Lawn Care: How to Overseed a Lawn

Are you among the 81% of Americans who have a home with a lawn?

If so, you no doubt take great pride in keeping your lawn lush and green. But what if, despite your best efforts, your lawn starts to look brown, patchy, or sparse?

In this case, you may need to level up your lawn care routine by overseeding. Keep reading as we explain how to oversee a lawn and return it to its beautifully green state.

What Is Overseeding?

Although it sounds like a negative, overseeding is actually a positive thing you can do to keep your lawn in good shape. It involves spreading grass seed over your existing lawn, which helps to thicken up the thinnest areas.

This is different than reseeding, which is when you start from scratch and start growing completely new grass.

When to Overseed

In the south, the best time to overseed is from the late spring to the middle of summer. This is because warm-season grasses need those warmer soil temperatures to germinate.

Meanwhile, up north, the best time to overseed is in the fall, when the soil is warm but the air temperature is cool. If it’s not possible to overseed in the fall, the next best season is during the springtime.

If you need more advice about your particular locale, you can get expert advice from a company like My Elite Lawn Care.

How to Overseed a Lawn

To prepare your lawn for overseeding, mow your grass a little shorter than usual. Bag the clippings, then rake your lawn to loosen the topsoil. This provides easy access for the grass seed to drop roots and germinate.

Next, choose the right grass seed for your area and existing lawn. If you haven’t improved the soil in a while, add a thin (0.25 inch) layer of new topsoil to help the seeds settle in. You might also grab a two-in-one bottle of fertilizer and soil improver for the best chance of growing success.

Now that your lawn is prepped and you have everything you need, it’s time for the fun part: overseeding. Simply fill up your seed spreader and adjust it to the proper setting according to the directions on the label directions. Then apply the seed evenly across your lawn.

Your work doesn’t end there.

To help those seeds take root and thrive, add some fertilizer to your spreader and retrace your steps. Choose a starter fertilizer designed to help seedlings establish strong roots. Avoid “weed and feed” mixtures, as they can inhibit new grass from growing.

Finally, water your lawn each day, preferably before 10 AM. Water your lawn enough to keep the ground moist, but beware of overwatering or creating puddles.

Expert Lawn Care Tips (And Much More)

Overseeding is an important component of regular lawn care. Use the tips listed above to ensure your lawn looks healthy and lush all year long!

Now that you know when and how to oversee a lawn, what’s next? Our site is full of terrific home and lifestyle advice, so stick around and continue browsing.