Knowing when to overseed a lawn will make all the difference in ensuring the grass in your garden looks its fullest, healthiest, and most vibrant this spring. For successful overseeding, timing is key – but the results are certainly worth it.
If you already know how to overseed a lawn, rest assured you've already done the majority of the heavy lifting that comes with this crucial lawn care tip. Explaining the importance of overseeding, Craig Wilson, co-founder, director and in-house gardening expert at Gardeners Dream says, 'Overseeding a lawn is an essential gardening practice designed to rejuvenate and density your grass, ensuring a lush, vibrant appearance.' It's the key to reviving your lawn after winter, so you can indulge in a beautiful lawn throughout the entirety of spring and summer.
'This technique involves sowing new grass seeds directly onto existing turf, effectively repairing areas that have become thin or damaged due to wear, pests, or harsh weather conditions. Overseeding promotes a fuller, healthier lawn, enhancing both its beauty and durability.'
When to overseed a lawn
'The ideal time to overseed a lawn so it'll be healthy in spring and summer will depend on several factors,' explains Ionel Giuran, Fantastic Gardeners' lawn care expert. 'For example, the location you lived in, the climate there and the type of grass you have.'
However, as a general rule of thumb, there are two key seasons throughout the year when overseeding will benefit your lawn ideas most effectively. 'The best time to overseed your lawn is either during spring, avoiding frosts, or early autumn,' advises Craig. These are the months falling between March to May for spring, and August to September for early autumn, and is similar to the best time to sow grass seed, too.
It's best advised to overseed during these windows because these periods offer milder temperatures and adequate rainfall, creating ideal conditions for seed germination. Craig even adds that the 'reduced weed competition during this time also ensures better establishment of new grass', which is a win-win all around.
Steve Chilton, garden expert at LeisureBench explains that 'March-May is the ideal time as it helps to perk up your lawn again after being potentially damaged during the winter months. If you think your lawn is looking a little dead, sparse or just a bit damaged from cold spells and intense weather, then overseeing in spring is a great way to ensure that your lawn looks healthy and alive again by the time we're in the peak summer months.'
Craig further assures that 'overseeding during this time prepares your lawn for vigorous growth in the coming months'. He advises choosing a mild, frost-free day to sow the grass seeds, as late frosts can result in your seeds not germinating.
So, while March may mark the beginning of spring, the UK weather's track record doesn't always fit the bill consistently. 'Wait until soil temperatures consistently reach at least 8-10 °C,' advises Craig.
That being said, some gardening experts do believe that overseeding in early autumn is actually the best practice overall.
'Based on my professional experience, early autumn is the right time to overseed your lawn. August 15th to September 15th are the absolute best months in most regions,' explains Jane Dobbs, lead of the gardening team at Allan's Gardeners. 'It's when the days are still warm enough to encourage growth and the nights are cooler, giving seedlings a break.'
However, seeing as springtime is already fast approaching, focusing on successfully overseeding during this season will help you get into the swing of things in preparation for early autumn, when you'll be encouraged to do this task all over again.
FAQs
When is it the best time to overseed your lawn?
'Generally, there are two main times a year that you should be overseeding your lawn. The first time is between March-May, while the second time is right at the end of the summer, between August and September,' explains Steve Chilton at LeisureBench.
Now you know when to overseed a lawn, you're well on your way to a garden you can fully indulge in come spring and summer.
