LAWN OVERSEEDING

Overseeding is an essential part of growing and maintaining a lush lawn. Not only does overseeding fill in bare, damaged spots on your existing turf, but it bolsters your entire lawn area with better quality grass seed and new growth. When you know how to overseed a lawn, your lawn will thrive and will soon become the most envied on the block.   

WHAT IS OVERSEEDING?

Overseeding is the planting of grass seed directly into existing turf, without tearing up the turf, or the soil. It’s an easy way to fill in bare spots, improve the density of turf, establish improved grass varieties and enhance your lawn’s color.

If a lawn looks old, or just “worn out,” if it needs growing amounts of water and fertilizer to thrive, or is disease or insect prone, it’s a perfect candidate for overseeding.

Planting Seed Tips – hancockseed.com 

• DIY - Do It Yourself?  Follow the Planting Seed Tips.

• • • Watering the new seeds 4 - 5x daily (5 to 10 min burst) for 2-3 weeks to keep soil moist is a "must". 

    • Do NOT plant seed until the soil is constant 65 degrees or higher. (Late May - Aug).

    • After your grass seeds has grown, Follow  Watering Lawns | Home & Garden Information Center (clemson.edu) 

    • NOTE: Centipede Seeds are very difficult to germinate, but doable. 

    • If you have plenty of SUN and no shade, Hancock's Highlander Turf Bermuda & Zenith Zoysia Seeds works well.

PREMIUM SEEDS WE USE:

• Hancock's Highlander Turf Bermuda Grass Seed - Hulled & Coated – hancockseed.com  combine with  16-04-08 Lawn & Pasture Fertilizer

• Lawn & Turf Grass Seed | Zoysia, Bermuda and More! - Seed Barn  

• Zenith Zoysia Grass Seed

• Tifblair Centipede Seed (Difficult Seed to germinate, but doable)

We use premium seeds from 

• • HancockSeedCompany

  • www.supersod.com

  • www.siteone.com 

  • Green-Resource

  • Seed Barn 

THE BENEFITS OF OVERSEEDING

Many older lawns were established with common type turf grasses not suited for the needs of today’s homeowner. They’re often more disease and insect prone, requiring more fertilizer and water.

Overseeding newer turfgrass varieties into an older lawn can help it better withstand insects, disease, drought, shady conditions and heavy traffic. The investment in overseeding pays off by reducing the amount of fertilizer, water and pesticides required. Most importantly, a renovated lawn stays greener and looks thicker and healthier!

BEFORE YOU OVERSEED

For various reasons, old turf sometimes deteriorates dramatically or dies out completely.  Overseeding with an improved grass seed can get new turf growing in bare areas as well as “sprucing up” areas where the turf is thin and unhealthy looking.

First, however, you must analyze the problems that caused the original turf to deteriorate. It might be due to conditions that, if not corrected, will eventually cause the overseeded lawn to deteriorate, too.   Soil pH is the first step. 

Correctable problems include:

• Poor soil condition

• Improper drainage

• Soil compaction

• Insufficient water

• Poor fertility

• Poor air circulation

• Insufficient sunlight

• Excess thatch

• Grass varieties not suitable for the area

• General neglect

If you have trouble identifying the problem, ask your local lawn professionals or your county extension office. The main thing is to correct the problem before you establish new grass.

Instructions to Overseeding:

When choosing to start a new lawn, remove old vegetation by using a de-thatcher, power rake or tiller to kill the existing vegetation. Rake or drag the area to remove debris and dead grass for a clean area. Ensure the soil is leveled and loosened to allow the seed to have good soil contact once spread on a clean seed bed.

If you have an area with heavy weed coverage, we recommend starting fresh by killing and removing the existing vegetation. If you choose to use chemicals, herbicides or fertilizers, you must check with the product's manufacturer prior to planting new seed to ensure the proper waiting period.

When overseeding an existing area, mow your lawn at the lowest setting and bag the clippings. Rake or drag any areas that have dead thatch or debris.

Hancock's Highlander Turf Bermuda is the best option for a successful Bermuda lawn or turf application, such as on golf courses, athletic fields, and public parks. Hancock Seed Company hand-selected the Highlander variety due to its breeding and optimal characteristics. Hancock's Highlander Bermuda grows rapidly and will thrive in hot weather or full sun.

Hancock's Highlander Turf Bermuda Grass Seed - Hulled & Coated

• Application or Use: Lawn, Turf, Pasture, Livestock Grazing, Cattle Forage, Erosion Control, Cover Crop, Ground Cover

• Germination Time: 5 - 12 days, under optimal conditions

• Growing Locations: Warm Season & Transition Zone

• Height: Lawn – 1 - 3 inches or Pasture – 8 - 12 inches

• Sunlight Requirements: 8+ hours, full sun for best results

• Advantages: Extreme drought and traffic tolerance with moderate tolerance to soils with poor nutrients.

• When to Plant: Recommended planting time is spring and summer when nighttime temperatures are consistently 65+ degrees and 3 months prior to first frost.

 
This Bermuda is known to produce a lush, dense turf that will be less subject to weed issues and invasion. Highlander Bermuda is extremely drought tolerant and disease resistant, once established. This is a top choice for overseeding existing bermuda turf, or for starting an easy, cost-effective, and gorgeous bermuda lawn from scratch.

With the Bermuda Seeds you'll need: Hancock's 16-04-08 Lawn & Pasture Fertilizer

16-04-08 Lawn and Pasture Fertilizer is custom blended to provide a slow-releasing, water-activated economical fertilizer. Our 16-04-08 fertilizer is a great mixture for lawns, pastures, wildlife food plots, and just about everything that grows. 

• Spreading rate:  50 lbs. per 8,000 sq. ft.

WHAT ABOUT CARE AFTER OVERSEEDING?

Depending on conditions and type of seed, new grass seed will begin to emerge in 5-7 days after seeding when moisture and soil temperatures are adequate.  An overseeded lawn can be fully established in eight weeks or less.

Proper watering is critical to successful overseeding. The following is a recommended watering program.

• Immediately after overseeding:  Water heavily to wash grass seeds into slits.

• Until grass seeds germinate (first 10-14 days): Water lightly on a daily basis, soaking first one inch of soil.

• After germination: Water less frequently but allow for deeper soaking and penetration into soil. This encourages deeper root growth.

• After grass becomes established:  Water at the recommended level for the type of grass planted.

The key is care and patience.  Proper overseeding will produce a healthier, better-looking lawn that responds better to mowing, fertilizing and watering.  An added benefit is increased property value!

SOURCE:  Why & How to Overseed Your Lawn | RYAN® Turf Renovation Equipment (ryanturf.com)  and  www.kellogggarden.com