Grass is always greener –
Lawn Tips

RESEEDING YOUR EXISTING LAWN
Early Fall is the ideal time to seed your lawn, but lawn seed can be sown at other times of the year.

1. First, rake the lawn. A multi-purpose rake may be ideal for removing a heavy build-up of thatch on your lawn

2. After the lawn has been thatched and raked, loosen the soil in any of the bare spots to a depth of about 1" or more with a handy soil-loosening tool

3. After loosening the soil in the bare spots, sprinkle the newly prepared area with lawn starter fertilizer. Then, rake it level. If the bare spots have been compacted by heavy traffic, loosen the soil to a depth of about 6”. Then, pulverize the soil and add a small amount of peat moss to help keep it loose after reseeding.

4. When the soil is loosened and leveled, then reseed. Select the proper grass seed mixture for the type of location you are reseeding. Ask your local Taylor Lumber, Scott’s Lawn Pro certified sales person help you select the correct seed.

5. Reseed the bare spots sparingly, by hand. Only about six seeds per square inch will survive. After the seeds are spread, spray the area with a light mist of water.

6. You may want to cover the reseeded areas with clear sheets of polyethylene plastic. This covering keeps the moisture in the soil and eliminates the need for constant sprinkling. You can secure the edges of the plastic sheet with small rocks, dirt or stakes.

7. Remove the polyethylene cover when the first seedlings appear. The cover will kill all seeds quickly unless it is removed when you see seedlings. Once the cover is removed, keep the soil moist by spraying it with a light mist two or three times a day until the grass is about 1" high. Newly seeded areas should be watered about once a week until the new grass is about 3" tall.