The Ideal Time To Reseed Your Lawn, According To An Expert

19.07.2024 - 02:43 / southernliving.com / Kim Toscano

Whether you are renovating a weedy lawn or overseeding existing turf, timing is critical to establishing a healthy, robust lawn. Proper timing ensures good seed germination and allows grass seedlings time to establish a healthy root system before the environmental stresses of summer or winter arrive. In turn, a healthy grass stand is better able to compete against weeds and requires less maintenance. We visited with a lawn expert to learn more about the ideal time to reseed lawns, factors to consider, and techniques for achieving a lush and healthy lawn.

• Craig McManus is the host of The Garden Question Podcast and founder of McPlants, a boutique garden design-build company.

Depending on where you live, your lawn may contain cool-season grass species, warm-season grass species, or a mixture of both. The active growth period for these two classes of turfgrass differs significantly and impacts the optimal time for seeding your lawn. “The goal is to establish deep root systems to survive the hot and dry summer season for cool season grasses and the hard, dry freezing weather for warm season grass,” said Craig McManus, host of The Garden Question Podcast and founder of McPlants, a boutique garden design-build company. “You do that by correctly timing the sowing of your seed.”

Determine Grass Type

To get that timing down, you need to first determine which type of grass you wish to sow. Grass selection is largely dictated by local climate. Cool-season grasses such as fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass are most active during the winter and early spring months. They flower and set seed by early summer and often go dormant during the heat of summer in southern