Simply sprinkle lawn seeds on the lawn?

A lawn must master many challenges during its long life. For example the burning sun, the pressure of the weeds, compacted soil. At the beginning, the lush green blades of grass are still crowded together. Over time, there will be gaps here and there. These are getting more and more numerous and bigger. At some point they can neither be overlooked nor tolerated. The easiest way to find gaps in the race close by overseeding. But it has to be done correctly.

Re-sow the lawn

Gaps in the lawn often arise during the summer. Because on warm days we like to be in the garden often and often. Some places are more stressed than others. Be it that the garden chair is on it or that children are playing with the ball. The dark floor becomes visible and disturbs the overall appearance. That's why bald spots are a nuisance. The desire for them to be covered by grass again quickly is therefore only too understandable.

Large, visible gaps do not always have to be created in the lawn. Over time, the density of the blades of grass can also decrease, so that the entire lawn area looks unsightly. In this case too, overseeding can be useful.

Close bald spots promptly

Smaller areas are greened by the grass growth alone at the beginning of the new growing season or in autumn. But that is not always the case. Or at least not in the way we would like. Instead of fresh, green blades of grass sprouting there, so-called weeds are spreading. Many Weed species are not picky about their conquest and use every little gap to germinate. The lawn grass no longer has a chance against this competitive pressure. For this reason alone, reseeding should only be delayed until the best time has come.

time

Two seasons are good for sprinkling lawn seeds in the gaps: autumn and spring.

• outside of the “main season” the area is used less
• the hot temperatures are over or not there yet
• there are still enough warm days
• there is no threat of major frosts
• the seeds can therefore germinate and grow
• however, the seeds do not have to be watered all the time

Although both times work well, the autumn month should be used for overseeding September prefer. This is how you prevent bald spots from being occupied by weeds in the meantime. Some types of weeds, such as the undesirable grass Poa annua, also called annual bluegrass, can even germinate in autumn.

Lawn seeds

After overseeding, the gaps should be closed in such a way that these areas no longer differ from the rest of the lawn. It is therefore important that you choose the right lawn seed mixture for overseeding. Ideally, when you were planting the lawn, you should have put back a small amount of grass seed that you can now use for reseeding. If not, it would at least be good if you made a note of this or can find out from old invoices.

tip: If you have no clue as to which seed mixture you need, seek advice from a specialist retailer. It is definitely helpful if you photograph the lawn from near and far and show them there.

cut the lawn

Before you sprinkle the seeds on the lawn, the very first step is to mow the grass.

• Set the lawn mower to the lowest setting
• mow the entire lawn
• after that, the grass should not be longer than 2 cm

Of course, that doesn't change anything in the bald spots themselves. But they become more accessible, which makes it easier to spread the seeds. In addition, they are not shaded by tall blades of grass. Also, mowing the lawn will not be necessary so quickly in the near future. This allows the reseeding to germinate and grow undisturbed.

Collect grass clippings

In principle, grass clippings can remain on the mowed lawn over a large area. The thin blades of grass dry and rot in no time. When they decompose, many nutrients are released, which fertilize the lawn in a natural way. However, if reseeding is imminent, the clippings must be collected and removed from the lawn immediately after mowing. You can of course also use a collecting container.

Verticulate the lawn

If you want to reseed the entire lawn area, you should also verticulate the entire lawn 3 to 5 mm deep. Preferably lengthways and crossways.

• the ground is loosened and scratched
• the lawn seeds get better ground contact
• numerous shallow-rooted weeds are torn out
• lawn seeds can germinate in their place
• the old grass is weakened somewhat
• new seeds can assert themselves better this way
• Collect and remove combed plant material

You can also search the lawn for other weeds and remove them by hand. Dandelion, for example, is a weed that has a very long taproot. Small remnants are enough for the herb to sprout again. It must therefore be gouged out deeply. Of course only if you don't want him to stay. After all, the weeds are edible and bloom beautifully.

Aerate the lawn

The aeration is used to aerate the sod. This is particularly recommended for heavily compacted soil. This can also be responsible for the development of bald spots. Corresponding equipment is available in the hardware store. While the work takes time, it also improves the chances of success of overseeding. However, the lawn should be sanded before overseeding.

• Spread half a bucket of fine quartz sand per square meter
• Spread into the holes with a broom or rake
• this ensures good drainage
• prevents renewed compaction

Prepare individual gaps

If only individual gaps are re-sown, the lawn will also be mowed briefly. However, it is not necessary to verticulate and aerate the lawn to overseed the gaps. Prepare a single bald spot as follows:

• Remove dead grass from the area
• remove all root remains
• Loosen or roughen with a rake
• loosen heavy soils with sand
• Mix sandy soils with clay flour

tip: If you don't know what the soil is like, a Soil analysis provide more information.

Fertilize or not?

Some advisors recommend providing the reseeding area with fertilizer before spreading the seeds. But these are mostly experts who produce or sell fertilizers. Hobby gardeners know that poor soil allows the seeds to sprout better. You also trust it with the lawn seeds. In fact, it has been shown in practice that budding on unfertilized soil is more as expected. Of course the new ones need Grasses in the future a sufficient supply of nutrients like any other crop.

If the entire lawn is to be re-sown, fertilization in good time could be considered under certain circumstances. That is when the lawn has not been fertilized for a long time and urgently needs new nutrients.

Sowing lawn seeds: instructions

You can easily sprinkle the lawn seeds by hand on small areas. It is better to use a spreader for larger areas. He spreads the seeds more evenly. Please note the information on the seed packaging regarding the seed strength.

Approach the re-sown area carefully. Water the seeds with a gentle jet of water, otherwise the lawn seeds could be washed away. You can then thinly cover the seeds with potting soil or peat. This ensures that the lawn seeds do not dry out so quickly.

After spreading

Until the lawn seeds have germinated properly, all repaired areas should be kept evenly moist. They are also not allowed to be entered during this time. As soon as the stalk length is eight centimeters, the area can be mowed again. But be careful: do not mow more than a third of the new growth.

tip: If necessary, block access to the re-sown area so that it is not accidentally stepped on.

Alternatives for overseeding

If the earth shimmers through in awkward places, patiently waiting for reseeding is not the preferred solution. Such gaps, which are easily visible to everyone, can alternatively be greened again as follows:

• Patch the spot with turf
• cut them out in inconspicuous places beforehand
• possibly. Order turf roll
• Cut and install suitable pieces from it