August through September is the BEST time to over-seed a lawn. Warm soil and cool temperatures at night make the perfect growing conditions. Here are 5 expert tips on doing it right!

Prep Work

Mow your existing grass to a height of 1 to 1.5 inches. Next vigorously rake or core aerate to loosen soil and rough up the surface if possible. Yards with a heavier thatch layer or in very poor conditions may need a more aggressive option such as renting a verti-cut machine. If raking or renting a verti-cut machine is not feasible, it is possible to overseed and have the seed work its way down to the soil, and eventually begin growing naturally either in the fall ( if you water to maintain moisture) or the following spring. Some of our customers do this every year using the very latest and best grass seed varieties to slowly upgrade the quality of their lawn over time.

Buy the Best Lawn Seed 

Select the BEST seed variety to get the right mix for your lawn. Opting for the bargain seed can lead to more problems down the road. Always choose for the very best seed available that had been tested in our growing conditions. We're proud to say that our Earl May Lawn Seed has been tested in Midwest turf trials with excellent results! Over-seed at 1/2 the rate of new seeding for each blend, and make sure to use Earl May New Lawn Starter. When used correctly, you'll see a significiant difference 4-8 weeks after seeding.

Proper Lawn Food Application 

Use a hand spreader for small areas and a fertilizer spreader for larger ones. To insure more uniform coverage, broadcast at half the rate in one direction first, then go back over the same area in the opposite direction.

Fertilize

Use a lawn starter type fertilizer to strengthen the existing yard and to help new seedlings take root and fill in faster.

Water 

Keep the seed evenly moist to speed up germination. Sunny locations and dry weather will require you to water more frequently. Special lawn starter mulch is available to reduce how often you need to water.