Why & when to overseed: Lawn care guide

by Jackie Davis 05/29/2022

If your lawn has bald patches, it might be time to overseed. Lawn grass can develop empty patches for a variety of reasons, including weeds, diseases, heat damage or cold weather. Luckily, overseeding is a simple process to help fill in the existing grass and promote a lush, green lawn.

Want to know more about overseeding? Here are the basics:

When & why to overseed your lawn

Your lawn can develop bare spots or sparse patches of dead grass when it suffers stress from drought, damage or lack of nutrients. Other signs of an unhealthy lawn include faded color and thinning growth. In these situations, the best option is to overseed with grass seed.

It’s best to overseed a lawn in early fall, when the soil temperature is still high enough to support seed germination. New grass will have enough time to develop before winter temperatures arrive and cause most lawns to go dormant. In warm regions, you can also spread grass seed in your existing lawn in the early spring.

How to overseed your lawn

You can hire a professional lawn care service to overseed your lawn. Large-scale landscaping equipment can make the job quicker and more efficient for a professional.

However, the DIY approach is simple and only requires a few basic tools:

  1. Prep the lawn by aerating and removing thatch.
  2. Use a seed spreader to distribute the grass seed evenly throughout the bare patches.
  3. Water immediately after spreading the grass seed, and then daily for about two weeks to aid germination.
  4. Once the new grass has grown to the height of your existing lawn, you can mow it as normal.

Overseeding can be the key to transforming your existing grass into a healthier lawn. If you’re not sure where to start, consult your local lawn experts for advice.

About the Author
Author

Jackie Davis

Welcome to Jackie Davis and Company. If you have navigated this far, we thank you and would like to share how we differ from other teams and agents. We work tirelessly and are committed to providing 100% customer satisfaction. We recognize, listen, value, and appreciate your goals as you move towards listing or selling your home. As Listing Agents we continuously integrate new and advanced technology to promote your biggest asset. Our strong negotiation skills are invaluable for getting you the best price for your home. As the Buyer's Agent we pride ourselves on being fully educated in our local markets. While focusing on integrity and honesty we will provide you with the highest level of professionalism and analysis. We are proud that this hard work has earned us recognition as top 1% both company and state wide in the industry. Achievements * 1st Quarter 2017 Leading Sales in Fairfield * 2017 February Leading Sales Team * 2017 March Leading Sales Team * Chairman's Elite representing the Top 1% Agent at William Raveis Nationwide & Fairfield County * Over $45 million Listed & Sold in 2016 * Over $30 million Listed & Sold in 2015 * 99% List to Sales Ratio (higher than market average) * 75 Average Days on Market (less than market average) * Jackie Davis Promoted to Sales Vice President 2016 * Raveis Award of Excellence every year * Exceptional Customer Service Award every year * Top Units Sold Team October 2016 * Top Customer Service October 2016 * Top Mortgage Support September 2016 * Top Selling Team January 2016 * Top Mortgage Support August 2015 * Top Selling Team Feb 2014 * Top Producing Team Jan 2014 * Top Selling Team Dec 2013 * Top Selling Team Nov 2013 * Top Producing Team Nov 2013 Professional Specialty Innovative Marketing and Technology equals proven sales. Our team of licensed professionals is ready to serve. We handle: Sellers & Buyers Exceptional Properties Investors Waterfront & Beach Area Homes Country & Equestrian Properties New Construction & Land Relocation Professional Association National Association of Realtors Connecticut Association of Realtors Greater Fairfield Board of Realtors Consolidated Multiple Listing Service Community Involvement PTA committee member for past 14 years from elementary through high school PTA Board Member for 4 years Shoff Darby Advisory Scholarship Board member past 5 years Committee member for Cancer Care of Norwalk past 10 years Volunteer Habitat for Humanity Operation Hope coordinator for elementary and middle schools, last 3 years Volunteer for a variety of town sports teams, that my daughters participate in The County Assemblies Board Member The b-Cause Foundation Board Member- a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate children to recognize neighbors in need in our local community. Wakeman Boys & Girls Club- Fundraising Committee Member Committee Member for Cancer Couch Fundraiser the Cancer Beat 2016 Near and Far Aid Volunteer Education BA from Merrimack College Personal Fairfield resident for 39 years Currently reside in Fairfield Beach Area Married 27 years Four daughters currently in & have graduated Fairfield Public School system Areas Covered Fairfield Southport Westport Weston Norwalk Trumbull Easton Stratford Shelton Milford Stamford Bridgeport