Why You Should Overseed Your Yard
Summer is right around the corner, and now is the time to start thinking about your lawn. If your grass is dry, brown and patchy — don’t worry. You are not alone! But complete turf renovation is easier than you think! In just a few short weeks you can have your yard looking as beautiful and green as the golf course by following these three steps.
- Dethatching
- Aerating
- Overseeding
Last week, we talked about the importance of aerating your yard. When it comes to turf renovation, the third and final step to creating a lush, beautiful yard is overseeding. In this article, we’ll talk about what it means to overseed your yard, why you should overseed, and the proper way to overseed.
What is Overseeding?
Many times, when a lawn is thin, bare, or brown, it is because the grass has died out. Overseeding consists of planting grass seed directly onto existing turf. Overseeding is an easy way fill in thin or dead spots of grass, giving you thicker, greener grass. Overseeding can be done with a spreader or an overseeder.
Why should I overseed?
Many grass types (especially cool-season grasses) have a tendency to lie dormant or even die in the hot weather and when exposed to excess sunlight. This state of dormancy can cause grass to turn brown and thin.
When this happens, the easiest way to get that rich, green color back in your yard is to overseed. Along with providing your lawn with a great, healthy color, overseeding will make your turf thicker. Thicker turf means a reduced risk of weeds coming through your turf.
How do I overseed my yard?
If your yard is brown or bare, you could probably benefit from overseeding. The best time to overseed is immediately after aerating your yard. This is because when it comes to growing grass, seed to soil contact is key. Although aerating isn’t always necessary, it will certainly help the grass germinate and grow more quickly and densely.
When it comes to choosing the right grass, that depends on the climate zone in your area. The map below breaks the country into three different regions: cool-season zone, transitional zone, and warm-season zone.
Temperate zone map for grass types
The zone you lie in will help determine which grass is best for your area. Popular cool-season grasses are Kentucky Bluegrass, Perennial Ryegrass, and Fescues. On the other hand, popular warm-season grasses are Zoysia and Bermuda grass. When overseeding your yard, it is usually a good idea to use a blend of two or three different grass types. For example, in cool-season zones, bluegrass is a great grass, but it can take up to three weeks to germinate. Because of this, adding a little bit of fescue to your Bluegrass can help the growing process. Fescues only take about a week to germinate, allowing them to protect the fragile bluegrass seeds until they get a chance to germinate.
After you have chosen the perfect grass combination for your area, it’s time to overseed. Using a spreader or overseeder, be sure to go over your lawn thoroughly. After seeding, gently go over your yard with a rake to help the seeds settle in. It’s also a good idea to water your lawn after overseeding.
Hopefully, after following these three steps, you will be well on your way to achieving the beautiful, lush, green yard that you’ve always dreamed about.
Mutton Power Equipment in Fort Wayne, Indiana has everything you might need along the way!