Learn what sod installation in Pinehurst, NC costs, the best time to lay sod in NC, how sod compares to seed, and what to expect with new sod care.
Follow this monthly lawn care guide for Pinehurst and Southern Pines, NC. Learn what to do each month for healthier grass in the Sandhills.
Overseeding lawn care guide: When, how and the best time to overseed You have worked so hard taking care of your yard, making sure your grass is getting just the right amount of irrigation and fertilization. When you mow, you are mowing at the appropriate length, ever so careful not to mow too short. You’re limiting footsteps from trampling pathways in your lawn and you are only allowing pets in certain areas of what is supposed to be your little slice of green heaven. So why is your green grass fading? Why is the thickness thinning to near balding, and the lushness feeling more like hay beneath your bare feet? What is Overseeding? Overseeding is the process of adding seed to your lawn that already exists so that you will have thicker grass that is greener and much lusher. Overseeding eliminates the necessity to turn your soil. If you overseed you are going to combat bare spots in your lawn, but it’s important to realize that there is a science to all aspects of lawn care and hiring a professional in North Caroline like Heffner Landscaping to assist you may be the least stressful and easiest way to achieve the beautiful lawn you desire. Why Overseed? Overseeding is one of the best choices for you if your lawn has been subjected to insect or disease damages, or drought stress that has stifled growth. If your lawn has fallen prey to any of these horrors, you will start seeing thinning grass, fading color and/or spots where your lawn seems to be balding. What are the Lawn Types in North Carolina There are several types of grass that will thrive very well in the climate of North Carolina: Bermuda Grass Centipede Grass Tall Fescue Fine Fescue Perennial Ryegrass Kentucky Bluegrass Zoysiagrass When overseeding, whether it be in the spring or fall, it is your opportunity to mix newer seed types in with your existing grass. If you just bought the home, it’s possible that the person who was caring for (or not caring for) your grass in the past utilized a seed that is not suitable for North Carolina and just isn’t resistant enough for disease and pest issues. Fall Overseeding If your lawn is one or more types of cool-season grasses fall is the optimal time to introduce new seeds. If your lawn has just a few problematic areas where it is damaged, thinning, or the soil is showing through then spot seeding is the more appropriate treatment for the problem. Overseeding is utilized when the entire lawn has thinned and needs to be treated as a whole. Spring Overseeding The proper time to overseed depends on the type of grass you already have. Overseeding in spring can produce pleasing results aesthetically for your lawn. If the overseeding process is performed early enough it will give the seedlings the time required to grow before the summer heat comes creeping in. Spring overseeding is quite similar to fall in the procedure and even benefits. It depends mostly on the type of grass you have as to whether or not you feel you should choose between the two rather than doing both. When choosing the spring process, it is important to monitor your soil moisture. Soft seedlings will need frequent watering but not in heavy doses in order to establish their roots before the soaring temperature and precipitation devoid days and nights of the summer roll in. How to Optimize Your Overseeding No matter if you overseed in the spring or fall, it will be greatly optimized when the process is combined with lawn aeration. Lawn aeration is the process of taking small plugs of soil from the lawn. This is called core aeration. This permits fertilizer, oxygen, and water to permeate the turfgrass roots and opens up the flow for seed-to-soil contact. The process promotes the germination of the seeds spread during overseeding and will encourage the growth of the young seedlings. Overseeding should be done first followed up by aeration. Aerating before overseeding can be beneficial as well but post-aeration is essential to get the best results from the overseeding process. How is Seed Applied when Overseeding? The seed is usually applied with either a rotary or a drop spreader. If the seeds are split down the middle each part is spread in a different direction you are giving the lawn a better chance to show the coverage of the overseeding process. Some folks may think that overseeding is just a matter of tossing grass seed in the yard and “Letting it do its thing” but there is much more involved in the process. Lawn care requires the know-how, the ins and outs of the specialized equipment and the timing of the follow-through process to make a program successful, the type of knowledge and professionalism offered by Heffner Landscaping.