Reseeding In The South
In the South, seeding a new lawn is generally done in spring, but fall is a good time for overseeding an existing lawn. Thats when warm-season grasses are supplanted by cool-season grasses, ensuring winter color when the former go dormant. Wait until mid to late fall, when nighttime temperatures are consistently below 65 degrees F and the warm-season turf begins to lose color.
These are our top five fall lawn seeding products.
What Are The Best Types Of Grass Seed
Grass seed is divided into two categories, cool-season grasses, and warm-season grasses. Typically, youll want to plant the cool-season grasses in New Jersey since these are better suited for our cold winters versus the warm-season grasses. Some of our recommended grass seed include Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescues, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass.
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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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.
How To Overseed Or Reseed Your Lawn
There’s a secret behind achieving a beautiful, lush lawn. Landscape professionals know what it is, but many homeowners don’t. Overseedingas part of a comprehensive, proactive plankeeps lawns looking great. Whether you’re tending your first lawn or have years of experience, learning how to overseed your lawn can improve your results.
Overseeding is spreading grass seed over an existing lawn. Done right, it’s a straightforward process that gets results. As grasses mature, thinning is normalespecially if you enjoy your lawn and use it often. Overseeding keeps your lawn competitive and steeped in youth and vigor, without starting over from scratch.
The basics of overseeding are the same everywhere, but goals and timing vary based on geography and the type of grass grown. For success with overseeding your lawn, follow this basic guide:
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Return To Regular Maintenance
Keep your newly revived lawn looking its best with a regular, comprehensive maintenance plan that includes diligent watering, best mowing practices and proactive overseeding. A simple weekday lawn maintenance schedule can keep your lawn lush and your weekends free.
For a simple, all-in-one approach to a thicker lawn, you can put your lawn on the fast track with Pennington Lawn Booster. This easy-to-use product simplifies overseeding to give your lawn the boost it needs. In just one application, your lawn will grow quicker, thicker and greener than ordinary grassguaranteed.
Available in formulas for sun & shade or tall fescue lawns, Lawn Booster combines three essentials: seed, fertilizer and soil enhancer. Lime-enhanced, pure-bred Pennington Smart Seed, backed by years of breeding and research, adds beauty and sustainability. Once established, these water-conserving grasses require up to 30 percent less water than ordinary grasses. That’s year after year, for the life of your lawn. Plus, they stay green up to three weeks without watering. That means less work and more leisure time for you.
For the lawn of your dreams, don’t wait to overseed until your lawn looks less than its best. Give your lawn the boost it needs, step-by-step or all-in-one. Pennington’s here with premium grass seed and lawn care products to help you keep your lawn at its peak.
Pennington, One Step Complete, Smart Seed, and Ultragreen are trademarks of Pennington Seed, Inc.
Which Seeds To Choose For Reseeding
Reseeding at the bottom is like sowing an entire lawn, except that, in this case, you are only covering certain areas of your lawn. For this, you have to choose the composition of the suitable seed mixture depending on the use you want to make for your lawn.
The species and varieties must be adapted to your region and therefore to the environment. In order to obtain a high germination rate and to limit as much as possible the arrival of undesirable plants, you will prefer a seed of first quality.
However, be careful with the choice of seeds in the case of reseeding. Indeed, the idea being to harmonize the bare areas of your lawn with those provided, it is wise to choose species similar to those already established, so as to obtain a homogeneous rendering in terms of texture and color.
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How To Reseed Or Overseed A Lawn In 6 Easy Steps
Your lawn may look healthier at certain times of year than others. Some grass goes dormant during the winter or summer, and some lawns may battle insects, fungus, or high usage, which thins them or creates barren areas. To deal with these situations, some homeowners may consider overseeding or reseeding their lawn. Learning how to overseed a lawn or reseed a lawn isnt difficult, but it does require some planning and research. Heres a simple step-by-step guide to help you.
