Overseeding is not a complicated process since overseeding is scattering fresh grass seed over an already established garden lawn area with a little bit of preparation beforehand.

Why should I overseed a lawn?

Does your lawn appear patchy, sparse, or weary after the harsh UK winter? Or perhaps the recent influx of outdoor activities from your children and pets has taken a toll, or maybe you didn’t have the time to maintain your lawn at the end of last year. Whatever the cause, overseeding a lawn is the answer! It is an excellent way to rejuvenate damaged areas of your lawn, resulting in lush, green grass and a beautiful garden lawn for all to enjoy.

Overseeding a lawn increases the health and appearance of your lawn

Overseeding is an easy way to breathe new life into your garden lawn. By removing weeds, dead grass, and thatch and, in turn, sowing some fresh grass seed, you will get rid of the old, tired areas of your lawn and replace them with healthy, new grass.

Benefits of overseeding a lawn:

• Fills in damaged, bare or thinning patches of your lawn
• Encourages your lawn to grow thicker and denser
• Improves the colour of your lawn (because you are replacing the tired and yellowing areas)
• Enhances root growth
• It can reduce moss and weed infestation since your grass is growing fuller and stronger

How to overseed a lawn

Knowing how to overseed a lawn makes bringing your garden back to its former glory easy. Overseeding involves a simple step-by-step process of lawn preparation to achieve the perfect seedbed for sowing and then scattering your new grass seed.

Overseeding preparation:

• Manually pull out weeds or apply a weed killer.
• Clear away any rocks or stones.
• Scarify the soil to get rid of moss and to aerate it.
• Let the soil rest for 10-14 days to allow hidden weeds to sprout.
• Hand-pull any new weeds that appear.
• Feed the soil nutrients with a quick release fertiliser.

Why use quick release fertiliser when overseeding a lawn?

Opting for a quick-release fertiliser will give your lawn the immediate boost required for growth after overseeding. This approach helps your lawn grow and fill out more rapidly. To prevent burning the grass blades, distribute the fertiliser evenly on an overcast day or during the evening when temperatures are cooler. Be sure to water the fertiliser granules until they are fully dissolved. Or, to save time, you can apply granular pre-seed fertiliser just before rain is expected.

Tips for overseeding a lawn

Clear the way for your new grass seed

First, start by removing any weeds and moss from the area. Dig out the weeds by the roots to ensure they don’t grow back.

For moss, you can scarify your lawn to eliminate it if it’s only in small patches. However, if moss and weeds cover the entire surface of your garden and your lawn is at least six months old, our Feed, Weed, and Moss Killer product will be the most effective solution. This product works over two weeks to eradicate weeds and moss.

Mowing your lawn before going any further

After removing the weeds, moss, and thatch, mow your lawn. It’s essential to mow now because you won’t be able to do so for six to eight weeks after sowing the new grass seed (when your new grass has grown to around 5-7cm in height).

Picking the best grass seed for your lawn

Choose the appropriate grass seed mixture and the correct amount for your needs - you’ll need 35g per square meter for overseeding. Our grass seed calculator can help you determine the perfect amount of seed.

Allow any weeds lying dormant to appear

Leave the prepared area to cultivate for 10-14 days. This allows dormant weeds to appear, which can then be removed by hand.

Sow your fresh grass seed

You can now sow your grass seed by hand or with a spreader. Water the new grass seeds daily for six weeks after sowing.

Your lawn’s first mow after overseeding

Your lawn will be ready for its first mow when the grass reaches 5-7cm in height. Mow the entire lawn (both old and new grass) on the highest setting of your mower before lowering it to the recommended height for your grass mix.

Lawn care further reading

Now you know why it’s a good idea to overseed a lawn, and you know how to do it – you’ll be ready to keep the momentum going with some quality lawn care! We have included some links to guides and tips below for further reading to help you achieve and maintain the garden lawn you’ve always wanted:

• Tips for lawn overseeding
• How to scarify a lawn
• How to sow grass seed
• Lawn Care Seasonal Checklist
• How to keep your lawn healthy