For the best results, calculate your grass seed needs by type of seed and square footage. Otherwise, a general rule of thumb is 3-4 pounds of grass seed per 1,000 square feet for new lawns and 1-2 pounds of grass seed per 1,000 square feet for overseeding. Frequently Asked Questions
How much Fescue seed do I need to overseed my lawn?
Plan on requiring about 3 pounds of bluegrass seed, 10 pounds of ryegrass seed, 4 pounds of red fescue, 5 pounds of hard fescue or 8 to 10 pounds of tall fescue seed for every 1,000 square feet of turf. Spring is the best time to overseed your lawn, although many winter-hardy grasses will survive if seeded early enough in the fall.
How many pounds of grass seed do I need for a lawn?
Plan on requiring about 3 pounds of bluegrass seed, 10 pounds of ryegrass seed, 4 pounds of red fescue, 5 pounds of hard fescue or 8 to 10 pounds of tall fescue seed for every 1,000 square feet of turf. Simply so, how many sq ft Does a 50 lb bag of grass seed cover?
Do you need less seed when overseeding a lawn?
When the lawn you are overseeding is relatively thick and healthy and you only want to introduce a new cultivar into it then you may need less seed. There just won’t be a lot of space to fill between what grass is already in place.
Is it possible to put down too much grass seed?
Yes, it is very possible to put down too much grass seed. In fact, putting down an excess of grass seed might mean that you end up with a less desirable outcome than you wanted for your lawn. It’s kind of counter-intuitive.
How much seed should I put down when overseeding?
If most of your lawn already has thick grass growth, overseeding will be a general maintenance task. In this case, you should use two to four pounds of seed for every 1,000 square feet of lawn. However, if your lawn has exposed areas of soil, apply four to eight pounds of seed per every 1,000 square feet.Mar 14, 2019
How much will a 50 lb bag of grass seed cover?
The answer will vary, but as a general rule, you'll need 1 to 5 lbs of seed for every 1,000 square feet of coverage which means a 50lb bag of seed will cover up to 10,000 square feet of lawn.
Can you use too much grass seed when overseeding?
Don't overdo or cut corners. Too much grass seed causes undue competition for resources such as light, water and nutrients, and grass seedlings struggle as a result. Too little seed leaves lawns thin or bare.
How many pounds of grass seed do I need for 1000 square feet?
The number of grass seed pounds per square foot varies depending on the type of grass you are using. You will typically need to use between 2 and 8 pounds of grass seed per 1,000 square feet depending on the type and quality of the seed.Aug 24, 2021
How much does 20lbs of grass seed cover?
8,000 Sq. Ft.Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Sun and Shade Mix: Covers up to 8,000 Sq. Ft., 20 Lbs.
How much does a 10lb bag of grass seed cover?
2,500 sq. ftLawn Mix. This mix withstands wear from drought and high traffic, and the 10 lb. bag covers up to 2,500 sq. ft.
What month is best to put grass seed down?
Plant cool-season grass seed in late summer or early fall (when daytime temperatures lower to about 60 to 75 degrees) for best success. September is typically the best month, although you might be able to get away with seeding as early as mid-August or as late as mid-October; it all depends on the forecast.Jun 17, 2021
What is the best grass seed to overseed with?
BEST OVERALL: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed All-Purpose Mix.RUNNER-UP: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed High Traffic Mix.MOST DROUGHT-TOLERANT: Jonathan Green 10316 Black Beauty Grass Seed.BEST FOR SHADE: Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Dense Shade Mix.More items...•Jan 4, 2022
Should you soak grass seed before planting?
Soak the seed in water for 3 to 5 days. Bluegrass should be soaked for 5 days. Make sure all seed is wetted. Place container in a dark area.
How much grass seed do I need for 1/2 acre?
For forage production or wild-land meadows, you only need 10 to 20 lb of of grass seed per acre. Some intensive forage production requires more, such as 30 to 40 lb of seed per acre, especially when growing hay for export markets or to sell for making feed pellets or cubes.
How much seed do you need to overseed 1/2 acre?
For example, if the recommended seeding rate for a specific blend of grasses is 6 pounds per 1,000 square feet, multiply 6 by 43.56 to get 261.36. Thus you would need just over 261 pounds of seed for 1 acre.
What does too much grass seed look like?
You'll know if you seeded too heavy when the grass grows in very thick patches. These patches look great initially but are eventually thinned out by turf disease.
