How To Overseed Your Lawn

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Keep your lawn healthy, lush, and vibrant with a few simple steps. Overseeding is a perfect way to touch up those bare spots and thicken your yard’s turf. It can even help block weeds. Here's how to get started.


What 

You want grass that looks great and holds up to the weather in your region and conditions in your yard. The easiest way to get grass seed that matches the foot traffic and sunlight on your lawn is to check the label. Make sure to choose a high quality seed. The truth is, every bag of seed has some seeds that won't germinate and some weed seeds, as well, but with high quality seeds, there is much less of these problems. Seeds with moisture control is also a good choice. New seeds lots of moisture to start, so this makes watering a little less of a hassle.

When

Cooler temperatures combined with more dew, rain and moisture create prime growing conditions for new grass seed. So, early Spring or Fall are great times of year for overseeding. If you have already used a weed preventer, you will want to wait 4 weeks before overseeding.

How

Overseeding is pretty simple. You are basically sprinkling seed over your existing lawn, but these tips can boost your results
  • Mow your lawn with setting as low as it can go and rake it to loosen up dead grass or leaves. This helps the seed reach the soil.
  • Use a broadcast or drop lawn spreader to spread the seed over the entire lawn.
  • Follow up by spreading starter fertilizer.
  • Keep your lawn moist when dew and rain aren't doing the job for you.

Helpful Tips

  • If the soil is compacted, you can prep your lawn for overseeding with an aerator. 
  • If you have crabgrass, use a starter fertilizer with crabgrass preventer.
  • Regular maintenance helps your lawn grow healthy and vibrant.

For more helpful tips, visit Ace Hardware's Tips & Advice
Published: 3/2/2020