The Best Time of Year for Renovating or Overseeding Your Lawn is Between August 15 and September 30
- Soils are warm compared to spring and hastens germination
- Less competition from broadleaf weeds since most near the end of their growth cycle
- It is easier to maintain soil moisture since summer heat and drought are past
- Shady areas are more open since trees have begun to lose their leaves
Renovating – if your lawn is more than 50% weeds and dead grass.
It is best to eliminate all living matter by using a non-selective herbicide such as Round Up.
Overseeding – if your lawn is less than 50% dead grass and weeds and your existing lawn is thin.
- Mow the existing vegetation as low as possible and rake off extra debris.
- Core aerate area to break up the thatch layer and to loosen the soil so the roots can better absorb moisture and nutrients. The cores should be 2-3 inches deep and 3 inches apart. Aerators are available at many hardware, garden centers and rental stores.
- Plant grass seed with a slit seeder 1/8 inch deep. Seed to soil contact is very important for success.You will have best results by planting your lawn seed at half the rate each in a north/south then an east/west direction. This will give you a uniform blanket of grass.
- Apply a starter fertilizer at the rate of 3-4 lbs/1000 Sq. Ft.
- For areas that have bare slopes, mulch or erosion control blankets should be used to hold the seed in place.
- Apply irrigation daily so the top ½ inch of soil stays moist until the area is mowed one time. Minimum of 4 weeks of daily irrigation to allow Kentucky Bluegrass to germinate. When the area is mowed once, irrigation should be applied less frequently at higher rates to get the root system to grow deeper.
- Begin mowing once the first seedlings reach a height of 1½ to 2 inches to allow light to reach the slower germinating species. When overseeding, continue to mow the existing lawn at 1½ to 2 inches. After 6 weeks, raise mowing height to 2½ to 3 inches. Never mow more than 1/3 of the leaf blade in a mowing.
- Apply a fall fertilizer late in October to help the grass prepare for winter and it gives the grass a boost for early spring green up.
- Never apply weed control products to grass that has been planted less than 8 weeks prior or has been mowed less than four times.
