Fall Seeding 101
One of the most common questions asked of the lawn professionals at SavATree/SavaLawn is “when is the best time to seed my lawn?” While many think that spring would seem an ideal time, the fact is that autumn is the optimal season for seeding. Seeding in the fall has been shown to produce much more consistent results as grass isn’t hampered by the high volumes of rain, cooler soil temperatures and germinating weeds that are found in the spring. But it’s not always as simple as sprinkling some seed on your lawn and hoping for the best. We asked our experts for some tips on the best approach for fall seeding.
Assess Your Lawn to Determine the Best Approach
Depending on your needs, there are a variety of ways to create a beautiful lawn. If your lawn is thin, consider slice seeding or overseeding. For minor repairs, spot seeding might be the best option. The option you choose depends on the current condition, desired quality of your lawn, availability of irrigation and budget.
Use Slice Seeding to Fill Out a Thin Lawn
Slice seeding is an ideal technique for those who need to either repair a damaged lawn or improve a thin or weak lawn. this efficient method improves your lawn’s density by using steel blades to cut furrows into the soil and then planting seeds directly into the furrows. Slice seeding puts seeds in direct contact with the soil as opposed to merely spreading them onto your lawn where many of them will not germinate. Another benefit of slice seeding is that it enables you to have better looking and more resistant grass types that are adapted to the various conditions on your property
Combine Core Aeration with Overseeding
Core aeration is the process of mechanically removing plugs of soil and thatch from a lawn. Overseeding uses a spreader to distribute seeds over an entire lawn. Combining core aeration with overseeding is an ideal way to introduce better grass varieties into your lawn, reduce soil compaction, minimize thatch buildup and build a greener, thicker lawn.
Try Spot Seeding for Minor Repairs
Spot seeding is an option that is used when making minor lawn repairs. It literally means “seeding spots”, and can be applied to a scar from insect or disease activity. spot seeding is only applied to a small area that does not require the use of a slice seeder. The soil can be loosened by using a lawn weasel, adding the appropriate seed blend, and working in the seed.
When the life of a lawn is looked at in the long term, the expense and effort of seeding is well worth it. Remember to water once or twice a day to ensure proper germination. In the end, your property value will increase, and seeing the new lush green turf on your lawn will be a pleasurable and worthwhile experience. If you are still unsure of which seeding service will best suit your lawn care needs, check with your lawn care consultant or arborist.
