OT: PA spring over seeding and aeration

[Fk_Pitt]

Anyone have an opinion on the best time to do this in PA? I probably should have done it in the Fall but missed the window to do so. In spite of having lawn service for decades, my lawn is a mess.

Would this month do the trick?

 

[pittbb80]

Anyone have an opinion on the best time to do this in PA? I probably should have done it in the Fall but missed the window to do so. In spite of having lawn service for decades, my lawn is a mess.

Would this month do the trick?

With cool season grasses you can do this anytime in early spring. If you have irrigation you can also do it in the summer

The key is the grass has to be in a rapid growth period So I’d suggest doing it once the day time temps are consistently in the high 60: or low 70s. Make sure you havnt put pre emergent down or the seed won’t take

 

[vantheman1976]

With cool season grasses you can do this anytime in early spring. If you have irrigation you can also do it in the summer

The key is the grass has to be in a rapid growth period So I’d suggest doing it once the day time temps are consistently in the high 60: or low 70s. Make sure you havnt put pre emergent down or the seed won’t take

And be sure the seed is in direct contact with soil. A thin layer of topsoil to cover the seed helps a lot.....keep it moist until it germinates....water regularly after that. Now....having said that....a sure fire way to reseed is to rent a slit seeder or find a landscaper to do it. These machines are loaded with seed and then cut a narrow furrow that deposits the seed below the surface. I used one once and it worked great.

 

[BurghGuy68]

The hard part with seeding this time of year is that the 2nd application in April/May is weed and feed...which basically will kill new grass that hasn't been established.

I'd wait for the Fall (mid to late Oct) when it's cooler.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

The hard part with seeding this time of year is that the 2nd application in April/May is weed and feed...which basically will kill new grass that hasn't been established.

I'd wait for the Fall (mid to late Oct) when it's cooler.

I was told by my lawn care company that if I did it now, like this week, then I should be able to get two mower cuts out of the new grass and then they can come in mid April or Maybe late April with the pre-emergent application. So I’m hoping that if I do this, it will work.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

With cool season grasses you can do this anytime in early spring. If you have irrigation you can also do it in the summer

The key is the grass has to be in a rapid growth period So I’d suggest doing it once the day time temps are consistently in the high 60: or low 70s. Make sure you havnt put pre emergent down or the seed won’t take

I think if I wait for warmer temps, then the pre-emergent will have to be applied later, and the come summer I’ll have crab grass popping up.

 

[ChiefJusticeMarshall]

I was told by my lawn care company that if I did it now, like this week, then I should be able to get two mower cuts out of the new grass and then they can come in mid April or Maybe late April with the pre-emergent application. So I’m hoping that if I do this, it will work.

My lawn is toast. The bastards didn't leave enough top soil when they stole my dirt when they built my house. I can get things to grow and now I got voles tunneling throughout the yard. I give up.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

My lawn is toast. The bastards didn't leave enough top soil when they stole my dirt when they built my house. I can get things to grow and now I got voles tunneling throughout the yard. I give up.

Yeah my top soil sucks. Should have paid for real soil upgrades when I built.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

Yeah, I might as well put a plate and three bases in my backyard cause it's an effing infield. I got a fence this past summer, and playing ball out there with my dogs just about every day has it torn up to a point where I don't even know where to begin. I was thinking sod, but I'm not sure if I have too much area to fix for that to be an option.

 

[ratking17]

Here in central pa we are in a severe drought and last year my lawn was absolute garbage. I think i went like 6 weeks without mowing because everything was dead. I laughed at the neighbors wasting water every day to have it do nothing to save their lawns. So far we are still really dry this year as well

 

[PittMan2003]

I would suggest waiting until the fall. Even if you get it going pretty well, the summer heat and dryness will likely kill it unless you keep watering it which gets expensive.

 

[Joe Magarac]

Yeah my top soil sucks. Should have paid for real soil upgrades when I built.

Been there. Done that.
I asked for an additional 4” of topsoil and got 1”. Asked them to let me plant grass. They did it anyway with cheap annual ryegrass seed.
Anyway. It took several ~ 5 to 6 years of adding topsoil, replanting, over seeding, slit seedling, aerating, thatching, fertilizing, having an in ground sprinkler system installed and a huge dose of patience.
Those issues coupled with the deer deciding to use my property as a pass thru for their nightly trek to the stream and destroying many shrubs and plantings have proved more than a challenge.
Have patience, research on the web and follow through. Good luck.

 

[pittbb80]

I was told by my lawn care company that if I did it now, like this week, then I should be able to get two mower cuts out of the new grass and then they can come in mid April or Maybe late April with the pre-emergent application. So I’m hoping that if I do this, it will work.

Never ever put preemergent down with newly seeded grass or sod. Preemergent doesn’t stop seeds from sprouting it stops root development. So if you do that after you seed the new grass will not take a strong hold

Only amateurs use weed and feed. If you take care of your lawn properly the only thing you ever need is pre emergent and a tank spray to spot treat a stray weed here and there

So if you’re thinking of seeding your lawn treat it for weeds now before you put the seed down.

And the one post was spot on. If you want maximum effectiveness for over seeding it’s best to throw down some top soil and then the seed and take the seed in. Not totally necessary but more effective

 

[pittbb80]

Yeah my top soil sucks. Should have paid for real soil upgrades when I built.

Top soil is a quick fix for sure but you can amend your soil over time by adding organic matter. Believe it or not chicken feed is great to add. It adds organic matter and creates good fungus. Humichar is also very good. Add these before you aerate each year and then add another treatment and in a few years your soil will greatly improve