[hamsey]

I will be overseeding this weekend and here's what I'm thinking.

Cut grass to 2" (Normally cut @ 3 1/2" will cut twice over 2 days) with mulching blades.

Plug aerate (with help from Isabel) break up plugs by dragging a chain behind aerator. (Need to break down thatch)

Slitseed (Renting a machine) putting down Turfseed Galaxy KBG blend.

Fert. this is where I am stuck. I put down Lesco 24-5-11+Fe over the Labor day weekend. Do I need to put down a starter fert. for the new seed? Put down nothing because the applications are too close together or other?

When slitseeding I was told that it similar to dethatching and alot of dead grass comes up. So that means I will have to rake. How do I rake without disturbing the new seed. (Do I leave it or is it a non-issue)

Thank You
Norm

 

[Hamons]

24 -5 -11 will be fine, it's not the ideal starter ferilizer -- but it will work fine. DO NOT put down more fertilizer. YOu will end u[p putting down way too much nitrogen.

I guess I am making a big assumption here that you put down about 4.16 pounds of product per 1000 so that you put down 1# of nitrogen.

I leave the dead grass on the top of the lawn. ONly exception is to pik up the bigclumps that would get in the way. Don't use a rake!

 

[CT John]

Another option would be to run the slitseeder without seed and then rake. Just raise the blades to just at the soil level.

 

[GLAN]

If you have as much thatch as you're saying

Power rake it with a flale type, that would be solid metal, not a spring. Clean all that up. Cut to the height. Aerate and seed.

 

[hamsey]

I have about 1/2" thatch, some areas are thicker. Will cut grass first, power rake, cleanup, aerate then overseed.
Thanks for your input!
Norm