How To Interseed Your Lawn For Lusher Grass

Lawns can become thin over time because of environmental factors like too much shade, water, and loss of nutrients. Grass might also become patchy due to disease, mowing too low, and heavy foot traffic. However, a thinning turf does not mean that you need a full overhaul. That is where interseeding comes in. It is a smart fix to revive a patchy lawn that involves introducing new grass seed of the same type into the existing turf to keep your lawn green and lush. The cherry on top is you don't have to tear everything out and start over. This is different from overseeding, though, which is used to fill in patchy areas where grass won't grow by sowing a different grass species. 

With overseeding, the lawn might look a bit odd and still appear patchy with the mismatched grass types. A well-executed interseeding job, on the other hand, will not only increase the turf density but also makes the lawn visibly more appealing while maintaining its uniform look. A thicker turf is also better able to resist weeds. However, interseeding involves more than just throwing seeds on a patchy turf. Done incorrectly, those seeds might feed the birds but won't much help your turf.

Before you put your seeds in the soil, consider the timing. The best time to seed cool-season grasses is in late summer or early fall. Whereas, for the warm-season grasses, it is best to interseed in either late spring or early summer. Growing at the right time gives the seeds the best chances of survival. Also, you want to make sure that you are using the right seed density. Applying too few seeds will thin the coverage, and you will end up with thinning grass in your yard once again. Whereas, applying too much seed will crowd new seedlings, and a lot of them will die. So, always consult the pounds-per-square-foot rate for your grass before interseeding.

Prepare your lawn for new seeds by removing any existing weeds that could compete with new growth and stunt it before it has a chance to sprout. If the soil is too dry, water the area a few days in advance before seeding. This will ensure that new seeds won't dry out and establishes a moist base in the soil. With the right tools, you are ready to plant seeds into your thinning lawn. 

The best way to sow seeds during interseeding is to use slit seeder. This tool creates slits in the soil, which improves seed contact with the soil and also hides it from birds. For smaller areas, however, hand-raking will also get the job done. Keep the soil moist after seeding, apply fertilizer as needed, and soon you will have seedlings emerging from the ground, making your lawn lusher and denser.