How Should I Water The Areas Of Lawn I Have Reseeded
Watering new seed is very different to if you were watering a lawn. Seed germinates by absorbing moisture into the seed pod, swelling up and popping or germinating. So, watering for short bursts will stop the seed from drying out. Water soaked through the lawn is of no use to seed at all.
There is no rule of thumb when it comes to how quickly seed can germinate. Soil temperatures, moisture availability, depth of seed and light availability all play their part. Also, some grass species are larger and can germinate much quicker than others. Ultimately, however, the correct moisture in the surface and moderate soil temperatures are key to quickening up this process.
How do I look after the new seedlings?
To grow into strong plants, seedlings need foods, and they need it early. Generally, seedlings like phosphates, although some nitrogen is also useful. Traditionally you would of looked for a quick-release fertiliser with a fairly high middle number, such as 5-10-5. Apply either when sowing the seed or when you first see germination, at 35-70 grams per square metre.
If an organic feed is preferred, we recommend True Grass organic fertiliser. Through our own testing we found this helps seedlings germinate faster and the lawn to thicken quicker than conventional fertilisers. Simply apply the organic granules into and over the seeded area and then top the feed up again when germination has occurred as the new grass plants will soon use it.
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How To Maintain Your Lawn After Overseeding
Grass seed takes seven to 21 days to germinate.
- Youll need to keep your lawn moist during this time to trigger germination. If you have an irrigation system, this is easy to do. Otherwise, youll need to set out a sprinkler or water smaller areas by hand.
- Once you see seed popping up, dont stop watering. These little seedlings need to be nurtured during their first eight weeks of existence. Without a mature root system they can dry out quickly and die.
- Applying a starter fertilizer at the time of overseeding is not necessary. If you normally fertilizer your lawn, there are enough nutrients in the soil to get the new seed growing. Applying fertilizer to your lawn after overseeding can create unnecessary competition from existing grass, making it difficult for new seedlings to get established.
With the help of a few basic tools, a nearby rental store and a free weekend, you can restore your lawns original health and beauty. Fall is a great time for other lawn care projects, too. Aerating and fertilizing are perfect companions to overseeding, as long as they happen a week or two before you overseed.
Consistent Soil Moisture Is Key
Take advantage of the season, when cooler temperatures and more consistent soil moisture make things less stressful for delicate, newly forming grass blades. Fall rains tend to be gentler than those in spring, allowing the water to soak into the soil where it will do some good. In addition, less irrigation is required because the hottest weather will have passed. Weeds and pests are less prevalent, too, lessening competition and stress on new grass.
Our fall lawn care guide shows you how to ensure a greener lawn next spring.
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When Should I Plant Grass Seed In Spring
Spring seeding is your second best option for planting cool-season grasses. Aim to seed early in the season, but wait until daytime temperatures are in the 60 to 75 degree Fahrenheit range. This roughly corresponds to the optimal soil temperatures for cool-season grass seed germination.
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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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.
When Should You Reseed Your Lawn
4.4/5youlawn to reseedtograssgrasstoquestion here
By applying grass seed over an existing lawn, you can help fill in bare spots and reinvigorate your lawn. The weather, kids, and pets can be tough on lawns. Lack of water, too much heat, wear & tear, and other problems can make it look worn and thin. You can help reinvigorate your lawn by overseeding.
Subsequently, question is, what month Should I reseed lawn? fall
Then, what is the best time to overseed your lawn?
When to OverseedIf you live in the South, the best time for overseeding is late spring through mid-summer, since warm-season grasses need warmer soil temperatures to germinate.
Will grass seed grow if I just throw it down?
If you simply throw grass seed onto compacted soil, you will get poor germination. I’m not a lawn expert, but if I was going to go to the cost and effort of spreading grass seed on my existing lawn, I would definitely spread a thin layer of finely sifted compost or topsoil over the top of the seed.
