How to Overseed Grass
Overseeding grass is essential for maintaining a thick, green lawn year round. During the winter months, as the days shorten, the growing habits of grass change. The rate of growth slows or ceases entirely. Grass can thin and lose its dark green color, leaving your lawn looking sparse and unattractive. By overseeding with rye grass, you can compensate for this dormant period and save the lush appearance of your landscape. Once overseeded, the new grass grows through the dormant season of the existing grass. As the new grass dies off, the original lawn will return. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Mower Granular grass fertilizer Annual rye grass seed 4-by-4 inch lumber beam (3 feet long) 10-foot length of rope
Instructions
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Measure the dimensions of the grass area you want to overseed. Purchase enough rye seed to cover the area. Use between 8 and 12 lb. of annual rye seed per 1000 square feet of ground. Purchase annual rye seed at local nursery supply retailers, who generally begin selling it in late summer or early fall.
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2
Mow the existing grass low. Use a spreader to apply a granular fertilizer designed for winter use. Read the directions on the fertilizer container and apply accordingly. Adjust the spreader as necessary, and use it to broadcast the annual rye seed evenly over the area of grass to be overseeded. A lot of annual rye seed is needed, as not all of it will reach the soil level where it can germinate--due to the existing grass.
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3
Tie a length of rope to a lumber beam. Tie one end of the rope to either end of the lumber as though it were a bow to shoot an arrow. Hold the rope and drag the lumber behind you as you walk over the freshly overseeded grass. Walk back-and-forth in rows to cover the entire grass. Dragging the lumber in this manner will help knock the annual rye grass seed through the blades of the existing grass so that it will germinate.
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Water the area thoroughly for approximately 20 minutes to saturate the fertilizer and seed. Water the grass area twice a day to maintain sufficient moisture to germinate the seeds. Reduce the amount of water once the seeds are visibly growing above the existing grass. Continue watering according to your regular schedule.
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Inspect your grass after the annual rye grass germinates to see if there are any spots where it did not sprout. Fill in bare spots with fresh seed as necessary to achieve full coverage.
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Tips & Warnings
The annual rye grass will grow a shallow root structure compared to your existing grass, so you may need to water a little more often. Watch the annual rye grass closely during its initial growth to be sure it is getting adequate water.
Do not mow overseeded grass for at least one month after germination. Young grass is tender and can be destroyed by mowing.
