Lawn Plug Aerators

Step-by-Step Lawn Reseeding Guide

June 16th, 2010 | Author: chris

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So the summer heat got the better of your lawn. Now there’s not much green patch remaining. Instead, all you see is dirt and brown from end to end. It’s time for lawn reseeding. Reseeding your lawn is a great way to revive your lawn’s majestic green color without having to spend too much. However, this process takes quite a while and a whole lot of patience before you start seeing the results.

There are a few preliminaries that have to be set up before you start the process. First, you need to make sure that your timing is right. The best time to do lawn reseeding is during fall or spring. You want the soil to be warm for the seeds to germinate faster. It is also possible to reseed during the summer but you will have to keep the grass moist.

Assuming you have already decided on what seed to grow, the first thing you need to do is to work the ground. Pull up the weeds off the ground or apply herbicide according to package instructions. If the ground is covered with too much weed, you might have to eliminate the entire lawn before you start. Otherwise, after getting rid of the weeds, you can move on to mowing the grass growth to a height of ¾ inches to one inch to make way for the seed and the fertilizer that you will later apply. Also remember to pull the dead grass using an iron rake.

Now that the ground is ready, you can start applying fertilizer and compost. If you are reseeding the entire lawn, however, it might be better to put this off for later when the grass is starting to germinate. In case there are existing grass growths that you need to fertilize, make sure to apply light fertilizer evenly. Composting also enriches the ground, so make sure to have enough compost to cover the entire lawn with a ½-inch layer.

After fertilizing and composting comes planting. This step depends on whether you need to deal with only a few brown spots or you need to revitalize the entire lawn. Pour the seeds into the spreader, making sure to set the spreader opening correctly according to the seed size. You can use a broadcast spreader or a drop spreader, depending on the area that you need to seed. Broadcast spreaders spread seeds evenly over a wide area, while drop spreaders are best for borders where you do not want grass to grow in. If you need to work the entire lawn, it is best to do this in a grid fashion so the seeds are spread evenly and no area is left uncovered. If you need to work the brown spots, seed only where necessary.

After seeding, you need to cover the seeded area with straw to keep the seeds protected when they germinate. Don’t smother the area with straw, however. Keep the layer of straw light, making sure that you can still see the soil through it. Once the seeds begin to germinate up to a height of three inches, you can now mow the straw into the growing grass. You also need to keep the seed moist while germinating by watering it for up to thrice a day.

Finally, let three to four weeks pass before applying fertilizer as the last step in your lawn reseeding project. By this time, the seeds will have germinated to about a height of one inch.