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Water Immediately And Maintain Your New Lawn
As with overseeding, the ground needs to stay moist until germination has completed, which for most seeds occurs within a couple of weeks. Some, however, can take up to a month. Again, check your seed instructions to understand germination time for your specific seed. Once you start to see germination, you can cut back on watering. Dont overwater, as you could potentially wash seeds away. Hold off on resuming your mowing schedule until you feel youve reached the point where germination is complete.
What Kind Of Lawn Should I Reseed
The right variety to reseed is essential. While there is an abundance of reseeding available in stores, identifying the right one from them is not exactly easy. Keep in mind that if you choose the wrong grass, the young blades of grass may not grow properly.
It is advisable to know what type of grass is already in your yard if you want to reseed.
Many amateur gardeners also complain about a noticeable difference between reseeding and the original lawn. Although the freshly seeded lawn grows, it has a difference in color or is less or more dense. Thus, the beautifully maintained lawn quickly resembles a carpet of spots. If you have no idea, it is best to visit a hardware store and get advice there. Otherwise, we have created a great overview of lawn seeds in this article. Here you can find out everything you need to know on our site.
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What Month Is Good For Reseeding A Yard
Related Articles
Reseeding a yard is a complex task that involves learning a number of different elements of lawn care. While not a difficult job, it does depend on a number of factors: your climate, your existing type of grass, your altitude, the local weather forecast for temperatures and rain, when your lawn was last treated with chemicals, and the traffic patterns of your lawn. It also requires you to set aside a few days to devote to the job. Once all the stars are aligned, only then should you start spreading the seeds to ensure a lush, green lawn.
How To Overseed Your Lawn
For cool-season turf, start the overseeding process by thoroughly aerating the lawn. Apply the new seed with a fertilizer spreader, following the product’s recommended coverage rate. It’s ideal when the seeds fall into the aeration holes because they won’t dry out as quickly and will germinate faster. You can even go over the lawn with the back of a rake to usher more seeds into the holes.
Follow the seeding with an application of your favorite fall fertilizer, applying it the same day as the seed, then water the lawn. Water once or twice every day until the new grass has begun to grow. The seed may need two weeks or more to germinate. Continue to mow the lawn as usual until it stops growing for the season.
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Correct Existing Lawn Problems
For troubles beyond normal thinning, test your soil and make corrections before overseeding. Follow test recommendations for using soil amendments and repairing bare lawn spots. If needed, take time to dethatch and core aerate compacted lawns so air, moisture and seed can get to the soil. Pennington One Step Complete products combine premium seed with a stabilized-release fertilizer and wood mulch to simplify lawn repairs.
How Do I Prepare The Areas Of Lawn For Reseeding
There are many ways to create a seed bed. However, a tip for successful reseeding is to create a seed bed from the soil you already have by aerating. To do this, begin by hollow-tine aerating, and leave the soil cores on the surface to dry for an hour or two.
Next, pass over the problem area with a scarifier , with the blades set just above the ground this turns the cores into seed bed material. Now apply the seed, by hand or using a drop-seeder.
The next step is to use a leaf rake or a scarifier set higher to break up the soil some more and cover the seeds. Water gently to moisten but not drench the soil and wait for nature to do its magic.
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The Timeline For Warm Weather Grasses
If temperatures in your area consistently reach 90 degrees F or higher throughout the summer, and the sun shines nearly every day, you likely have warm weather grasses in your yard. These thrive in sandy soils and can endure long periods of hot weather. The most popular warm-weather grasses include:
- St. Augustine
- Bermuda
- Bahia
Spring seeding gives these grasses time to mature throughout the summer and establish healthy roots before cooler winter temperatures set in. But its key to ensure youre outside of frost potential to avoid a late freeze. The soil should be warm but not soaked with water, and daytime temperatures should be in the low 80s.
The Toll of Winter
In the winter, warm weather grasses look dead because they often turn brown. You can boost your yards aesthetics during this time by laying some perennial ryegrass seed. Again, timing is everything do this only after temperatures have started to drop and your lawn looks brown. The ryegrass will give a fresh green hue throughout the winter.
