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Can I still sow grass seed in August?
We have all had quite the summer, so it is no surprise certain chores have been put on the back burner until now – such as sorting the garden out!
To answer your question: Can I still sow grass seed in August?
The answer is Yes! you can still sow grass seed in August. At this time of year, the weather is providing a ‘perfect storm’ (but hopefully not an actual one!) of great temperatures for germination alongside an ample offering of rain. This match made in heaven is particularly useful for speeding up germination. So even if you think you’ve left it too late, current weather conditions and a little bit of fertiliser can go a long way to speeding up the process!
Overseeding and feeding your existing lawn in August
For an established lawn that has seen better days, you may be looking at two separate fertiliser treatments. If your lawn is full of weeds or moss, opt for our Feed, Weed and Moss Killer which works over the course of two weeks to eradicate unruly weeds and malevolent moss. Where weeds or moss are particularly prevalent, bald patches will appear, and these will need to be reseeded. Existing grass will become extremely green and thrive. It is a granular fertiliser applied at a rate of 32g per m2 and watered in until the granules dissolve. You should aim to apply this treatment two weeks before sowing.
Alternatively, if you don’t have too many weeds, but your grass is looking a little sad, you should apply a QUICK RELEASE: Spring / Summer fertiliser. This provides six weeks of feed to give your existing lawn the boost it needs and provide the soil with all the nutrients it needs to help new seedlings grow bigger, faster, and stronger! As with all our quick-release fertilisers, apply at a rate of 70g per m2. Follow the below process:
Tips for overseeding grass seed in August
- Mow your lawn
- Apply your fertiliser (Feed, Weed and Mosskiller or QUICK RELEASE: Spring / Summer) at the recommended rate. Water it in until the granules dissolve
- For the Feed Weed and Moss Killer, allow the product to work for two weeks before reseeding. For your QUICK RELEASE: Spring / Summer, you can reseed once the granules are dissolved (no longer visible on the surface)
- Scarify your lawn to remove any dead weeds or moss, or layers of thatch and to loosen up the top layer of soil
- Overseed at a rate of 35g per m2. For a small area, you can use your hand, or for a larger area, use a spreader. Contact the manufacturer for the correct spreader setting
- Rake the seed into the soil so the seeds are bedded nicely among it
- Water the just-sown seed
- Continue to water the seed daily for the following six weeks, and you can avoid this if there is prolonged rainfall
- Mow your lawn on the highest setting when the blades are hitting heights of 5-7cm and it has been laid for at least 6-8 weeks; you can drop the setting lower on your second mow
Sowing and fertilising a new lawn in August
It can be easy to look at your blank canvas/mud pit lawn and wonder if it is even worth attempting to grow some grass, but now is as good a time as any to achieve your garden goals! The quickest way to get some early growth and establishment is by using a quick-release fertiliser. For a new lawn, you should consider using a QUICK RELEASE: Pre- Seed fertiliser to get all the nutrients into the soil that your new grass will need. This is a granular fertiliser that needs to be applied at 70g per m2. After it is applied, it must be watered in. You can seed when the granules have dissolved and disappeared off the soil surface. You should approach seeding using the following instructions:
Tips sow grass seed in August
- Apply your QUICK RELEASE: Pre-Seed at a rate of 70g per m2. You can do this by hand when wearing a glove for a small area or using a spreader. Contact the manufacturer for the correct spreader setting.
- Water the granules until they dissolve off the surface. You can seed once the granules have disappeared.
- Rake the area to get a fine and level seedbed; if your seedbed is uneven, add topsoil to level it out. Avoid adding compost, as this can introduce unnecessary weeds.
- Allow the area to cultivate for 10-14 days; this will encourage any dormant weeds to appear on the surface - any new weeds can then be removed by hand.
- Sow your grass seed at 50g per m2. You can use your hand for a small area, or for a larger area, use a spreader. Contact the manufacturer for the correct spreader setting.
- Rake the seed into the soil so it is among it
- Water the just-sown seed
- Continue to water the seed daily for the following six weeks; you can avoid this if there is prolonged rainfall
- Mow your lawn on the highest setting when the blades are hitting heights of 5-7cm, and it has been laid for at least 6-8 weeks; you can drop the setting lower on your second mow.
I’m busy in August – can I sow and fertilise in September?
Absolutely; however, your fertiliser options will change. For an existing lawn, you can consider our Feed, Weed and Moss Killer or SLOW RELEASE: Autumn / Winter. For a new lawn you can still use our QUICK RELEASE: Pre-Seed and should aim to apply a SLOW RELEASE: Autumn / Winter once the lawn is established.