When to Overseed Lawn in Nebraska
With help from the experts at Jonathan Green, you can learn when to overseed your lawn in Nebraska, how to prepare the turf and correct any problems, and how to choose the best grass seed mixture for your environmental conditions.
Jonathan Green has been revolutionizing the grass industry for over 100 years. We supply genetically superior grass seed, soil enhancers, fertilizer, and organic lawn and garden products to professional customers, such as sod growers and independent retailers, throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwestern and Western United States.
What is Overseeding?
Overseeding is the process of planting new grass seed over an already existing lawn. When combined with proper aeration and fertilization, overseeding fills in thin or patchy spots and improves the overall health of the lawn, making it thicker, greener, and more likely to fend off weeds, insects and diseases.
In Nebraska, the best time to overseed your lawn is in late summer to early fall (mid-August to mid-October), when the cooler temperatures are just right for cool-season grasses. There is enough moisture in the ground to encourage proper seed germination, and the cooler air will stimulate grass growth. The second-best time for overseeding is in early spring (mid-March to mid-April).
Preparing the Soil for Overseeding
Grass seed germinates and grows best in soil that is loose and not compacted. Prepare the area by clearing out any dead grass and breaking up the hardened soil. Jonathan Green Love Your Soil® will loosen and aerate hard or compacted soil. Then cut the lawn short – from one to two inches in height.
Once you have prepared the soil, you should test it to determine the pH level. The soil pH should fall between 6.2 and 7.0. Soil that falls too low should be treated with Mag-I-Cal® Plus for Lawns in Alkaline & Hard Soil. Our innovative formula will quickly correct the pH of the soil and help the lawn grow greener and healthier. It can be applied the same day as the grass seed is spread.
After regulating the pH, the seed can be planted. Choose a high-quality grass seed with a good mix of varietals, such as Jonathan Green Black Beauty® Original Grass Seed. For small lawns, the seed can be spread by hand, but larger lawns would benefit from the use of a lawn spreader to ensure an even spread of seed across the entire lawn.
To get new grass plantings off to a fast start, rake or roll the seed into the soil; it needs to have contact with the soil in order to germinate properly. Then, apply a high-quality fertilizer. Our Veri-Green Starter Fertilizer for Seeding & Sodding has been precisely targeted to the germination of newly seeded grass. It works to build a stronger root system and a thicker, greener lawn.
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Next, the overseeded lawn should be watered thoroughly, and the soil should be kept moist until the seeds have germinated (10 to 14 days). If the weather happens to be particularly warm, you may need to water several times a day. After the grass becomes established, mow the new lawn when the grass is about three inches tall.
Find out when to overseed your lawn in Nebraska and tips on how to produce a healthier, better-looking lawn by visiting Jonathan Green online or your nearest retail store where you can get excellent lawn and garden advice.