Over Seed
fill in bare spots and improves the colour and thickness of your lawn
Over Seed - why and how
Sowing new seed into an existing lawn will rejuvenate a lawns colour and texture.
OVER SEEDING OVERVIEW
Over seeding is the introduction of new grass seed into a lawn a technique used by professional groundskeepers.
Why Over Seeding?
Application of new grass seed will enhance the lawn through:
- More desirable species becoming more prevalent
- Introduce more uniformity
- Improves resistance to drought, wear, disease and moss invasion
- To help fill in gaps and thin areas
- A species exchange programme enables you to change the type of grass seed mix within your lawn.
When to Over Seed?
For best results, over seed in the spring or autumn period.
If your prepared to water, like a groundsman would on a professional playing surface, you can seed from Spring through to Autumn, but will need to provide sufficient water for the seed to germinate and establish. Preparation and watering are key to success.
Watering doesn't cost that much, even if your on a meter.
How Seed Germinates
Germination of grass seed begins when sufficient temperatures are present and adequate moisture is available. The radicle (primary root) is the first structure to emerge from the embryo, followed by the coleoptile (primary shoot). Green leaf tissue emerges to begin the photosynthetic process, this provides energy for successful establishment of the emerging plant.
Maintenance before / during over seeding
- Ensure that sufficient temperature and water is available
- Pre-seed preparation is vital (reduce thatch and competition, create a seed-bed) and give new seedlings the best opportunity to establish (sowing depth, irrigation, nutrition, mowing heights, avoid aggressive surface aeration)
- Ensure that thatch is under control
- Select the right grass seed mix
- Rake the seed into soil using the back of a rake to help seed settle
- Ensure that the seed gets established into the root zone
- Water, Water and Water - Sufficient watering is vital for germination
- Get ready for the first mow.
Maintenance following over seeding...Water, Water and Water
- Water - Sufficient watering is vital for germination
- Ensure it is watered during dry periods
- Raise the mower height to highest setting
- Do not mow the lawn for 2 – 3 weeks
- Avoid heavy use of the lawn for 2 – 4 weeks.
Choosing your Grass Seed
We recommend Green Velvet grass seed.
- The All Rounder - Multi-Purpose
- The Perfectionist - Luxury
- The Shady One - Shade
- The Action Hero - Hard Wearing.
Coverage available 15m2, 70m2, 500m2 & 800m2
How to Repair Your Lawn
Down load our over seed fact sheet
THE BASICS
- Repair your lawn in spring or autumn
- Reseed bare patches
If the whole lawn is patchy, it may be advisable to totally re-seed the lawn.
Patches in lawns can appear for a number of reasons, and when they do, it is always advisable to repair your lawn.
Although it may seem sensible to just turf the area, however, the problem may reoccur. So over seeding is often the best method, which is generally the best long-term solution.
Professional groundsman use this technique to restore worn areas on sports pitches, turning them back into lush green carpet in just a few weeks.
Reseeding or turfing bare patches will prevent weeds germinating in the patches, and of course, it looks much better.
WHERE
If your lawn is thin and patchy and has brown spots, perhaps from physical damage, wear and tear, or drought damage should be repaired.
WHEN
Ideally in spring or autumn, when the weather is damp and cool, as the lawn is most likely to recover well in these conditions.
HOW… THE STARTING POINT
Thorough ground preparation is vital for a successful lawn and lawn repair project:
- Mow the lawn to a short height and rake to remove debris and thatch
- Use an aerator or garden fork to open up the soil in your lawn, relieving compaction
- Use a scarifier to remove thatch and damaged areas to prepare the ground for the seed
- Loosen the top soil down to 6-15 mm (up to ½ inch).
SOWING THE SEED
- Sow the seed in accordance with the instructions on the packet, either by hand or drop spreader
- Lightly rake over
- Roll lightly or walk over to press the seed into the soil.
WATERING
Water in thoroughly, avoiding washing away any soil or seed.
Keep well watered until the grass is established and growing strongly. Once established, lightly trim the grass and then follow through with mowing every couple of weeks, reducing the cutting height as appropriate.
REMOVING A PATCH
Cut out the damaged area of turf in a square, using a half moon edging iron to cut the square and a spade to lift it. Lightly fork over the soil in the base of the removed square. Sprinkle some crumbly top soil or compost over the base of the removed square. The seed and water as before.
Remember:
- Don’t panic if grass doesn’t appear in 2-3 days
- Keep the area well watered until the grass is established and growing strongly
- Water every few days if the weather is dry
- Germination will typically take 2-3 weeks, depending on temperature and species of grass
- Try not to use the lawn until the grass is well established.
Why we recommend Green Velvet?
Made by the experts in grass, Barenbrug UK, has more than 100 years’ expertise in grass seed production, The Green Velvet range is capable of establishing new lawns in 3-5 days, at low temperatures and in extreme conditions: children, pets, wellies and wild weather are game, set and match.
Tapping into more than a century of experience producing professional-level grass seed, Barenbrug UK’s scientists have meticulously tested Green Velvet to solve the most extreme lawn and turf challenges, and the range has the highest percentage of high-quality grass seed of any lawn product.
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