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I’m Kyle with DoMyOwn dot com. When it comes to overseeding your cool season lawn, it’s a strategic progress and timing is key. Let’s walk through some basic tips to keep in mind as you’re doing this yourself.

Overseeding isn’t just about tossing some grass seed onto your lawn; it’s spreading additional seed over an existing lawn to enhance coverage, density, or variety. If you notice thin or bare patches or your turf might be losing its vibrant color, overseeding might be the answer for you! Overseeding can refresh and improve the look of your lawn. When should I overseed my cool season lawn? The best time to overseed your cool season lawn including Fescue, Ryegrass, Kentucky Blue Grass, and more is in the fall. While timing can vary by region, make sure to give your grass seed enough time to establish before the winter and first frost. Your grass will have a better chance to thrive in the fall months without the weed competition from those grassy annual weeds that might germinate in your lawn in the spring months.

Alright, once you’ve got your timing down and you’ve decided that overseeding is right for you there are five steps to prepare your lawn for overseeding. These will make a big difference your overseeding effectiveness. 

1. Step one: Scalp the Lawn: Mow the existing grass down to the ground to give seeds better contact. 
2. Step two: Clean up lawn debris such as fallen leaves, sticks, and fallen fruit or seed that’s left over in your lawn. Remove as much as you can.
3. Step three: Remove Moss from the surface of your lawn. This ensures more seed-to-soil contact.
4. Step four: Dethatch: Use a stiff rake or power rake to dethatch your Lawn.
5. And finally, Step 5. Aerate. right before seeding, aerate the area.

These additional  steps will help you achieve the best results: 

• One: Make sure to do a Soil Test: A soil test is very important for your lawn. This will tell you maybe what you lawn needs ordoesn't need as in fertilizer, some pH balance or something like that. We have many more videos on  our website about the soil test, check those out if you've got more questions.
• Two: Check Soil Temperature: Make sure it’s right for your seeds. 
• Three: Calculate the amount of grass seed you're gonna need per square foot for your lawn. For instance, you may need 3-5 lbs per 1,000 sq. ft. This is an example and your specific lawn will dependent on spreader calibration and lawn size.
• Four: Seed Right After you get done Aerating- Plan your timing of an overseeding so that it’s right after you are done with your aeration.
•  Five: Watering is one of the most important parts. Keep the area watered  consistently if rain isn’t on the horizon 

Once you’ve prepared your lawn for overseeding and followed the tips for the best results, it’s time to spread the seed! Make sure you calibrate your spreader before you begin if you haven’t already done that. We’ll link our videos here for step-by-step process on how to calibrate your spreader.

Fill your spreader according to the label, adjust the settings, and walk the area in straight lines for even coverage. After seeding, water the area once or twice a day until the new grass catches up with the old. grass in your lawn.
With these tips and the right products from DoMyOwn.com, you’re all set to overseed like a pro!  You’re just one step closer towards that lush, green dream of a lawn that is the envy of your neighbors!

Thanks for watching! Don’t forget to comment, and subscribe for more lawn care and pest control videos. And tell us what you’d like to see more of in the comments!