Do I Really Need to Overseed?
The winter season can be rough on New Jersey lawns, leaving many homeowners wondering why there are brown patches on what was once a lush emerald green masterpiece. The good news is – there is a way to revive a lawn that looks less than stellar as the spring season arrives. Overseeding is a secret used by many professional landscapers and spring is one of the most popular times for it.
Overseeding is the process of planting grass seed on an existing lawn. In New Jersey, the perfect time to overseed is spring or fall, because you have cool-season grass. Some experts suggest waiting until fall to overseed because the temperatures are more optimal for grass growth. If you didn’t overseed last fall and your lawn seems thin, spring may still a good time for overseeding.
Benefits of Overseeding
Depending on when the grass was initially planted, it may not withstand as much activity as today’s grasses. Adding new seed in with the old increases the lawns ability to resist insects and diseases that can destroy a backyard’s beauty. New seed also fills in bare spots, creating a fuller and healthier landscape. Healthier lawns require less ongoing maintenance for the rest of the summer, saving you time and money.
Steps for Overseeding
- Identify what happened to the lawn.
Figuring out what caused your lawn to go bare or die off is the first step. Planting new seed in underperforming soil will likely have the same results. A soil test will help you identify what nutrients the dirt lacks and how to treat it moving forward. - Talk to a lawn care professional.
Depending on the pH levels in the soil and other concerns such as crabgrass or weeds, overseeding in the spring may not be a good idea. Crabgrass prevention and weed control can’t be applied in the early stages of seeding. A lawn care professional has the necessary knowledge of what steps are taken, and in what order to create optimal results. - Mow your lawn.
If you determine that spring is the best time to spread seed, start by mowing your lawn. Grass needs to be cut so the seed can easily find its way into the earth and establish roots. Otherwise, it will get caught on top of the grass, and the majority will not grow. - Aerate the lawn.
Aerating is the process of pulling plugs of dirt out of the ground, creating small holes. These holes provide a place for the seeds to fall, allowing for nutrients and water to flow freely. - Spread the seed.
Once the lawn has been aerated, you can spread the seed with a spreader. Adjust the rate in which seeds drop based on the directions on the bag. - Water the lawn in the early morning.
Finally, don’t forget to water the grass so the seeds can grow. Young grassroots need to be moist at all times making watering a daily activity. Watering should occur in the early hours of the morning to prevent grass from wilting or scorching in the sun.
If you are considering overseeding this spring, contact the professionals at Perennial Lawn Care. We can conduct a soil test and help determine if now is the best time to overseed your lawn.
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