Should I Repair the Lawn or Reseed?
How to Improve Your Pennsylvania Lawn
Typically done in the spring months, lawn repair and reseeding can help create a beautiful, thick lawn. Knowing which method to use isn’t always easy. There is also a lot of different advice out there about which option might be best. Here are some recommendations to keep in mind for your lawn this year.
Patchy, Bare Areas?
If your lawn is healthy overall, but you have some areas that are thin or even bare, treatment needs to focus on repair here. That is, you’ll want to support the nutrient needs of your lawn. At the same time, you may need to patch bare areas using a patching-specific seed blend. This often happens in high-traffic areas. For that reason, you’ll want to use a substance that can keep it from washing away. A thicker, denser seeding material can help.
Thin, Less-than-healthy Lawns
Overseeding is a way to improve the overall thickness of the existing lawn. If your lawn isn’t as dark green or as thick as you would like it to be, overseeding can help. Here are a few things to consider during this process:
- Take care of weeds first: If you plan to overseed, but you already have weeds, start by using lawn-safe, selective weed control. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for application. Be aggressive where you use it.
- Mow the lawn: After the weeds are eliminated, mow the grass low, to about two inches. This allows you to see the thatch layer. If it is over a ½ inch thick, you’ll get better results if you de-thatch and clean up the debris. This allows more air to penetrate the soil. This also allows the seed to get into the soil so it can grow and thrive.
- Amend the soil: Prior to overseeding, ensure the lawn’s soil is nutrient-rich. Amend it as necessary with a fertilizer blend.
- Apply seed. The next step is to seed the area. Often, the goal is to apply grass seed at a rate of 1 to 2 pounds per 1,000 square feet. This is an overseeding rate, which means you are applying a significant amount over the top of the existing grass.
- Consider a starter product. In some cases, where you’re concerned about slow growth or depleted soil nutrients, you can use a starter lawn fertilizer after overseeding. Never choose a product that promises weed control because it can suppress the growth of grass.
Let Our Team Handle Your Grass Instead
You certainly can do the work of repairing or overseeding your lawn on your own. However, our team can also handle it for you, allowing us to customize the treatment of your lawn based on what your property needs.
At GREENSKEEPER, our service programs provide an easy way for you to keep your yard looking fantastic throughout the year. Meet with us to discuss your needs for fertilizing, patching, and repair, as well as overseeding treatments. For over 50 years, we’ve helped our clients enjoy beautiful lawns.
Call GREENSKEEPER today. Set up a free quote to discuss your lawn needs. Give us a call at (215) 938-8440 or contact us using our online form.