aerate overseeding

[moreira85]

i will be overseeding and was planning on doing this once spring gets here. unfortunately i will not be using a slit seeder. I am trying to get the best way to get soil to seed contact and here is my plan, tell me what you think. I also will not be able to put any compost or straw over the seed because the yard is quite large. This is a new subdivision so the soil is fairly new but it has a fair share of rocks so i have been raking them out over last few weeks.
There is grass that started growing when it was Hydro'd but was put down late OCt 10th so some did not come up and has bare spots adn thin in spots.
Step 1- continue raking our rocks.
Step 2- aerate (i dont think soil is really compacted but my guess is aeration will help some of the seed get into the soil and get more water.
Step 3- go over seed with the lawn roller.
Step 4- Fertilize
Step 5- plenty of water

[foreplease]

New soil huh? The stuff I work in is millions of years old :laugh: Sorry.

Aerating is almost always a good idea. You say you can't slit-seed it. How much scratching up are you able to do with the rake while getting the rocks out? That might be enough to get your seed started if you follow the other steps you listed. Hard to say if that is practical in a big yard. Depends on how many spots and how big.

Sounds like a lot of work. I think the steps you list are good though. Is your new seed going to match?

[LawnSolutionsCP]

Sounds good.

Don't expect too much. It may come in nice but probably won't make it through the summer. Expect to do it again in sept to get the results yóu are looking for.

It is very very difficult to get a nice lawn when starting with bare dirt in the spring. In the fall it is easy, but I'm guessing it is a new house and you have to put something down.

Don't get frustrated and understand it will need to be done this fall.

David

[Smallaxe]

New dirt and rocky. Oxymoron or ripoff. If the grass is thin with barespots, do some overseeding with compost on as large an area as you can, and accomplish SOMETHING.

Aerating is a colossal waste of time and money. What does 3" deep holes have to do with grass seed? What does clumps of dirt all over the yard have to do with a seed bed?

The grass that did survive needs to be ripped up and thrown about the lawn? :laugh:

Since last October it has grown such a massive root system that a good thinning is what it needs??
Come-on!!! this is supposed to be a professional forum, but it sounds like a Chemlawn Brochure.

[AI Inc]

i will be overseeding and was planning on doing this once spring gets here. unfortunately i will not be using a slit seeder. I am trying to get the best way to get soil to seed contact and here is my plan, tell me what you think. I also will not be able to put any compost or straw over the seed because the yard is quite large. This is a new subdivision so the soil is fairly new but it has a fair share of rocks so i have been raking them out over last few weeks.
There is grass that started growing when it was Hydro'd but was put down late OCt 10th so some did not come up and has bare spots adn thin in spots.
Step 1- continue raking our rocks.
Step 2- aerate (i dont think soil is really compacted but my guess is aeration will help some of the seed get into the soil and get more water.
Step 3- go over seed with the lawn roller.
Step 4- Fertilize
Step 5- plenty of water


Rent yourself a york rake. Rake the whole yard. Take a good look at the soil, see if it will even support turf, if not bring in some loam. If it will add weight to york to dig deeper. The have it resprayed . At first cut overseed with a spreader and starter fert. Then overseed again come sept.

Im sure others will disagree, but this is what works well in your area.

[moreira85]

New soil huh? The stuff I work in is millions of years old :laugh: Sorry.

Aerating is almost always a good idea. You say you can't slit-seed it. How much scratching up are you able to do with the rake while getting the rocks out? That might be enough to get your seed started if you follow the other steps you listed. Hard to say if that is practical in a big yard. Depends on how many spots and how big.

Sounds like a lot of work. I think the steps you list are good though. Is your new seed going to match?

yes the seed will match. I contacted the guy who did it and he told me Lesco park and athletics is the seed.
raking is scratching up a good amount of soil but problem is that i am raking now and scratching up but wont be seeding till late april so i will have to either do that again or hope that the aeration will be sufficient.

[Kiril]

IMO, aeration serves two things,

1) Relieve compaction.
2) Better OM penetration into the profile.

If you are not aerating for at least one of the above, then it is probably a waste of time and money.

[Smallaxe]

If you run a "York" to pick up stones , say good-bye to the existing lawn. You can''t have your cake and eat it too.

Sounds like everyone has given up on a summer with acceptable grass (for the promise) of BETTER lawn in the fall.

That is - unimaginative BS from people who WILL NOT commit to something FOR THE CLIENT. or in your case for yourself

Stop and think for a moment. Can I keep the lawn happy with what I offer through the summer?!?!??

The answer is yes. It can be done. The question is :- How?

[RLawns]

your better off redoing the whole lawn if there are that many rocks in it.

[RLawns]

Since last October it has grown such a massive root system that a good thinning is what it needs??
Come-on!!! this is supposed to be a professional forum, but it sounds like a Chemlawn Brochure.

where did you pull this from??? Sounds like your full of bs!!!!!!!!

[tombo82685]

IMO, aeration serves two things,

1) Relieve compaction.
2) Better OM penetration into the profile.

If you are not aerating for at least one of the above, then it is probably a waste of time and money.

Two very good points but you cant also bypass that it

1. relieves thatch problems
2. Incorporates oxygen into the soil profile for roots, soil organisms, mychoriza bactera.
3. Its also a good time for incorporating fertilizer,seed, lime into a soil profile

[Kiril]

Two very good points but you cant also bypass that it

1. relieves thatch problems
2. Incorporates oxygen into the soil profile for roots, soil organisms, mychoriza bactera.
3. Its also a good time for incorporating fertilizer,seed, lime into a soil profile

A verti-mower relieves thatch ... aerator only limited. If you have thatch you should use a verti-mowing.

Anything you want in the soil profile it would be a good time to do it, but fertilizer and seed are not in that list IMO,

[AI Inc]

I realy doubt a lawn sprayed last fall that never realy came in is having thatch problems.

[Smallaxe]

where did you pull this from??? Sounds like your full of bs!!!!!!!!

Post#1:

There is grass that started growing when it was Hydro'd but was put down late OCt 10th so some did not come up and has bare spots adn thin in spots.


i am full of bs, there is no question about that. what is in question is spring aeration on newly seeded lawn.

seeding on a lawn full of rocks... seemed like this project has been beaten down enough with bad ideas.