method if youre dealing with patches of exposed soil. The fall provides ideal conditions for overseeding, however with winter approaching, your window is quickly closing and you need to act fast if you want to get those patches covered and growing in time to survive. Heres what you need to know about overseeding your lawn in the fall.
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How And When To Overseed Your Lawn
Are you an avid gardener taking the best possible care of your lawn watering, weeding, mowing, fertilizing and everything else needed for it to flourish? Do you still have issues with your lawn looking worn out, thin and unhealthy despite that? Dont worry, this is something that happens more often than not and we have just the solution you need.
Overseeding is the process of sowing new seed into an existing lawn. This method is used by professional gardeners and knowledgeable garden enthusiasts and will turn your tired lawn into a fresh and vibrant paradise. Overseeding could take some time and effort, especially if you have a bigger lawn, however, its very useful, produces great results and is environmentally friendly as it reduces the need to use chemicals to support your lawn. Read on if you want to learn how to overseed the right way.
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Why Overseed Your Lawn
When grass is thin or areas have been damaged by too much sun, insects or disease, you should consider overseeding the lawn. This is essentially spreading grass seed over the existing lawn.Overseeding works best when done on an established lawn where the existing grass is thin, as opposed to bare ground or bald areas.
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When Is It Too Late To Plant Grass Seed
To achieve the best possible lawn come spring, it typically means you need to overseed the preceding fall to fill in bare spots and thicken sparse areas. When it comes to timing this project, the most important thing is to keep in mind is not sowing seed too late.
When determining when its too late to plant grass seed, you first need to figure out the right time to sow grass seeds.
Generally speaking, most people overseed or seed a new lawn in September because the blistering summer heat is in the rearview mirror, and the frozen ground of winter is still months away.
In many cases, though, a later autumn seeding may make more sense. And in some instances, seeding shouldnt happen in the fall at all, but in the spring.
Why Aerate And Overseed Your Lawn In The Fall
Aeration is the process of creating tiny holes across your lawn. Over the summer months, the soil is compressed from high temperatures, excessive use, and hard rain, making it difficult for the roots of your grass to access air, water, and the necessary nutrients. Aeration solves this problem, digging thousands of small holes, allowing nutrients, fertilizer, and water to access your turfs roots.
Fall aeration is vital to achieving a green and healthy lawn. If you want your garden to look its best, fall aeration should become an essential part of your lawn care and maintenance process.
In fact, fall overseeding and aeration are the best combo to give your turf the boost it needs to germinate and mature.
Overseeding is the process of planting grass seeds into your existing turf, without devastating the soil. From a professional point of view, it is one of the best ways to improve your grasss color, fill in bare spots, and improve your turfs overall health. After high summer temperatures, foot traffic, and lawn diseases, your yard may look work out. Following fall overseeding and aeration help thicken up the outer grass layer, reduce weed growth, enhance your lawns ability to protect itself from insects, and improve your yards appearance.
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