How to Over Sow Grass Seed
Perfect Spreader for Lawn Fertiliser or Grass Seed
Varieties, Quantities and Prices for Lawnsmith® Grass Seed Mixtures can be found in the Lawnsmith Shop
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How Much Grass Seed?
When you’ve decided which lawn seed to use, the instructions should tell you the rate at which it needs to be applied. Quite often the over seeding rate is lower than the rate for starting a new lawn though sometimes adding more, particularly if rye grass is included, will speed recovery. However, if you are trying to improve your lawn by changing the type of seed then adding more will cause more of a change.
Do NOT automatically assume more is better! I’ve seen patch repairs done where you can’t see the soil for grass seed. This will cause extremely dense growth that will stick out like a sore thumb. If in doubt stick to about 10 to 20 seeds per square inch.
Over-seeding Procedure
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If the lawn is rather dry and rain is unlikely, start building a reserve of water in the soil by running the sprinkler for an hour or two a day for several days depending on how dry it has been. You don’t need soggy ground but seeds and seedlings need 'some' water to germinate and root.
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Make sure you have fertilised the lawn before adding the seed
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Split the seed into two lots if you are confident of spreading evenly, otherwise split into four equal lots
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Spread the seed by hand or spreader working in a different direction for each lot e.g. north to south, then south to north and east to west etc. This will ensure even coverage. A smaller than recommended setting (say 1/3 to 1/2 open) on the spreader will prevent you running out of seed too quickly but means more trips up and down the lawn
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If there is quite a lot of grass sticking out of the lawn after scarifying then the seed you are adding will stick on it preventing contact with the soil – not good. If you can, drag a garden hose, a piece of wire mesh fencing or a large brush over the lawn to knock the seed off the grass and into the soil
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Next roll the lawn. If you haven’t got a roller but you have a lawn mower with a roller this will do just fine. Might be best with the engine off though! If you don’t have either and the lawn is not too big, start treading up and down the lawn. Good seed soil contact will improve the result no end
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Finally, if at all possible give it a light watering every day for a couple of weeks if there is no rain. Enough to keep the seed from drying without washing it away. If watering is impossible then try and schedule your seeding for a wet period
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Unlike starting a new lawn you should mow your lawn as normal. However, to reduce stress on the new grasses mow at least weekly for the first 2 months, no lower than 1” and preferably at 1.5" to 2", with sharp blades on dry grass
Patching Procedure
If all you need to do is seed a few badly damaged patches then follow the procedure above but lightly sprinkle (10 to 20 per square inch) seeds into the patches. Watering before and after and fertilising remains the same.
