Overseeding: Have A Healthy Winter Lawn

If your lawn is showing signs of stress due to the summer heat, overseeding is a way you can restore and improve its appearance and health. Overseeding your lawn fills in bare patches, improves thinning grass sections and helps your grass repair damage sustained by drought, insects and parasites. It also introduces variety to your lawn’s grass, compensating for what may be a poor choice of grass made by your home’s previous owner.

When Should You Overseed Your Lawn?

The best time to overseed a lawn is once the temperature is consistently beneath 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The end of September through the month of October is usually the most opportune time due to the end of summertime and transition into fall. You want to make sure that you’ve completed the overseeding process before the beginning of winter when the temperature drops too low.

The First Steps

When it’s time to overseed your lawn, you should reduce the height on your mower so that you’re trimming the grass closer to the ground. If you’ve been fertilizing your lawn, now is the time to stop, as you’re aiming to turn your lawn dormant during the overseeding process. Lowering the trim on your lawn also removes dead grass and uneven patches.

Water Your Lawn Less

The next step to take is to reduce the amount of water you’re giving your grass. It’s recommended to reduce watering by 30% for the week before you plan to have your lawn scalped. About 24-72 hours before scalping, you should stop watering your lawn altogether.

Aerate Your Lawn

The scalping process allows new seed to take hold easily so that it comes in thicker during the spring. This is why you need to have the lawn scalped before you put down any new seed. When your lawn is aerated, weak and unhealthy patches of grass will be removed to make way for new grass.

Choosing the Right Seed

Planting a blend of different seeds usually helps, but you need to choose grasses that can thrive in the area you live. In Arizona, bermudagrass, bluegrass and rye are the best types of grass to plant. Bluegrass and rye are best during the cooler months, while bermudagrass can withstand the summer heat better.

Be Patient During the Transition

Overseeding a lawn can be similar to pruning trees. Before it grows back, it may lack the thickness and deep color that you’re looking for. But if you give it time and take proper care of your lawn, it will grow back fuller and thicker than it was before.

Learn More with a Consultation by Think Green

Think Green can help you design the lawn of your dreams and give you everything you need to keep it looking amazing. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.