When to Overseed Lawn in New Hampshire
Even if your lawn in New Hampshire is not performing up to your expectations, you can re-establish a healthier, better-looking lawn when you overseed it. Here are some recommendations from Jonathan Green.
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.
Overseeding Lawns
Overseeding is the practice of spreading new seed over your established lawn. It will do more to provide you with a thick, healthy, and weed-free lawn than just about anything else you can do.
Overseed your lawn in New Hampshire in early fall (mid-September to mid-October) to give seeds a month or so to become established before the first frost.
The soil is still warm in the early fall, which is necessary for seed germination, and the cooler air temperatures and rainfall at this time of year are better for grass growth. Overseeding lawns in fall also reduces the competition from summer weedy grasses, such as crabgrass.
Seed Selection
Your lawn will never be better than the seed you plant, so we recommend overseeding with either Jonathan Green Black Beauty® Ultra Grass Seed or Black Beauty® Fall Magic Grass Seed mixture:
Black Beauty® Ultra Grass Seed is most similar to what is grown on sod farms. The mixture contains exclusive, elite varieties of tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass. These grasses grow a naturally dark-green and beautiful lawn with excellent heat and drought tolerance. Black Beauty® Ultra Grass Seed germinates in about 14 days and will improve any lawn it is overseeded into.
Black Beauty® Fall Magic Grass Seed has been specially formulated for successful fall seeding and contains several grass types, including Black Beauty® tall fescues. It can be used in sunny and shady lawn areas to overseed established lawns or to start new lawns from scratch. Black Beauty® Fall Magic Grass Seed repairs summer damage and provides an attractive, thicker, greener lawn, with germination in 10 to 14 days.
Soil Preparation
Seeds must come in contact with the soil in order to germinate. Encourage this by clearing out dead grass and debris and loosening compacted soil with a rake or garden weasel about a half-inch deep. This will give the roots the best chance to grow. If your lawn area is large, consider renting a slit seeder, aerator or de-thatching machine.
Test the pH of your soil. If low, apply Mag-I-Cal® Plus for Lawns in Alkaline & Hard Soil to increase it to a 6.2 to 7.0 range for optimum growth. It will also help the lawn grow greener and healthier.
This is also the ideal time to apply Veri-Green Starter Fertilizer for Seeding & Sodding, our high phosphorus formula that helps build a vigorous root system and gets new grass plantings off to a fast start.
Mentioned Products
If you have a small lawn, you may be able to broadcast Jonathan Green Black Beauty® seed by hand. For larger lawns, a lawn spreader is the best way to quickly cover a lot of ground and achieve even coverage. Make certain that the seed is slightly buried in the top soil.
When you are ready to overseed your lawn in New Hampshire, visit Jonathan Green online or your nearest independent retail store for more information.