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If you have a previously established lawn and have been contemplating new sod or roto tilling to bring it back to life, consider overseeding instead. For a fraction of the cost of sod, you can have a lawn with significantly more advantages than sod.
Over seeding is the process of planting grass seed directly into existing turf, without tearing up the turf or the soil. An investment in over seeding pays off with a thicker, more beautiful lawn. lawns tend to thin out with time. Most sod growers advise to over seed every two years to keep Fescue lawns thick and healthy, and to avoid the expense and disruption of re-sodding a yard. 2) Go over entire yard twice in different directions with a core lawn aerator. This will loosen the soil, break up thatch and have an additional place for the seeds to germinate. What to do after overseeding: 1) adequate water must be available from seeding through germination. This is an absolute must. Water the newly-seeded area two to three times daily without fail. You are not soaking the soil, you are just avoiding letting the seed, once moistened, keep from drying out. If you let the seed dry out for just one day, you can lose up to 40% germination; not a pretty picture. As newly germinated seedlings begin growth, decrease watering frequency and increase the duration to encourage rooting. 3) In late November apply a winterizer fertilizer to create good root growth for next year. If you would like us to do this call us at 460-1728 or email lawnplugger@comcast.net
For successful overseeding, it is critical that seeds be placed into contact with the soil, whether seeding into live or dead turf. Seeds scattered on top of live or dead turf with a broadcast spreader rarely produce a decent strand of turf. Seed to soil contact is what grows grass. This can be accomplished with a lawn “slit seeder”, and a lawn aerator. Both supremely useful for lawn renovation machines. Slit-seeders combine vertical mowing with seeding. As the machine goes across your lawn, it opens the soil and deposits seed directly into the soil opening. Seed is metered at a predetermined rate; half the desired seeding rate is dispersed in one direction and the other half on a second pass perpendicular to the first. These machines have an incredibly high success rate for seed taking root and growing. Seeds are protected and nearly guaranteed protection from sun, birds by being packed firmly into the soil where, once it grows, it will remain in place.
Overseeding service includes a 5 step process:
1) Dethatch lawn using a power rake. The thatch will be raked, bagged and hauled away. This step is not necessary for all lawns and will be done if thatch is more then 1/2 inch thick. This can be checked by cutting a plug out from yard and measure the thickness of the thatch layer
3) Go over entire yard twice with a slit-seeder machine (mechanical overseeder) Two passes in an X pattern distributing half the seed in each pass laying 99.9% weed free premium Kentucky blue grass at a rate of 2lbs per pass for 4lbs per 1,000 sq ft
4) go over entire area with a lawn roller to insure seed to soil contact.
5) Applying a starter fertilizer (high in phosphorus) over the entire lawn at a rate of 1.5 lbs per 1000 square feet.
What to do before overseeding:
Lawn will need to be Mowed and the clipping bagged to a height of 1.5 inches to reduce competition from established grasses. The clippings must be bagged as they will get in the way of the seed making contract with the soil. This can be done by the home owner we I be happy to do this the day of overseeding for additional cost.
2) Mow frequently to limit the competition from the established turf. Mow at 1.5 to 2 inches until new seedlings have been cut at least two times. After that, raise the mowing height in 1/2 inch intervals over the next three weeks until a normal mowing height of 2.5 to 3.5 inches is reached.
Gerry Barr 460-1728 or email lawnplugger@comcast.net
