Fall Seeding for Cool Season Grasses

seeding grass

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If you live in the northern areas of the country or areas with a cooler climate, chances are you have a cool season grass in your yard. Common types of cool season grasses include bluegrasses and fescues. The ideal time of year to seed this type of grass is the fall. This grass grows in temperatures in the 60s and 70s. Therefore, if you wait until spring to seed, it will be too warm by the time summer arrives for it to thrive.

It’s essential that you aerate your lawn before seeding. The key benefit of this is to break up compacted soil so that it is better prepared for the seed. For more information on aerating and why it is a key component of your lawn care regiment, visit our post on aerating.

You will also need to fertilize your lawn when seeding. Some choose to fertilize and seed at the same time, which works as well. The fertilizer is a key component in the success of your lawn. It provides necessary nutrients that facilitate seed germination. Fertilizers are comprised of some combination of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium and different times of year call for different types of fertilizer. When seeding lawn, you should use a fertilizer high in phosphorous.

It is also very important that you properly water a newly seeded lawn. The exact number of times a week you water your lawn will obviously depend on the weather. They key thing to remember is that the seeds need to be kept moist. You don’t want to overwater as you can wash away or drown the seed.

If you are seeding your lawn for the first time or unfamiliar with the process, it’s a good idea to consult a lawn care professional first.