Before you start mowing your lawn you need to help it grow!
One of the best ways to revitalize the lawn and get it in tip-top shape is to reseed it in fall or spring with new grass seed. Reseeding, sometimes called over-seeding, is very beneficial: It introduces new, young grass plants and helps the lawn take on a newer, fresher appearance. Reseeding also fills in bare spots, make the lawn thicker and crowds out weeds and moss.
Practically every homeowner I talk to who has a perfect lawn lists yearly reseeding as one of the most important things to ensure a nice lawn. Regular mowing, proper cutting height, feeding and watering are other important factors they list.
Reseeding is simple and takes but a few minutes for an average-size lawn. Be sure to accomplish any other needed lawn renovation jobs before you reseed. It should be the last step in any fall lawn-maintenance program. It is necessary to fertilize the lawn just before you reseed, so nutrients will be present to help the new seed germinate.
Any reseeding should be done by Oct. 30. If you wait longer the weather may get too cold for the seed to germinate properly. The next best time for reseeding is after March 30.
So if your lawn needs thatching, aerating, leveling, do these steps first.
Spread an all-purpose fall or winter fertilizer just before reseeding. Several formulas and brands are specifically formulated for use at this time of year.
Garden outlets should be featuring them now. The basic recommendation is that the fertilizer have a 3-1-2 ratio. This relates to formulas such as 12-4-8; 9-3-6; 15-5-10, or close to those analyses. Apply according to directions on the label.
If there are large bare spots in the lawn, scratch them with a steel rake before fertilizing and reseeding. large yellow or dry spots should be aerated before feeding and reseeding. After reseeding, large bare spots should be covered with a light layer of peat moss to provide continual moisture for the seed until it germinates.
One of the biggest decisions is to determine what kind of seed to use when reseeding. The clerk, certified nurseryman or master gardener at your garden outlet can probably shed some light on which mix to use.
First, is the lawn a show lawn, a standard lawn or a play lawn? When was it planted, and is it sod or a seeded lawn? These factors will help determine what types of grasses were used when the lawn was planted. So it will be easier to match with the right kind of seed for over-seeding.
It may be necessary to take a sample of the turf to a garden outlet so a specialist can make an on-the-spot analysis of the grasses. If it is impossible to determine the blend, then simply use one of the formulated reseeding mixes, which contains a mix of the types of lawn grasses generally used in this area. Be sure to use that same mix whenever you reseed in the future.
The seed can be broadcast by hand or applied with a lawn spreader. If you use a lawn spreader, apply half of the amount and spread it in one direction, then take the other half and spread it in the opposite direction. This overlapping helps ensure an even application of seed.
There should be no need to cover the seed with peat moss. The grass blades should provide enough shade to help keep the soil moist until the new seed germinates.
One area that particularly benefits from reseeding is under trees. Tree roots rob so many nutrients from the turf that grasses really struggle for survival. Consequently the lawn is often sparse, so reseeding helps fill in and make the lawn thicker and healthier-looking.
The final tip is to make sure you mow your lawn correctly and often. Try to mulch in between bagging when mowing. We can help you with your lawn mowing in the Houston area. Visit our website for more information. Keep It Mowed has your mowing needs covered.
One of the best ways to revitalize the lawn and get it in tip-top shape is to reseed it in fall or spring with new grass seed. Reseeding, sometimes called over-seeding, is very beneficial: It introduces new, young grass plants and helps the lawn take on a newer, fresher appearance. Reseeding also fills in bare spots, make the lawn thicker and crowds out weeds and moss.
Practically every homeowner I talk to who has a perfect lawn lists yearly reseeding as one of the most important things to ensure a nice lawn. Regular mowing, proper cutting height, feeding and watering are other important factors they list.
Reseeding is simple and takes but a few minutes for an average-size lawn. Be sure to accomplish any other needed lawn renovation jobs before you reseed. It should be the last step in any fall lawn-maintenance program. It is necessary to fertilize the lawn just before you reseed, so nutrients will be present to help the new seed germinate.
Any reseeding should be done by Oct. 30. If you wait longer the weather may get too cold for the seed to germinate properly. The next best time for reseeding is after March 30.
So if your lawn needs thatching, aerating, leveling, do these steps first.
Spread an all-purpose fall or winter fertilizer just before reseeding. Several formulas and brands are specifically formulated for use at this time of year.
Garden outlets should be featuring them now. The basic recommendation is that the fertilizer have a 3-1-2 ratio. This relates to formulas such as 12-4-8; 9-3-6; 15-5-10, or close to those analyses. Apply according to directions on the label.
If there are large bare spots in the lawn, scratch them with a steel rake before fertilizing and reseeding. large yellow or dry spots should be aerated before feeding and reseeding. After reseeding, large bare spots should be covered with a light layer of peat moss to provide continual moisture for the seed until it germinates.
One of the biggest decisions is to determine what kind of seed to use when reseeding. The clerk, certified nurseryman or master gardener at your garden outlet can probably shed some light on which mix to use.
First, is the lawn a show lawn, a standard lawn or a play lawn? When was it planted, and is it sod or a seeded lawn? These factors will help determine what types of grasses were used when the lawn was planted. So it will be easier to match with the right kind of seed for over-seeding.
It may be necessary to take a sample of the turf to a garden outlet so a specialist can make an on-the-spot analysis of the grasses. If it is impossible to determine the blend, then simply use one of the formulated reseeding mixes, which contains a mix of the types of lawn grasses generally used in this area. Be sure to use that same mix whenever you reseed in the future.
The seed can be broadcast by hand or applied with a lawn spreader. If you use a lawn spreader, apply half of the amount and spread it in one direction, then take the other half and spread it in the opposite direction. This overlapping helps ensure an even application of seed.
There should be no need to cover the seed with peat moss. The grass blades should provide enough shade to help keep the soil moist until the new seed germinates.
One area that particularly benefits from reseeding is under trees. Tree roots rob so many nutrients from the turf that grasses really struggle for survival. Consequently the lawn is often sparse, so reseeding helps fill in and make the lawn thicker and healthier-looking.
The final tip is to make sure you mow your lawn correctly and often. Try to mulch in between bagging when mowing. We can help you with your lawn mowing in the Houston area. Visit our website for more information. Keep It Mowed has your mowing needs covered.