Are you considering overseeding your lawn this fall because you want a lush, green, lawn during the winter months? I have a few thoughts for you to consider if you are thinking about adding seed to an existing lawn. On campus, at Ole Miss, we have overseeded several key lawn areas for many years. However, I have never been very satisfied with the results. What I have discovered is that the new grass seed needs sun, water, and cool temperatures (around 60 degree nights) to do well. I will typically overseed in mid September before the leaves begin to fall off the trees. As the new grass seed begins to work its way down to the soil level, the existing grass tends to act as an umbrella, and shades the seed from sunlight. In my experience about 50-75% of the new seed will germinate, but it is not quite at the fullness that I like to see.
There is also some root competition between the new seed and the old lawn. Rye grass grows better when fertilized, but your existing lawn doesn't need the fertilizer in the winter so you may get some winter damage (dead spots) next spring. I really like keep the lawn clean of winter weeds and simply let it go dormant. This creates a look that has nice curb appeal.
Oh, and by the way, deer love eating overseeded grass or winter grasses, like rye grass. That alone, may be a good enough reason not to overseed your existing lawn.
Are you considering overseeding your lawn this fall because you want a lush, green, lawn during the winter months? I have a few thoughts for you to consider if you are thinking about adding seed to an existing lawn. On campus, at Ole Miss, we have overseeded several key lawn areas for many years. However, I have never been very satisfied with the results. What I have discovered is that the new grass seed needs sun, water, and cool temperatures (around 60 degree nights) to do well. I will typically overseed in mid September before the leaves begin to fall off the trees. As the new grass seed begins to work its way down to the soil level, the existing grass tends to act as an umbrella, and shades the seed from sunlight. In my experience about 50-75% of the new seed will germinate, but it is not quite at the fullness that I like to see.
There is also some root competition between the new seed and the old lawn. Rye grass grows better when fertilized, but your existing lawn doesn't need the fertilizer in the winter so you may get some winter damage (dead spots) next spring. I really like keep the lawn clean of winter weeds and simply let it go dormant. This creates a look that has nice curb appeal.
Oh, and by the way, deer love eating overseeded grass or winter grasses, like rye grass. That alone, may be a good enough reason not to overseed your existing lawn.