The Grass Doctor

when is the right time to overseed my lawn?

i live in toronto canada. i dont like my lawn since its a warm season type. it "greens up" a month later than everyone elses. i inherited this from the previous owner. i want to overseed my lawn so the new grass (kentucky bluegrass) will grow over the existing lawn. here is my weather. http://www.theweathernetwork.com/gardening/caon0696

Public Comments

1. Spring time weather
2. Working up to a great lawn doesn't have to take a great deal of time, but it can depending upon the current state of your lawn. The best thing to do for a healthy lawn in the spring is to aerate your lawn in the fall and overseed at that time. This allows the soil to breathe and unpack so grass can more easily take root. It also allows the seed to drop into the aerated holes and be ready to germinate in the spring when conditions become perfect. If you're not interested in aerating, another option is to overseed directly onto the lawn after you've done some raking to work up the very top layer of the soil. You should avoid overseeding during dry periods or if the surface of your lawn is hard. The seed won't have a chance to penetrate the surface and germinate and will dry up and produce very little in the way of results. Good luck!
3. Do not seed in the spring!!! Again do not seed in the spring!!! In the spring you want to put down pre emergent for crab grass and weed control these items will kill your seed. So do not regardles what any other idiot might tell you seed your lawn in the spring. Just because crops and gardens are planted in the spring doesn't mean that it is best time for your lawn to be seeded. Get like a Scotts 4 step program and follow that in September at the beginning aerate your lawn going once in both directions vertical then horizontal or vice versa. After this put down 5-7 pounds per square feet of 80 percent Kentucky blue grass and 20 percent perennial rye grass on the lawn imediately soak entire lawn for a hour to a hour and a half. For the next two weeks keep the seed damp watering in 15-20 minute intrevals 3-4 times a day. Four weeks after initial seeding fertilize the entire lawn with a starter fertilizer. It will take 6-8 weeks for the blue grass to germinate. The first grass you will see will be the rye grass as it takes 10 to 14 days to germinate the rye grass helps loosen the soil for the blue grass to germinate. The blue grass being more dominant will eventuually take over the rye grass. In the winter after the ground has froze right before a decent snow fall seed entire lawn again at 5-7 pounds per thousand square feet and then imediately fert with a winterizer. Take a picture of your lawn before you start this process and one in the first of may of the next year and you will be amazed at the difference. Repeat this year after year or until you reach ideal thickness. A COUPLE OF NOTES YOUR STARTED FERT AND WINTERIZER SHOULD HAVE NO WEED KILLER. YOU SHOULD AERATE YOUR LAWN EVERY FALL REGARDLESS WETHER YOU SEED OR NOT. lAST BUT NOT LEAST WATER HAS MORE TO DO WITH A GRASSES COLOR THEN ANYTHING ELSE SO MAKE SURE AND WATER 2-3 INCHES A WEEK IN THE MORNING HOURS TO PREVENT FUNGUS!!! Hope this helps and good luck on your turf!!