How to Overseed Lawn Grass
- 1). Overseed your lawn in the fall if you live in the North or early in the summer if you live in the South.
- 2). Look at the labels on bags of seed at a home improvement or garden center. Choose a seed type based on your lawn conditions. If you have a lot of shade in your yard, choose a shade seed. If your area is usually dry, choose a drought-tolerant variety.
- 3). Mow your lawn as closely to the ground as possible without scalping it. Mow to about 1 inch if you have an even, level yard. If your yard is uneven, or has some areas that could accidentally be scalped with blades at a 1-inch level, adjust the mower to mow at 1 1/2 to 2 inches. This shorter length of the existing grass will ensure the new seed reaches the soil and receives plenty of water and sunlight.
- 4). Rake your yard thoroughly, even if you have a grass catcher on your mower. Removing all of the debris that could get in the way of the new seed will help the seeds germinate properly.
- 5). Aerate your lawn to provide the new seed with the best chance to work into the soil. If you do not have an aerator, you can rent one from a home improvement or hardware store. Follow accompanying instructions on using the machine, the use of which is similar to a lawnmower.
- 6). Read the bag of seed to find the recommended spreader setting for your seed type. Set your spreader for double that amount to make up for the seeds that may not germinate because of the existing grass.
- 7). Spread the seed evenly with your spreader over the entire yard. Overlap passes to eliminate the possibility of missed spots.
- 8). Cover any seeded areas of bare soil, but not grass-covered areas, with about 1/10th of a pound of straw per square foot. The straw will help the new seeds by retaining moisture.
- 9). Soak the entire yard with water immediately with a garden hose. Maintain the moisture by watering the lawn twice a day until you see new growth.
- 10
Enjoy your lush new grass.grass image by Brett Bouwer from Fotolia.com
Mow your lawn once the new growth reaches 3 inches. Mowing before the new grass is 3 inches tall can result in the new growth being pulled from the soil, as the root system will be too weak.
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