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As much as you want your lawn to look healthy all the time, there will be the occasional problem of having dry patches. In order to get your lawn back to its lush state, you should overseed it. This is a process where you will put new grass seeds without removing the turf or the soil.
You still need to make adjustments when you’re overseeding. For one, you’ll have to loosen the soil. While aeration is a common method for loosening the soil, there are other ways that you can explore. Here, you’ll learn how to overseed your lawn without aerating.
First of all, it’s important to understand the value of overseeding. We know that it allows you to grow new grass seeds into existing turf, but what are the benefits? For one, overseeding is used to cover any barren or thin patches in your lawn. Second, it’s a quick way to increase the density of your turf.
Third, overseeding can make your lawn look more vibrant with the addition of new grass. Fourth, this process allows you to try out different and better varieties of grass. Old lawns have turf grasses that are no longer suitable for use. Old lawns usually demand a lot of water and fertilizer to survive. Worse, they could be prone to insects and plant diseases.
With overseeding, you can slowly but surely replace the old grass. For example, you can overseed your lawn with Zoysia grass, which won’t immediately succumb to pests, plant diseases, and drought. You can also overseed with Buffalo grass to save on water and fertilizer use. Overseeding is a worthy investment that will allow you to improve your current lawn in the fastest way possible.
Now that you are aware of the benefits of overseeding, you must identify the best time to do it. You can actually overseed during any season of the year, but the success of it will vary. For example, the best time for overseeding is during the early stage of fall or the late phase of summer. This is when the temperature of both the soil and the atmosphere are highly beneficial for both plant growth and germination.
As long as your new grass seeds receive sufficient sunlight, water, and fertilizer, they will grow and become established in your lawn right before the latter phase of the fall season arrives. Likewise, early fall and late summer are not beneficial for the weeds’ proliferation. This reduces the chances of weeds absorbing the moisture and nutrient.
If you overseed in the spring season, take note of heavy rainfall, the spread of weeds, and sudden increases in temperature. You also have to choose between herbicides and planting seeds.
You cannot do both at the same time because the application of herbicides can impede grass seed establishment. Instead, we recommend overseeding first before you apply any weed killer products. Wait for at least a month to allow the grass seeds to undergo germination.
Overseeding in the middle of summer isn’t impossible, but it’s not easy either. This is a perfect for plant disease. In addition, intense heat and drought can stress out your grass. Weeds can also wreak havoc on your lawn. Thus, it’s essential that you use herbicide and deeply water your lawn during this season.
Finally, you can overseed during the last stage of the fall season and when winter is about to arrive. The process is called dormant overseeding since the plants are about to go into their dormant stage. This is when the grass does not increase in height but the roots still grow underneath the soil. You just have to use a snow cover so that dry winter winds and water erosion won’t affect your plants.
The first thing you must do is mow the existing turf. You should cut it down to a point where the lawn is just an inch away from the soil surface. Instead of aeration, you should get a metallic rake. Use this tool to not only loosen the soil but also to clean up any debris, grass clippings, and dead plants. You can also use a dethatcher if there is a thatch that is at least half an inch in thickness.
Next, begin to spread the seeds using either a broadcast spreader or a drop spreader. If it is a small area, you can just do it by hand. However, you must first mix the grass seeds with sand so that they will be evenly spread on your lawn. You can choose the same type of grass on your lawn if it’s still thriving or you can try other grass varieties. The amount of seeds you will plant is entirely dependent on you.
After spreading the seeds, you must use 10-10-10 starter fertilizer. You only have to apply two pounds of this fertilizer for every 1,000 square feet of the lawn. Get the metallic rake once again to ensure that the grass seeds and the fertilizer are established in the soil.
As for irrigation, you should only water lightly in order to prevent the seeds from being separated from the soil. Still, you must water your lawn at least twice a day in order to give enough moisture to the soil. After three weeks, the grass seedlings will already be established in your lawn and you can increase the amount of water.
In terms of mowing, your cutting height should be between one and a half inches to two inches. This will prevent any tall grasses from covering the seedlings from sunlight. When the grass is already established, you can mow again at a cutting height of three inches.
Lastly, apply a pound of nitrogen fertilizer for every 1,000 square feet of the lawn after six weeks.
In conclusion, overseeding is a fantastic way to improve the health and appearance of your lawn. You can do it in any season, and it is entirely possible to do it without aeration.
We hope this guide helped you in effectively overseeding your lawn. If you have any questions, do give us a comment.
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