Seeding and overseeding

Lawn grasses grow old and lose some of their vigor and brightness. No matter how much fertilizer or water these lawns receive, they can continue to look lackluster. Sometimes, patches will die or brown. Often, the overall lawn will simply thin out and weeds will creep in.  Other lawns look great in the cool of spring and fall or in the heat of summer but fail to produce the same beauty during the other seasons.  VIRIDIS Lawn Care of Salt Lake City has an easy tip to help you repair both of these scenarios if they’re happening to you.

Reseeding or over seeding helps restore new life to an old and tired looking lawn.  It can also introduce new varieties of grass that thrive in different conditions than the current variety growing in your yard. This is only acceptable if over half of the lawn is still living. Beyond that, replanting the lawn is necessary.

Over seeding is simply spreading new grass seed over an existing lawn. Fall is the ideal time for reseeding so long as you spread the seed early enough that it germinates and begins growth before a killing frost. The soil is warm but the air is cool, perfect conditions for new grasses to grow. The seeds are also less prone to being choked out by weeds or already established grasses once the fall air cools.  If frost hits early, spring is the next best time for reseeding. Although the soil is usually cooler, it is a better time than midsummer when the heat makes it difficult for new seedlings to thrive.

Before seeding, mow your lawn lower and remove clippings to help the seeds reach the ground more easily and evenly.  Dethatching may also be necessary if it has built up. Aeration can also be helpful to reduce soil compaction and insure the seeds have place to grow. A soil amendment can also be used but be sure to not put more than ¼ inch or it could kill your grass. Soil testing can help determine any additions your soil needs to reach a neutral PH. Soon after seeding, fertilizer can be used to help speed germination.  Ground should be kept moist for 1-2 weeks or until the seeds have grown to 2 inches tall.  This will go against normal watering schedules of deeply and infrequently but only lasts until the seeds are established. Water just to keep the soil moist or you could rot the seeds.

This simple tip of over seeding, if done correctly, can add years of beauty and health to your old, tired lawn and help it maintain that beauty throughout all the warm months.