Growing a lush, green lawn can be a real challenge in the Midwest because of the extreme seasonal changes. Winters last for months and it’s typically brutally cold with punishing winds, ice buildup, and excessive snow. Summers can be unbearably hot at times and the rainfall is hit and miss. The result is a patchy, thin lawn that’s unattractive to look at and unpleasant to walk on. One technique for overcoming this issue is to overseed the lawn at the right time of the year. But, when should you overseed and is it really all that helpful?
What Does It Mean to Overseed a Lawn?
Overseeding is a technique that is used by landscapers, lawn care experts, and homeowners to improve the texture and appearance of a grass lawn. This can be accomplished by broadcasting seeds across the lawn or with a special machine that cuts mini furrows in the original lawn and plants grass seed at the same time.
What Are the Benefits of Overseeding?
Over time, your lawn starts to look worn out and requires increasing amounts of fertilizer and water just to survive. It’s likely because the grass seed that was originally planted in the lawn isn’t able to withstand pests, drought, and other issues. By introducing newer types of grass seeds with these qualities through overseeding it’s easy to improve the health and well-being of the entire lawn.
What Is the Best Season for Lawn Overseeding?
Grass grows best at temperatures of 77 degrees fahrenheit, which explains why it often struggles to thrive in the heat of summer. In the Midwest, cool weather grass species like Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass are the grass seeds of choice. The best time to overseed your lawn with these climate appropriate seeds is mid-August through to mid-September. This gives the seed ample time to sprout and take root before the colder weather sets in.
Is Lawn Overseeding Guaranteed to Work?
Although overseeding your lawn can fix patchy spots, it’s not a cure all for lawn issues and it doesn’t always work. Before your lawn can be successfully overseeded, you need to understand the issues that caused problems with your original lawn. Some things that can affect the your lawn’s growth include:
- Poor Soil Conditions
- Inadequate Water
- Improper Drainage
- Insufficient Sunlight
- Excess Thatch
- General Neglect
Why You Need a Professional Landscaper for Lawn Overseeding
Overseeding a lawn sounds easy. All you have to do is toss some grass seed around, water it and it’ll grow, right? Well, it’s not really that simple. As mentioned above, it’s important to address soil, water, nutrient, and light issues before you start the process. You also have to choose the right grass seed to complement and enhance your lawn. Then, you need to be diligent about aftercare in order to ensure the grass seed is well-established and healthy.
Anthony’s Lawn and Landscaping is your local lawn care expert in Bloomington, IN. We understand the unique climate and soil conditions that affect grass growth in the Midwest. We’ll prepare your lawn, choose the best grass seed for overseeding, expertly seed your lawn, and follow up to make sure it grows. Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation quote for lawn overseeding or any other landscape services.
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