Oklahoma weather can be hard on your lawn. Between the humidity of the summer and the deep freeze of winter, the seasons can wreak havoc on your grass, leaving it looking thin and unnourished. One of the best ways to combat the weather’s harsh effect on your lawn? Overseeding! Whether you’re tending your first lawn or have years of experience, learning how to overseed your lawn can improve your results.
Essentially, overseeding is spreading grass seed over an existing lawn. Done right, it’s a straightforward process that gets results. As grasses mature, thinning is normal—especially if you use your lawn often. Overseeding keeps your lawn looking young and vibrant.
GreenPro Lawn specialists are experts at getting great results from the lawns we service, but it’s important for homeowners to understand the basic principles involved in overseeding. We like to lay out a comprehensive care plan for our clients, so that they get the maximum results from their grass. To find success with overseeding your lawn, homeowners should follow this basic guide:
Establish Your Goal
Homeowners overseed to correct thin lawns, but pros overseed to prevent thinning. When warm season grasses go brown, overseeding with a premium, cool-season ryegrass provides a green temporary lawn while your permanent, warm-season grasses are dormant.
Time the Task
The best time for planting cool-season grasses is late summer to early fall, when they’re growing most vigorously. Spring is the second best time. The warm soil encourages seed germination, cool fall air stimulates growth, and soil moisture stays more constant. Tough, warm-season lawn weeds, such as crabgrass and nutsedge, are less active in fall, too.
Prepare The Area
Mow your lawn extra short and remove the clippings, so new seed contacts soil and gets sunlight and water. Set your mower at two inches or less for regular overseeding. Rake the soil with a metal thatch rake to remove thatch, clippings and debris. This loosens and exposes soil to receive seed.
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.
Select Quality Grass Seed Product
Better seed yields better lawns. Always use grasses recommended for your regional climate and choose top-quality grass seed you can depend on.
Spread Your Seed
Apply seed at label-recommended overseeding rates, using the lawn spreader that suits the job. Use drop or broadcast spreaders for large lawns and handheld spreaders for smaller areas. For small spots, simply seed from your hand. Work when the air is calm, so seed distributes evenly.
Fertilize Overseeded Areas
Avoid weed & feed products; the pre-emergent herbicides inhibit seed germination. Starter fertilizer delivers essential nutrients for new grass. Phosphorus supports vigorous root growth, while nitrogen fuels top growth and greening. Some states and counties restrict phosphorus lawn fertilizers due to environmental concerns regarding runoff, but exceptions may be made for new seedings. Check with your local county extension agent about nutrient application restrictions.
Water Your Lawn Well
Newly overseeded lawns need consistent moisture. Keep seed and soil moist with frequent, light watering twice a day for the first four days; water more heavily every other day for the next five days; then water as needed to prevent wilting. This encourages deep, healthy roots.
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, consistent weekday lawn maintenance schedule can keep your lawn lush and your weekends free.
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. You can look to GreenPro to help you keep your lawn at its peak! Give us a call today; let’s work together to give you the lawn of your dreams!