Early spring and late fall are the perfect times to reseed a worn-out lawn, and it’s not very difficult to do. Hop to action as soon as the forsythia blooms, or wait until around Labor Day before taking any turf action.
No matter the season, the process is the same, and it’s simple, inexpensive and a fraction of the cost of sod. First, measure your yard: length x width = square footage. You have to know this number to be able to purchase the right amount of soil amendments and seed products. Also, if you’re hiring a professional to do all or a portion of the job, it’s the first thing they’ll ask. If you’ve calculated a consistent measurement for them, it’ll make comparing prices a lot easier. Since the plan here is to reseed your lawn (not over-seed it), the first step is to get rid of all the old grass and weeds. You can do it yourself by mixing an all-purpose herbicide into your garden sprayer (just don’t use it on your garden again or you’ll kill the plants). Start by spraying in a horizontal direction, followed with another pass over the area in a vertical direction to saturate everything evenly. Wait 14 days, then mow – low and slow. Be sure to bag those clippings – do not compost them. (You may have to spray twice to ensure you’ve got a clean slate to work with.) Your dying lawn can be a bit dramatic to deal with, but rest assured you’re building the base for a beautiful lawn. To distract you from the mess, head out to buy your seed and amendments. Quantities vary according to square footage. Here in North Carolina, I use one 20-pound bag of palletized lime per 1,000 square feet. (The store I buy it from does my soil testing – testing is always a good idea). When it comes to starter fertilizer, I need about 4 pounds per 1,000 square feet, and 5-7 pounds of lawn seed per 1,000 square feet.
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