How to Over Seed High Traffic Lawn Areas

Trying to grow grass in high traffic areas of a lawn can be a daunting task for any homeowner. Read on to learn how to over seed high traffic lawn areas.

Things You'll Need

• Rye grass seed
• Hardy grass seed (of your choice)
• Garden rake
• Garden cultivator
• Top soil
• Hand spreader (optional)
• Garden hose with sprayer
• Garden gloves

Instructions

1. Gather the tools needed for the over seeding. Having all of the tools you need ready will save time on the job.

2. Use the garden rake and cultivator to loosen the exposed dirt in the high traffic area of the lawn. You do not have to dig, just loosen the top soil. Be careful not to remove any grass that is growing already.

3. 

   Spread some lawn starter soil over the area to be seeded if the ground is exceptionally hard. Grass seed has very short roots, so it only needs about an inch of loose soil to get started.

4. 

   Mix rye grass seed with a premium grass seed of your choice. You can also buy a premixed box of grass seed, just make sure that the mix has rye grass.

5. 

   Use a hand spreader or just use your hand to spread a liberal amount of grass seed on the high traffic area of the lawn. There should be seed on every part of the bare lawn.

6. 

   Spread another layer of lawn starter soil on top of the grass seed to cover and protect it from birds and wind. Only a thin layer of soil is necessary.

7. 

   Use a garden hose with a sprayer attachment to water the newly planted seeds. Set the sprayer to a mist setting so as not to wash away the top soil or seeds.

Tips & Warnings

• Using a quality seed to start will help ensure a thicker growth of grass. Check the date on the box or bag of seed to ensure freshness.

• Using a rye grass mix will help to establish the lawn quicker. The rye grass will come up quickly and secure the top soil for the premium grass to get a good root system started. The premium grass will come up later and overtake the rye grass.

• Keep children and pets away from the newly planted area of the lawn until the grass is thick and long.

• Do not fertilize the new lawn area for several weeks or months, depending on the growth rate of the seed you have planted. Using fertilizer too soon or using too much will burn the seed and new starts will die.