By spreading the grass seeds over the existing lawn, you can thicken the thin areas and your lawn will look fantastic again. This is different from sowing again, which is when you start over and plant a whole new lawn. Planting grass seeds is one way to expand your lawn to new areas and maximize the green space around your home. You can also plant new grass seeds to improve your current lawn if it looks a little dirty.
You can even use grass seeds to completely restart your lawn. Lawn seeds scattered on the lawn without proper preparation and ground cover will sprout at a much slower rate than properly sown grass. In addition, any seed that sprouts will have difficulty establishing. This is true whether you are sowing bare soil or sowing an established lawn.
Overseeding is spreading grass seed over an existing lawn. If done right, it's a simple process that gets results. As grasses mature, thinning is normal, especially if you like grass and use it often. Overseeding keeps your lawn competitive and full of youth and vigor, without starting from scratch again.
The best time to plant cold-season grasses in the northern regions is from late summer to early autumn, when they grow most vigorously. Spring is the second best time. Warm soil encourages seed germination, fresh autumn air stimulates growth, and soil moisture remains more constant. Hardy weeds from warm seasons, such as crab grass and coquillo, are also less active in autumn.
The Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance service recommends overseeding at least 45 days before the average first fall frost, 1 In southern areas, overseeding lawn thinning in late spring, as warm-season grasses enter active growth. For winter color, oversow southern grass in autumn. Wait until nighttime temperatures drop steadily below 65°F and your current warm-season turf slows down and begins to fade. Avoid weed feed products &; pre-emergent herbicides inhibit seed germination.
Starter fertilizer, such as Pennington Ultragreen Starter Fertilizer 12-22-8, provides essential nutrients for new turf. Phosphorus supports vigorous root growth, while nitrogen encourages superior growth and. Some states and counties restrict phosphorus lawn fertilizers due to environmental concerns regarding runoff, but exceptions may be made for new crops. Check with your local county extension agent about nutrient application restrictions.
Grass seeds can be spread on fresh soil to start a new lawn. But if you spread the seeds in the soil without the right cover and nutrients, not every seed will grow. The seed embryo may remain dry while exposed to air and, without moisture, will not germinate. Planting grass seeds on existing lawns is an easy stimulus for besieged lawns that need a little extra backfill.
Follow our four easy steps and your lawn will be lush and full in no time. Will grass seeds grow if they are not covered? Yes, but there is more to know when sowing the lawn. Some seeds on the soil surface will sprout despite the harsh treatment, but the germination rate will decrease and waste your investment and hard work. Explore these tips from Jonathan Green's experts for sowing grass.
Whether you have some noticeable bare areas or just want to thicken your lawn as a whole, you may be thinking about spraying some grass seeds around. As the name implies, warm-season grass develops best in warm southern and coastal areas, although it can be found through “transition zones” in the United States, where climates support warm and cold season grasses. Once activated, microbes allow nutrients to be easily absorbed by grass roots, resulting in a stronger, healthier lawn. The final step to successfully planting grass seeds is to keep your lawn properly hydrated all the time.
When warm-season grasses turn brown, overseeding with a premium cold-season rootstock, such as Pennington's annual rootstock, provides a temporary green lawn while permanent warm-season grasses are dormant. In addition to preparing the oversowing area with aeration of the core, you need to apply a starting fertilizer with a high phosphorus content, if a fertilizer is not combined with the seed of the lawn. A little research can reduce the headaches that will inevitably occur when choosing the wrong type of grass seed for your region. The germination time of grass seeds varies from 5 to 30 days depending on the variety or longer in colder temperatures.
There are three things you should do before you sow your lawn seed to get the most out of overseeding. This two-step process has a unique impact, as it prepares the soil and deposits a layer of grass seed that has good contact between the seed and the soil. With the same regions shown above, you'll want to buy a type of grass seed that grows better in your climate. While you can spread the seeds on the surface of the soil and let them grow naturally, you need to cover the seeds and ensure proper watering for a higher germination rate and a successful lawn.
Placing a type of grass seed that can't thrive in the forest will leave you disappointed. Once the seeds have been planted, there are some additional tips you can keep in mind to ensure proper growth of your new lawn. . .
