It probably won’t surprise you to learn that strolling around your yard scattering handfuls of grass seed isn’t the best way to seed your lawn.
But what is?
What are the best lawn seeding methods? Power seeding? Aeration and overseeding?
Here in Eau Claire, core aeration and overseeding do a great job of loosening compacted soil, letting in water and oxygen, and providing the perfect little holes for the grass seed to snuggle into and grow.
Keep reading to learn more about lawn overseeding.
Power seeding, also known as slit or slice seeding, plants grass seed directly into the soil with a machine that uses a blade to cut evenly-spaced slices into the soil and deposits grass seed into each cut at the same time.
It puts the grass seed into direct contact with the soil to germinate and grow.
Core aeration also uses a machine, but this one pulls out tiny cores of soil from your lawn, allowing water and oxygen to get to the roots.
Once your lawn is filled with holes, it’s time for overseeding, adding grass seed to help rejuvenate it.
Aeration and overseeding work together to rejuvenate your lawn and provide the important seed-to-soil contact to encourage the grass seed to germinate quickly and grow.
Jake Jacobson, lawn care operations manager at RainMaster Lawn Systems, says core aeration and seeding do a great job in Eau Claire. It’s our preferred process here at RainMaster.
“It’s the simplest way to accomplish the results we’re looking for,” Jacobson says. “It’s quick and effective.”
Core aeration and seeding reduce soil compaction, allow the roots to expand and grow, introduce pro-grade seed to the lawn and provide results within a month, he says, “creating a more healthy, lush, and uniform lawn.
“With our grass seed mix, the lawn will see results of new grass growth within seven to 28 days,” Jacobson says. (More on the importance of quality grass seed in a bit.)
“Aeration and seeding also does the least amount of damage to a lawn,”
Jacobson says, making it among the best lawn seeding methods. “The only residue it leaves behind is the aeration cores.” No need to remove the cores. They’ll decompose and add valuable nutrients to your lawn.
“A power seeding is a more aggressive form of introducing new seed to a lawn,” Jacobson says. “This form of seeding will tear away at the existing grass much more and leave behind much more residue.”
Jacobson only recommends lawn power seeding on turf that’s maintained short, like at a golf course.
Power seeding can also benefit newly established lawns where there isn’t existing turf to damage.
Yes, but as Jacobson points out, expect a bit of a mess, and some injury to your lawn.
Lawn power seeding is also less effective in heavily compacted soil, as it doesn’t break up and aerate soil the way core aeration does. The grass seed can struggle to take hold and germinate.
Well, you can, if you’re trying to seed on your way out the door to your pickleball game, but that’s not your best lawn seeding method if you want to grow new grass.
That grass seed must snuggle into the soil, making close contact to germinate and grow. Lawn power seeding, aeration, and overseeding create a space in the soil for the grass seed to drop down into, providing close seed-to-soil contact.
If you’re doing your own seeding, you’ll have much better luck if you prepare the soil first, raking away any dead grass to create a clean surface.
Loosen the soil a bit to prepare it for the seed, then scatter the grass seed over the loosened soil. Scratch it and tamp it down so you know there’s good contact.
Then, add some fertilizer designed for new grass to get it off to a good start. And, this is important — keep it watered.
Even better, plan on aeration in combination with your lawn overseeding. Aeration offers your seed the best chance of succeeding, fluffing up the soil so it’s nice and loose, getting air into the soil and even providing the perfect holes for the seed to nestle down into for the perfect place to grow.
The best lawn seeding methods won’t be successful if you use cheap grass seed. That inexpensive grass seed at the home improvement store may contain weed and undesirable grass seed. It’s not great, and won’t give you that thick, healthy lawn of your dreams.
Pay the extra to get high-quality grass seed.
You’ll get a blend of high-quality grass seed from RainMaster based on your lawn’s needs.
Every type of grass has advantages and disadvantages. Fescue does better in shade. Bluegrass thrives in the sun. Rye stands up well to heavy foot traffic.
That’s why a blend of these grasses is great — you get a bit of all their good qualities. Plus, a mix is better at fending off lawn diseases.
The best grass seeding methods take into account the precise seed your property needs. If your yard is shady, RainMaster pros will give you more fescue seed and maybe just 10 percent bluegrass or none at all.
Sunny? You’ll get more Bluegrass seed.
Rye isn’t our favorite grass for lawn overseeding, but it serves a few good purposes. If you have an erosion-prone hillside or destructive dogs, you want grass coverage as quickly as possible. Rye seed germinates in just seven days, while Bluegrass takes a month.
We take seed seriously here, and you’ll notice the difference.
Yes, lawn power seeding slices into your lawn and deposits grass seed. But core aeration offers benefits to your lawn that go beyond that, especially when it comes to your all-important soil:
Aeration improves your lawn’s soil by loosening it up. That’s especially helpful if your soil is compacted or full of clay. Then your lawn struggles to get the oxygen, water, and nutrients it needs.
When the soil is looser and airier, fertilizer can easily reach the roots of your lawn and boost its health.
That means fewer embarrassing bare spots that drive you crazy.
Lawn aeration also helps break down thatch, that layer of dead grass and stems between the grass blades and the soil that blocks the good stuff from reaching your lawn’s hungry roots.
You’ll see fewer weeds. Aeration helps your lawn thrive with strong, healthy roots. A stronger, more robust lawn can better crowd out pesky weeds.
Spring might seem like the best time for lawn aeration and seeding, when everything is green and sprouting, but here in Eau Claire, fall is the best time, for a few good reasons:
The weather is nice and cool here in the fall, perfect for that new grass seed to germinate and grow. Grass seed loves cool weather. (If you’re a sweater person, you get it.)
Aerate in the fall; you don’t have to worry about spring crabgrass preventer killing your grass seed.
Fall is often rainy here. Free watering! Grass seed craves water.
Fewer weed seeds blow around in the fall, which can settle into the aeration holes and grow. Why encourage weeds?
Lawn overseeding in the fall gives new grass time to grow and store nutrients before it dorms for the winter.
Less mowing and foot traffic in the fall makes it easier for tender new grass to thrive.
As Jacobson noted, new grass will start sprouting within a month, which is always exciting and kind of a miracle. Nature is cool.
But be patient when it comes to thicker turf. You might not notice the most impressive results for several months to a year. But eventually you’ll notice thicker turf. And healthier turf that’s better at resisting weeds and diseases and won’t dry out as fast.
Aeration and overseeding can work wonders on a lawn that needs a boost.
But it’s just part of a bigger, more comprehensive plan for a healthy, thriving lawn.
When you need expert lawn seeding and lawn care in Eau Claire, WI, we’d love to help rejuvenate your struggling lawn.
Invest in a complete, pro-active lawn care program to continuously improve and protect your lawn.
Consider it a team effort. Let’s create a custom nutrition plan for your Eau Claire, WI lawn, so the roots will be nourished, the soil packed with nutrients, and your grass thick and healthy.
Choose from three different levels of lawn care programs, based on the results you’d like, how fast you want to see results, and your budget.
You deserve great customer experiences, competent pros on your lawn, and high-end products ensuring you get results.
Let’s get to the bottom of your lawn problems. Request a quote today! We’ll review your lawn care options together so you can make a great choice. Then, you can finally enjoy your lawn and stop worrying about it.