Plan to water daily and possibly twice daily (unless it’s raining) until your new grass is two inches high. ... For a 15' by 15' lawn, overseeded rye grass will use 1238 more gallons of water per season than a dormant Bermuda lawn. Your lawn always needs and loves water and you should always provide it with enough to keep it growing healthy. It is best to water the lawn at least three to four times daily. Regularly Water the Overseeded Area . Then mow, dethatch and aerate your lawn to help the grass seed make contact with the soil and let air, water and fertilizer reach the roots. Water the lawn thoroughly after sowing the seed, and continue to water at least twice daily until the seeds germinate and reach a height of 1 1/2 to 2 inches. Water … Start by lightly watering the lawn a couple of times a day in the first few weeks. The investment in overseeding pays off by reducing the amount of fertilizer, water and pesticides required. Use a Mulch (Optional) A mulch over your newly overseeded lawn is helpful but definitely optional. PREPARE: Mow the lawn closely. 2. Nice sized plugs acheived. Don’t let them get completely dry. Water the lawn – new seeds need regular watering. How often should I overseed my lawn? To grow a healthy lawn, water must reach and be fully absorbed by the grass roots, which requires watering often enough to suit your lawn’s soil type. For the first ten days after overseeding, make sure to water the overseeded area at least twice each day. The cooler temperatures and break from the summer drought create ideal conditions for success. If you maintain fescue in a transition zone region like the Richmond, VA area, overseeding fescue is best to do on a yearly basis. Save time – No need to scalp the lawn, prepare the seedbed, seed, water, or mow. Generally, give the lawn about 1 inch of water a week, delivered in one or two sessions. Overseed your lawn to keep it healthy, repair damage or fill in bare spots. Even with ideal conditions, proper watering is critical to successful overseeding. Seeds need water to germinate. The newer turfgrass varieties are better able to resist damage from drought, diseases and lawn damaging insects. SHARE. How often should I water ? 2. Overseeding Fescue Lawns. Water the seeded area thoroughly after seeding for no less than one half hour per area. If your lawn has not been fed in the last 4 months we recommend feeding the lawn before overseeding. of a great deal of water. Wise watering practices not only conserve water but help to build a stronger, healthier lawn. The following is a recommended watering regimen. After mowing, rake the lawn to help loosen the top layer of soil and remove any dead grass and debris. These stressful times for your lawn include not only the hot summer months, but also the cold winter months when there is really nothing you can do for an unhealthy lawn. Remember to identify your grass type before you begin. Check Weekend 3 Slit seeded with Bluebird and starter fertilizer . Regularly watering your seeds will allow them to develop healthy roots. Reseed vs. Renovate Lightly apply water for 10 to 20 minutes to the overseeded lawn once or twice a day until the seeds have germinated—this usually takes about 7 to 10 days. This will prep it for the seed. Keep the lawn well-watered for at least the first few weeks. The amount of water your grass needs to stay healthy. Hence, during the first two weeks, water the overseeded areas twice a day, or even more under dryer conditions, soaking the top ¼ inch of the soil. Homeowners may decide to forego overseeding the front yard in lieu of overseeding the backyard where family and pets play. Read more about the benefits of overseeding at Benefits Of Overseeding A Lawn 6.) Aerating is often accompanied by overseeding, which is the process of planting grass seeds on the existing lawn without tearing up the grass or soil. To overseed a pre-existing lawn, cut the lawn shorter than normal and rake the lawn to loosen the top layer of soil. New overseeded lawns need constant moisture. Once aerated and overseeded, the lawn should not be mowed for 2-3 weeks and no herbicide should be applied for at least 5-6 weeks. Fall is the optimal time to reseed a lawn. After the seed is established, you can proceed to water your lawn less frequently and for a longer period of time. For more information about the best time to overseed your lawn in Maine, visit Jonathan Green online, or get in touch with your nearest independent retail store for valuable lawn and garden advice. Check It has been two weeks since seeding and the irrigation controller was set for four times per day. Mow Low. Fertilize the Area Overseeding newer turfgrass varieties into an older lawn can help it better withstand insects, disease, drought, shady conditions and heavy traffic. Doing so helps the roots of the grass grow deep into the ground and makes the lawn more tolerant of drought. Water the Lawn. The holes that aerating opens up are the perfect home for new grass seeds from overseeding to germinate. A Water-Efficient Winter Lawn can be achieved by following the proper steps. ... Be sure to fertilize with a starter fertilizer before turning on your water. Bargain seed is often poor quality and can contain multiple undesirable varieties. Choose a time when the lawn is dry. Regardless of whether you have aerated, aerated and overseeded or done the full shebang you should keep your lawn moist but not soaking for a period until you notice it has started to grow healthy again. Fescue Rule: An important rule is if you have a turf-type tall fescue lawn, do not overseed with a … After establishment it’s best to water deeply to ensure a deeper root system. Save water – Getting ryegrass seed to germinate requires watering three times a day or more, and spikes in water usage are always noticeable during the months of October and November when winter rye is seeded. Those with Bermuda lawns, that want an all year green lawn, can overseed with an annual winter rye. Top Ten Reasons Not to Plant a Winter Lawn: 10. 