How short do you cut grass before overseeding?

Set your mower at two inches or less for regular overseeding. For southern lawns and winter color, set the blade as low as it goes, and cut just above the soil—what's known as scalping. Rake the soil with a metal thatch rake to remove thatch, clippings and debris. This loosens and exposes soil to receive seed.

Should you cut the grass before overseeding?

Mow the lawn prior to overseeding. Water the lawn to moisten the soil, but make sure it's not soaking wet. A good rule of thumb is to water the day before you plan to overseed so the soil has a little time to dry.

Should I cut grass short before aerating and overseeding?

Prior to aeration and seeding, a lawn should be mowed at a height of 1.5 to 2 inches. Any clippings left on the lawn after this close cut, should be bagged, blown or raked off the lawn. This is necessary to maximize seed to soil contact as the seed is spread.

How tall should grass be for aeration and overseeding?

We recommend you set the mowing height to 1-1/2″ (one-and-one-half inches). This will get the lawn low enough without scalping it. Mowing low makes both aeration and seeding more effective. Clean up any leaves, trash or other debris which might interfere with the aeration.

How short should I cut tall fescue before overseeding?

Cut it to about 1.5 inches before overseeding, so the new seedlings can compete with the existing grass and weeds.

Amazing Tips On How Short To Cut Grass Before Overseeding

Can you cut fescue at 2 inches?

Tall fescue lawns – mow 3.0 to 4.0 inches. Fescue/bluegrass lawns – 3.0 to 3.5 inches. Bluegrass/ryegrass lawns – 2.5 to 3.5 inches.

What happens if you cut tall fescue too short?

The Results of Cutting Your Grass Too Short

Keeping your grass short puts undue stress on your turf. You may forget that grass blades are leaves and require photosynthesis to nourish the entire plant. When you cut too much of the leaf blade, you limit the lawn's ability to enact photosynthesis and store energy.

How do I prepare my lawn for overseeding?

Mow Low. Before overseeding your thin lawn, cut your grass shorter than normal and bag the clippings. After mowing, rake the lawn to help loosen the top layer of soil and remove any dead grass and debris. This will give the grass seed easy access to the soil so it can root more easily after germinating.

Is October too late to overseed?

When it's October, people often wonder if it is too late to plant new seed. The good news is if you hurry, seed can still be planted in October with the hope that it will survive the upcoming winter. Although September is the best time, often we can still plant grass seed up to October 15 with good results.

What is the best month to aerate and overseed?

The best time to aerate your lawn is in late summer or early fall, as this will allow your grass to recover completely before going dormant in the winter. While Fall is recommended, you can also aerate and overseed your lawn in the spring between March and May.

Can you put grass seed over existing grass?

Can you just sprinkle grass seed on top of your existing lawn? While it's possible to simply sow the new grass seed over your existing lawn, taking the time to prepare your lawn beforehand will increase the likelihood of seed germination and improve your end result.

How much grass seed do I need to overseed my lawn?

If most of your lawn already has thick grass growth, overseeding will be a general maintenance task. In this case, you should use two to four pounds of seed for every 1,000 square feet of lawn. However, if your lawn has exposed areas of soil, apply four to eight pounds of seed per every 1,000 square feet.

Can you water too much after overseeding?

For best results, water all newly-seeded areas twice daily, beginning the day of seeding. The goal is to keep the seed moist, but to avoid standing water. Too much water will kill the seed. If you are not able to water twice a day, thoroughly water once daily for a longer duration.

What time of year should you overseed your lawn?

Hands down, early fall is the best time to overseed your lawn. The absolute sweet spot for most northern regions of the U.S. is August 15 to September 15. That's when daytime temperatures are still warm enough to encourage growth and nights get cooler, giving new seedlings a break from the heat.

What time of day is best to overseed lawn?

You also need to pick the best time of the day for the procedure – do it early in the morning, on a warm, sunny day, to allow the new seeds to make the most of the great weather. Sprinkle the new seeds around the lawn and water the reseeded area gently, paying attention not to wash them away.

How do you overseed properly?

Do I need to water after overseeding?

It's critical that you properly water your lawn after aeration and overseeding. Not doing so could have negative results such as a lawn that won't grow, wasted money, or needing to re-seed all over again. It's important to keep in mind that lawn care is a partnership between you and your lawn care company.

What temperature kills grass seed?

Cool-season grasses go dormant and do not grow during hot weather, when the soil temperature goes above 65 degrees F. Since this is common during the peak summer months, planting cool-season grass seed can result in poor seed germination or even seedling death.

What is the best grass seed to overseed in the fall?

Choose the Best Grass for Overseeding

Some good warm-season grasses are Bermuda grass and zoysia grass. For cooler climates, try a Kentucky blue or tall fescue. As you determine the best grass for overseeding, don't forget to consider the lighting of the area.

Should I add topsoil when overseeding?

Overseeding can also help with any bare spots in your lawn. To remedy bare spots, cover spots with topsoil before you overseed. This will improve the quality of the soil and help the grass grow.

Is topsoil necessary for overseeding?

Along with planting grass, there are additional tasks that can be completed to protect and help the grass grow well. Many think that putting topsoil over the seeds would protect it, but in fact, that will actually suffocate the seedlings rather than doing any good.

How long should you stay off grass after overseeding?

Should I Stay Off My Lawn After Overseeding? Yes, it is best to reduce foot traffic and wear on your lawn for at least two weeks after seeding.

Why do people not like tall fescue?

Tall Fescue is toxic to just about anything that eats it. Google it. It's toxic to dairy cows, beef cows, horses, sheep, goats, birds, grasshoppers, ants and even nematodes. It also cuts down on biodiversity because it takes up space that native biota could have occupied and it's aggressive.

Is 2.5 inches too short for grass?

For the healthiest and most sustainable approach, Michigan State University Extension says 3.5 to 4 inches is most desirable. Lawns mowed at 3.5 or 4 inches out-compete weeds, tolerate grubs and look just as good as lawns mowed at 2.5 inches.

Is 3 inches too short to cut grass?

Mowing too short or scalping results in stress to the grass plant. Weak grass plants will take longer to recover. To maintain a 3-inch lawn, mow before the grass reaches 4.5 inches tall. Mowing too short can allow weed seeds to get more sun and increase the chance of germination.