Overseeding is an Integral Spring Task

With Mother's Day in the rear view mirror and the May long weekend almost upon us, it's apparent that spring is chugging along at a nice pace. Have you completed all of your important spring tasks yet?

Overseeding is one of the many lawn care maintenance services that Nutri-Lawn Ottawa offers. In our eyes, it's also one of the most important. 

Why is it important to overseed your lawn every spring and what are the benefits? Read on to find out!

What Exactly is Overseeding? 

Overseeding is the practice of adding new grass seed into a lawn, to introduce new endophyte-enhanced grass species that require less water, less fertilizer, and discourage weed infestations. In simple terms, it's there to make your lawn thicker and stronger.

You might need to introduce a new grass species to address an existing imbalance or environmental condition (like a lot of shade). You might overseed with a grass species that is more resistant to drought, insects, or disease.

Grass is like any other plant, in that it will get old and grow thin, so introducing young plants into the lawn every year ensures your lawn looks vibrant every year and it also protects your lawn from invasive weeds.

What Are the Benefits of Overseeding?

If your lawn has a minor problem, overseeding can often correct it by introducing new grass growth and taking over areas with unhealthy plants. Bottom line, overseeding helps your lawn thicken up and create a near impenetrable barrier to weeds. Weeds need bare patches of soil to grow like gaps in the sod, and if you have a thick robust lawn, weeds don’t stand a chance. 

Overseeding can also introduce a new species to address an existing problem or it can keep the lawn young and thriving, as mentioned above. Overseeding is important for areas that get high traffic (play areas) or if you have pets, it can address damaged areas in the lawn and bare spots.

That’s why Nutri-Lawn Ottawa recommends overseeding every spring. Spring is the best time of year to plant new grass because of the warmer temperatures and higher rainfall, as well as the NHL playoffs you can watch after the fact!

Dynamic Duo: Aeration and Overseeding

Core aeration and overseeding are a lot like Hall & Oates, in that they work well apart but create beautiful music when put together. Combining a core aeration service with overseeding is an excellent way to achieve optimal performance by maximizing the benefits both services have to offer at once.

Spring Success

Grass seed needs specific conditions to thrive, and planting in the spring often provides many of these necessities naturally, such as warm soil temperatures and lots of moisture. Remember, you don’t want to let your grass seed dry out once it’s been scattered and watered. Dry seed is dead seed; so the seeds need to be kept moist every day until the sprouts are established. 

When mowing new grass, make sure not to cut it too low. Remember, the grass blades provide food for the roots and young plants need extra nourishment. You might sabotage all your efforts if you cut the grass too short in this crucial growth stage. Letting your new grass grow a bit longer may be frustrating, but waiting will pay off throughout the summer when your new grass is strong enough to resist disease and insects and survive the coming dormant seasons.

Grass does need time to mature and thicken up, so don’t panic when you see those spindly sprouts pop up at first. New seedlings are tender and easily damaged, so make sure to keep all traffic off the area until the new seed is established and try to give the new grass 4 – 6 weeks after it sprouts up before mowing your lawn.

Nutri-Lawn Ottawa offers a full range of lawn care services including core aeration, overseeding, slitseeding, and organic topdressing. Be sure to contact our lawn care professionals for a free quote so you can enjoy a healthy and vibrant lawn all summer long!