Lawn overseeding

[trader4]

As others have suggested, I would first fix the problems you have and then overseed if necessary. A lawn full of crabgrass and weeds is going to offer tough competition for the new grass. You can whack the weeds with a broadleaf weed killer and hit the crabgrass with Aclaim. If you do that now, you could still overseed in a couple of weeks.

For overseeding, I would go with the slice seeder, which offers excellent soil/seed contact. It's true the grass will come up in rows, but that's only an issue for new lawns, without existing grass and even then, I don't think it's worth worrying about. It will be hardly noticeable in an existing lawn.

[spamdisintegrator]

I live in a rural area in Ohio about an hour south of Cleveland. I went to the local grain elevator to buy my grass seed and asked the guy at the counter the best way to overseed.

He told me to spread the seed FIRST with a spreader, THEN go over the area with a core areator.

You're not trying to get the seed to fall down the holes, you're trying to get the seed covered with dirt.

So first spread the seed, then go over and over the area (not just one or two passes)with the core areator so that the tractor tires break up the cores and you end up with a small layer of dirt on top of the seed, which is what you really need.

Depending on soil condition, use some starter fertilizer too.

I did all of the steps above and had great results. I bought a core aeretor for my tractor at lowes. I figure i'll areate each spring and maybe fall to help the ground absorb moisture and fertilizer.

[Ray K.]

Thanks for the informative link. I live in Manalapan, at least 25 minutes to GSP exit 100, but a mile from Route 9.

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[Ray K.]

Thanks for the excellent tips. Since my lawn is only 12,000 Sq ft, I can't justify a tractor. (It only takes me an hour to mow it with a 22" blade, propelled, non-riding mower.) An aerator rental is about $50, plus $75 to deliver and return. (I own only a Camry.) But if I hire someone, I'll be sure he does things in the sequence you suggest.

Thanks,

Ray

[Ray K.]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Ray

[Ray K.]

Thanks, Andy, for the feedback. Some of these estimates are over $300, so whatever I can do myself, I will. The problem is the expense of renting and delivering the aerator (about $125 together). I think the rental store said they weigh about 250 pounds; I don't know how hard they are to handle.

Ray