Telltale Signs It's Time To Reseed Your Lawn

For homeowners, their lawn can double as an extension of their home. And just in the same way, it can be upsetting to walk into a house that is in disarray; it can be equally disappointing to walk onto a lawn that isn't as lush or well-manicured as it used to be. There are a host of reasons why your lawn could be thinning out or turning brown. Drought and heat are major issues that can lead to bare patches in the ground and more weeds. The usual wear and tear of intense foot traffic can also trigger a decline in the look of your lawn. Fungal problems, grubs, and dog urine might also be the root of your lawn's brown spots. If you notice that your lawn is looking lackluster — whether due to large, sparse areas, weed infestations, or yellow grass – it might be time to reseed. 

Reseeding entails a complete overhaul of your lawn. The dying grass is removed until only bare dirt is left. The soil is then prepared and optimized for growth, and new grass seeds are planted for a fresh start. Some people may confuse reseeding with overseeding, but these are two different methods of revitalizing your lawn. Overseeding, in contrast, refers to adding grass seeds to an existing lawn with a few patchy spots to promote growth. This is especially the case when dealing with cool-season grasses. Overseeding is mostly used for lawns with minor damage and will not provide lasting relief to areas with severe damage. With this difference in mind, it's easy to see how reseeding requires a full commitment, as it's an expensive and time-consuming process. However, it is the best way to refresh your lawn with grass varieties that are a better match for your environment and lifestyle.

Start by assessing the health of your lawn. If you notice that over 50% of your lawn has devolved into bare spots and weeds, that is a big signal that reseeding may be necessary. Otherwise, it can be hard to fix those patchy spots in the lawn without starting over. Usually, these patches are communicating a deeper ailment. Things like poor soil health, pest damage, and too much foot traffic can destroy the lushness of your grass.

Another thing to look out for is the amount of weeds. Weeds gobble up light, nutrients, and water from your grass, leading to further stress. If you notice more weed growth than grass, you may have an infestation on your hands. Weeds can take over for a number of reasons, from the lack of thick grass to soil that is too compacted. Discolored grass may also indicate that your lawn might be dying. Pests could be the culprit. Grubs, cinch bugs, and armyworms enjoy munching on your grass, causing it to become brown and thin. 

These issues need to be severe before reseeding is necessary. Seeing a few patches in your lawn or minimal discoloration doesn't mean you need to revamp the whole thing as soon as possible. Your lawn needs to be in very poor shape to justify the cost and time required for the reseeding process. Unlike overseeding, which can be done once every year to every few years, depending on the health of your grass, reseeding your lawn should not be a frequent activity. Since it requires killing your current grass in order to start over with brand-new grass seeds, it should only really be employed as a last resort option. 

Once you've decided to reseed, it's important to consider your environment when choosing the best grass seed to grow. If not, you might end up reseeding again. Depending on your local climate, you'll either plant a cool-season or warm-season grass. Since both options have different growth and dormancy periods, the type of grass you work with will influence when to begin your reseeding. If you live in a region where cool-season grass thrives, like the Northeast or the Pacific Northwest, the best time to reseed your lawn is the fall, with spring being a close second.

Seeds have the best chance of germinating if they are planted in soil that is between 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, which corresponds to daytime temperatures of 60 to 75 degrees. Turfgrasses like Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) will appreciate the cool temperatures and warm soil, which will allow their root structures to develop without stress. And healthy root systems mean your grass will be better able to withstand the hot months during dormancy. 

Those who live in the Southern United States might be more familiar with warm-season grasses. Late spring to early summer is the ideal time to reseed your lawn with grass species like bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides), and St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum). Since these grasses thrive in hot, humid summers and mild winters, reseed when outside temperatures reach 80 degrees Fahrenheit or above, and soil temperatures are between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Seedlings will get to enjoy the warm soil and rainfall, which will give them the best conditions to grow and gather strength before the cold weather comes.