How to oversee a lawn?
Measure the edges of the lawn area you plan to overseed in feet. If the lawn space has more than four approximate edges or has an irregular shape, subdivide the area into smaller squares or rectangles and measure adjacent edges on each rectangle.
Why is overseeding important?
Where a lawn is thin or completely brown in winter but is otherwise healthy with no major problems related to diseases, pests, weeds, compaction, drainage, a too-thick thatch layer or soil nutrition, overseeding provides a viable means to improve the appearance of your lawn. The amount of grass seed required to achieve a full, green lawn depends on the species of grass chosen for overseeding and the size of the area that you will overseed.
How to figure out the area of grass?
Multiply the two adjacent sides of each rectangle and add the total of each rectangle, in square feet, to determine the total area of grass you will overseed . Round up to an increment of 10 or 100 to simplify the calculations. For example, a rectangle 10 feet wide by 5 feet long would be 50 square feet.
How to oversee a thinning lawn?
To overseed a thinning but otherwise healthy lawn, choose the same species and cultivar or a grass with similar characteristics to ensure uniform color. To bring winter color to your lawn, select a cool-season grass such as ryegrass, bluegrass, bentgrass or fescue.
How to figure out the number of sections of a lawn?
Divide the total area of the lawn by 1,000, as seeding rates are generally recommended in pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet, to determine the number of 1,000-foot sections. If you have a small lawn, this number might be a decimal that's less than 1.
How much grass seed should I use for 1 acre?
Thus you would need just over 261 pounds of seed for 1 acre.
Can too much grass seed make your lawn lush?
As you plan your seed spreading strategy, however, it is important to note that using too much grass seed does not create a lusher lawn. In fact, your grass actually struggles and may fail completely with excessive grass seeds across the topsoil.
How many square feet does 50 lbs of Bermuda grass seed cover?
That 50-pound bag will go a long way! 50 pounds of Bermuda grass seed should cover approximately 50,000 square feet, which is well over one acre.
What is overseeding in lawns?
Overseeding is the installation of new grass seed with existing grass. It is used to fill in thin or bald patches in the lawn. Obviously, overseeding will require less grass seed than starting a lawn from scratch. Check out our grass seed chart to see the different requirements for overseeding versus new seeding.
How Do I Troubleshoot My Weed Wacker?
It happens to us all, though, so knowing how to troubleshoot your weed wacker yourself can save you time when you’re able to identify and deal with the possible issues.
How much does grass seed cost?
Most of the other common types of grass seed typically cost between $0.30-$0.75 per square foot. Centipede grass is one of the most expensive types of grass seed at around $0.85 per square foot.
How much does buffalo grass cost?
It costs between $0.09-$0.16 per square foot.
How many square feet is 1 acre?
One acre is 43,560 square feet. Divide that by 1,000, which equals 43.56. Next, multiply the amount of grass seed needed in pounds by 43.56.
What is the best temperature for grass?
In the US, warm weather grass is found in the southern regions of the country. It grows best in temperatures between 75 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Why Overseed?
Overseeding is a fast, inexpensive way to help bring your lawn back to its lush, green self without tearing everything out and starting over.
How to give new grass seedlings nutrients?
To give your new grass seedlings the essential nutrients they need for fast growth, apply Scotts® Turf Builder® Starter® Food for New Grass after you've spread the grass seed. (No need to do this with Scotts® Turf Builder® Thick’R Lawn™ since it already contains a fertilizer.) Afterward, no matter which product you used to overseed, be sure to keep the soil consistently moist by lightly watering once or twice a day until the seedlings have reached the height of the rest of your lawn. For more information, check out our in-depth watering article.
How to get grass seed to root?
Before overseeding your thin lawn, cut your grass shorter than normal and bag the clippings. After mowing, rake the lawn to help loosen the top layer of soil and remove any dead grass and debris. This will give the grass seed easy access to the soil so it can root more easily after germinating. 2.
What to do if your lawn is thin?
If your lawn is looking thin and worn, overseeding can help you get back to the thick, lush , green lawn you've always wanted.
When is the best time to oversee a lawn?
In the North, the best time to overseed your lawn is in the fall, when the soil is still warm but the air is cooler, and there are fewer weeds for new grass to compete against. Since your trees are starting to shed their leaves, there's plenty of sunlight.
Can you spread grass seed over existing lawn?
