Overseeding Your Lawn in Spring

Is your lawn looking a little dull after a long winter? Don’t worry; the Feeds’n Needs Experts are here to share our top tips and products for bringing your lawn back to life this spring! From preparing your soil and overseeding to fertilizing and maintenance, this blog covers all the basics of springtime lawn care! Great lawns start with Feeds’n Needs!

Prepare Your Soil
Before you can seed your lawn, you need to prepare the soil.

• Mow the grass: Set your lawn mower to the lowest setting and cut your grass short. Bag the clippings or add them to your compost bin.
• Rake the lawn: Use a rake to scratch up the top layer of soil on your lawn and remove any dead grass or root buildup called thatch. Thatch buildup can prevent essential water and nutrients from reaching the soil beneath it and cause your grass to look dull and unhealthy.
• Aerate the soil: Aerate your soil during the spring and fall growing seasons. Aeration helps prevent thatch buildup while allowing water and nutrients to penetrate deeper into the soil and reach the roots of your grass.

Overseeding
Overseeding your lawn in the spring helps cover up any thin or bare spots in your grass and encourages new growth of thick, healthy grass. At Feeds’n Needs, we carry a variety of quality grass seed blends. Ask our Experts which one is best suited for your lawn!

• Choose a grass seed: When choosing grass seed for your lawn, consider the amount of sunlight or shade it receives and whether you’ll need cool-season or warm-season grass seed. Cool-season grasses are best for planting in spring and early fall when the soil temperature reaches 10 degrees Celsius.
• Spreading grass seed: To ensure the grass seed is spread evenly across your lawn, fill your spreader and adjust the density setting according to the recommendation on your seed bag.
• Let it grow: Once you’ve spread your grass seed, you’ll need to water your lawn frequently to keep the soil moist and allow the seeds to germinate.

Fertilizing
Once you’ve spread your grass seed and the new grass has begun growing, adding fertilizer will give your lawn the nutrients it needs to grow and remain healthy.

• Choose a fertilizer: When new grass begins growing in the spring, a high-nitrogen fertilizer will encourage new leaf growth. We recommend the Cavendish slow-release 21-7-7 fertilizer for springtime lawn maintenance.
• Spreading fertilizer: Fill your spreader and adjust the settings according to the recommendation on your fertilizer bag. Spread the fertilizer evenly across your lawn, ensuring each area gets covered.
• Water: Once you’ve spread your fertilizer, continue to water your lawn regularly to allow the fertilizer to sink into the soil and bring nutrients to your growing grass seedlings.

Maintenance

• Routine watering: Newly seeded and fertilized lawns need about an inch of water each week to promote root growth and vitality. Lightly water once or twice a day to keep the soil moist. Watering may not be necessary if it rains enough in your area.
• Mowing habits: When your lawn is freshly seeded, avoid mowing until the new grass reaches about 3 inches in height to prevent damage.
• Regularly Fertilize: Fertilize your lawn every eight weeks to support lush, healthy grass. Visit your local Feeds’n Needs to find fertilizer for every season!

When it comes to keeping a healthy lawn, Feeds’ n Needs is your one-stop shop for all the essentials! Check out our great selection of fertilizers, grass seeds, and more, and don’t forget to ask our Experts which products will work best for you!

For more expert advice on how to maintain a healthy lawn, check out our blog on How to Maintain a Healthy Lawn.

Sources:
https://www.farmandfleet.com/blog/how-to-seed-and-fertilize-your-lawn-with-estate/
https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/ideas-how-to/outdoors/lawn-garden/how-to-overseed-your-lawn-in-spring.html
https://natural-alternative.com/library/how-to-aerate-seed-fertilize-lawn
www.halifaxseed.ca