The grass is always greener on the other side!
That’s what I said to my sister last summer when she asked me why my lawn always looks better than hers. Well, Kelly has always been the more competitive sibling...
In all seriousness, it was great to have my little sister around. She did ask me about the lawn because, Lord knows, Kelly has never been good with a shovel.
To get back to the story – it was a Sunday afternoon when it happened. The dogs were running around the lawn as I watched from the porch – that’s when Kelly noticed the lush, green grass. As inquisitive as she is, she began bombarding me with questions about lawn maintenance.
How can I keep grass alive and green under the scorching Texas sun? How much do I spend yearly on landscapers?
Little did she know that the secret behind every healthy yard can be so simple – reseeding!
Since it’s spring now and Kelly will be visiting again – she can finally watch the process for herself. And for others like her, I decided to write this guide on how to plant grass seed on existing lawn.
Before I get down to business, there are a few basics about lawn reseeding that you should know. Also known as overseeding – this is the process of scattering grass seeds over the existing matured or thinning grass.
As you might have guessed, the new grass will fill in the gaps and make the entire lawn appear much fuller and greener. Thicker lawns also provide protection because they insulate heat better, and have a higher tolerance for droughts.
If you are like Kelly and you live in the North, then the best months for planting grass seeds are September through November. On the other hand, if you live in the South (like me), then late spring is the best time to start reseeding.
Planting just before the warm season ensures that your seeds are well-prepared for the ideal, but extremely short growth period. Trust me, there is no time to wait. You must sow your seeds while outside temperatures still hover between 70° and 80° F. Typically, these will be the months from March to June.
That being said, you should know that attempting to grow grass seeds outside of these seasons may give you results, but the odds for survival are not the best. And let me warn you right here – as low maintenance as it may seem, grass is very demanding!
Now that you have the basics down, it’s time to start putting in the labor.
Preparing your lawn for the new batch of grass is of utmost importance because barren soil cannot produce healthy grass. So, look out for dead patches, imbalances in pH levels, and pest infestation – remedy any existing issues before you move on to the next step.
I would add here that healthy soil has a pH between 6.0 and 7.0; If it’s lower, then your soil is too acidic and needs calcium, nitrogen, or phosphorus to balance it. On the other hand, use compost or fertilizer to bring down the pH if it goes over 7.0.
Mow the lawn short and remove any clippings. Remove weeds, twigs, debris, and anything that can block the seeds from falling on the soil. Usually, I go for my trusty rake to fish out any obstruction.
At this point, my husband usually gets his soil aerator out of the garage to scatter the soil and allow good airflow. If you don’t already own one, check out these lawn aerators – they will make sure that the seeds reach the ground.
Maintaining a lush lawn is not a daunting task in itself. As long as you have the resources, all you need is a touch of diligence and the right type of grass.
Just as seasons and regions can affect growth periods, they also decide which type of grass they are most suited with. I did warn you – grass is small, but demanding!
Nevertheless, there are a lot of wonderful guides that play matchmaker between the soil of your area and the different types of grass!
I know you have been waiting to do this since the first step – so, enjoy yourself and start scattering!
Since I have a big lawn, I use a handheld spreader to do my work. My son will sometimes help me lay down the seeds, and he usually uses his bare hands to get sparse areas.
However, this is not to say I recommend scattering by hand for big lawns. Although reseeding needs far less coverage than a new lawn, spreaders are still the way to go if you want even growth.
Now that you have given new life to these grass seeds, it’s time to nourish them and give them water. Grass loves feasting on fertilizers, so make sure you feed them well once they are in the soil.
Next, water them so that the seeds can germinate. Usually, I lightly sprinkle water twice a day, for the first four days. After this, I crank up the hose and water on alternate days for the next five days.
If you have paid attention and followed these steps, rest assured that a perfectly lush lawn will be welcoming you in 6 to 8 weeks!
Once you have a lush green lawn, you must regularly water it to prevent wilted grass – some may say this is also a metaphor for life! In any case, I hope this guide inspired or helped you in some way.
As for me, I am just waiting for summertime – when the grass is green and vacations are just endless days of barbecue nights and pool parties. At least in those days, the grass definitely couldn’t be greener on the other side.
Till next time, happy gardening!
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