By spreading grass seed over your existing lawn, you can thicken up the thin areas, and your lawn will start to look terrific again. (This is different from reseeding, which is when you start over and plant a completely new lawn.) Skip down to how to overseed.
How long does it take for grass seed to germinate?
When I grow grass from seed at home in controlled environments I can usually get the vast majority of my seed to germinate within a 5 day window. If my first seeds sprout on day five then usually the last seeds are sprouting on day 10 or so.
What does it mean when you put down grass seed?
In fact, putting down an excess of grass seed might mean that you end up with a less desirable outcome than you wanted for your lawn. It’s kind of counter-intuitive. You’d think that the more grass seed you put down, the likelier the chance of having a lush, full-bodied lawn as the seeds sprout and grow.
Why is shady grass better than other grass?
Shady areas are typically easier to keep seed moist and get grass to start growing. Not only are they protected from harsh hot sunlight but shady areas are frequently protected from wind and rain a bit too. Not all blends or breeds of grass seed are equally good at growing in the same places either.
Why do seeds need to be coated?
Coatings on the seeds are usually meant to help retain moisture and can help with keeping germination rates high. These coatings can also help seeds to germinate faster as they are less likely to dry out on the ground.
Why do you need to plant grass in the fall?
If you decide to seed in the early fall then you are far more likely to have positive results because the soil temperatures are high but the air temps are slowly cooling off. This helps with germination and root growth without the problems of heat stress and drought on your new grass.
What nutrients do grass blades compete for?
No matter how many individual seeds you spread each blade of grass ends up competing for a finite amount of ground surface and nutrients from the soil: water, minerals, nitrogen, sunlight, etc.
What grass is most commonly found in lawns in the US?
In the northern colder climates Perennial Ryegrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, and Tall Fescues are very commonly found in lawns in America. In the warmer areas to the south Bermudagrass, Zoysia, Centipede, Bahia, and St. Augustine are quite common. We will focus on these grass types for the remainder of this article.
What Is Overseeding?
Overseeding means spreading new grass seed over an existing lawn to fill in bare patches and make the grass thicker.
How to Overseed an Existing Lawn in 8 Steps
To overseed your existing lawn, you’ll have to prepare the soil, spread the seed, and care for the new seedlings. These steps will walk you through exactly how to do it all.
When to Overseed Your Lawn
The best time to overseed your lawn is during its most active growth period. Your grass’s most active growth period depends on whether it’s a cool-season grass type or warm-season grass type.
Why You Should Overseed Your Lawn
Overseeding has many substantial benefits for your lawn, with no downsides if you do it correctly.
FAQ About Overseeding
It’s best to overseed when the soil is dry and when there’s no heavy rain in the forecast for a few days. Heavy rain could wash away the seeds before they have a chance to germinate.
Professional Lawn Care Help
After you overseed your lawn, your grass will be thicker and healthier. If you want to keep it that way, you have to put in the work to maintain it consistently.
About Us
LawnStarter is a startup making lawn care easy affordable and reliable. Follow this blog to stay tuned with what you need to keep your lawn in tip-top shape year-round.
Varieties of Grass Seed
Overseeding vs New Grass
- Overseeding is the installation of new grass seedwith existing grass. It is used to fill in thin or bald patches in the lawn. Obviously, overseeding will require less grass seed than starting a lawn from scratch. Check out our grass seed chart to see the different requirements for overseeding versus new seeding.
Shade vs Sun
- Grass seed needs moisture in order to germinate. A sunny area is much more difficult to keep moist than a shaded area. Use the chart above to determine your grass seed needs for your lawn. If it is in an area with full sun, use the upper end of the recommended range. A shaded area has a level of protection from the sun that will help those seeds stay moist and grow well. You may wa…
General Rule of Thumb
- If you are in a hurry and want a general ballpark figure, you don’t need to read any further! For the best results, calculate your grass seed needs by type of seed and square footage. Otherwise, a general rule of thumb is 3-4 pounds of grass seed per 1,000 square feet for new lawns and 1-2 pounds of grass seed per 1,000 square feet for overseeding.
Final Thoughts
- Be equipped to make an informed decision when you purchase grass seed! Buying too much or too little may make a big difference in the appearance of your lawn and your budget! Determine the square footage of your property and the variety of grass to be planted. Once you have that information, you can purchase and apply grass seed with confidence!