9. Days 1 through 3: Water, water, water! How much water your new grass needs really depends on how much water is distributed from your sprinklers, soil conditions, and the weather. Be careful about using bargain store seed brands for overseeding lawns. (Check the instructions on the product for this.) A common mistake rookie aerators and overseeders make is thinking that the natural rain cycle will provide all the water you need, but a few days without moisture could mean bad news for a new seed. Fall Over-Seeding / Winter Lawn. The seeds need plenty of water to thrive; much more than normally needed throughout the year. Huge amount of thatch removed. The analysis should be similar to a 6-20-20 (6% nitrogen, 20% phosphorus, 20% potassium) or 15-15-15 (15% each of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) mix. The sprinkler system should be set to run 3 times per day for 3-5 minutes, depending on zones (mist heads 3 minutes and rotor heads 5-6 minutes). This might be once or twice a day, depending on the weather. Keep watering. Typically, 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the evening should be enough to keep the top two inches of soil moist. After the first ten days, give only sufficient water to prevent wilting. Cool season lawns should be lightly overseeded with the same type of grass they currently have. Water the lawn immediately after you complete the overseeding process. 1. Weekend 1 power raked. Mowing after Overseeding The grass will suffer stress when mowed; hence, the best thing to do after overseeding is to give it a rest. Keeping an overseeded lawn healthy requires a complex fertilizing schedule, strengthening the Zoysia during the warmest part of the year, feeding the secondary grass in cool weather, and then bringing the Zoysia back to full strength the following spring. 5.) 2. Before you overseed, ask yourself the following questions: Will the grass area be used? This will give the grass seed easy access to the soil so it can root more easily after germinating. Overseeding your lawn with newer, improved types of turfgrass is often the best way to thicken the lawn, and improve its health and appearance. When a lawn is freshly aerated — with plugs of soil removed from the turf — the same tiny holes that allow water, air and nutrients to circulate also provide nests for grass seeds. Constant over watering or frequent underwatering promotes shallow roots, a sure way to damage your lawn during times of stress. The lawn can usually be overseeded 3 to 4 days after applying a general lawn fertiliser, however, you will usually need to wait about 4 weeks after applying a feed, weed & moss killer. The answer can vary depending on environmental factors as well as the type of lawn being maintained. Moist soil and seeds create the ideal conditions necessary for germination. They’re often more disease and insect prone, requiring more fertilizer and water. Step 5: Water the Lawn Ensure that the seeds and soil remain regularly moist, watering once or twice a day until the new lawn has reached the old grass’s height—water your lawn as necessary to avoid wilting to establish a robust and stable root system. For the first week water three times a day, at morning to mid morning, noon and … Doc discusses overseeding a fall lawn. Before overseeding your thin lawn, cut your grass shorter than normal and bag the clippings. Mow on a high cut when the grass is 40-50mm. Lawn aeration can help move the needle in the right direction. ... Water regularly with a fine spray keeping the seedbed constantly moist. Lawn Aeration Sets the Optimal Foundation for Overseeding. For about three weeks after seeding , or until the grass begins to … If weeds are present, you will need to spray your lawn with ... Water the lawn completely immediately after overseeding. Manage weeds. Check Weekend 2 Aeration. How to Overseed a Lawn 1. This will both establish good soil moisture and wash the seed into the soil. I originally thought I would attempt overseeding my lawn this Fall, but decided it was better left to a professional since this would achieve much better results The course of action will be to have the lawn aerated, starter fertilizer (Lesco 18-24-12 50%POLYPLUS) and seed (ALL PRO TRANSITION SEED BLEND) Despite this, I need advice on a watering schedule once the grass seed is laid down. ... How quickly your sprinklers put water on your lawn. HOW TO OVERSEED YOUR LAWN. Watering is the last step to establishing a winter lawn, and it is the most important because the seeds won’t germinate without moisture. The most important benefit of a mulch is to reduce water evaporation and therefore reduce the chances of the grass seed drying out and reducing seed germination rates. 2. See Lawn Watering Devices in the Tool Shed. 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