No proof--regarding optimum number of core passes for overseeding--opinions vary over a wide range.
In a test a few years ago, I found 2 inches deep resulted in the best germination.
I suggest more holes--but only 1 to 2 inches deep.
This means you can cover a lot of ground quickly.
With a Stinger you will not need to go slow.

 

Good information, thank you. The Aera-Vator does a fantastic job overseeding but gotta go slow to work the seed in. I think even doing a double pass with the Stinger will be much faster. Hopefully I get similar results.

 

Double pass AND double seed!

The more holes and seed the better!! Thumbs Up

(Although in an ideal world, slit/slice seeding would yield better results, over aeration overseed.) IMHO

 

Don't think I will get very many customers going for the double seed at todays seed prices but I am sure I can sell the double pass. I agree slit seeding would provide better results but cost is the main factor and also people want a guarantee when they spend that much money. That is risky because I have no control over how they water or if they put a preM down because they don't know better.

 

Honestly we never do less than 4 passes. The more holes and the more seed to soil contact achieved from the extra passes the better. If done at the correct time of year the lawn will heal up quickly.

 

How are you charging for the 4 passes. I'm not sure my market will bear the cost. I am at $75 for the first 5k and $8 each 1k after that. For a double pass it's another $8 per 1k. So our average 8k lawn would be $163 for a double pass. Seed is usually 2x my cost and who knows what seed will be later this year

 

Do some heavy-duty thinking about how to get the customer to water the grass every day. Water is cheap.
For instance:
Read their water meter and photograph it. Guarantee only if the water use is up 50 percent.

 

Do some heavy-duty thinking about how to get the customer to water the grass every day. Water is cheap.
For instance:
Read their water meter and photograph it. Guarantee only if the water use is up 50 percent.

For just overseeding with aeration no one here offers a guarantee but for slice seeding it is expected. Slice seeding is a hard sell here, I have seen pricing from 65 to close to 100 per 1K. It would be a good profit. To be honest the Aera-Vator does just about as good a job as slice seeding and on bare or sparse ground it's even better. I just can't charge 65 to 100 per k for it here.

Let me ask you another question. In your opinion and research how much water should the newly overseeded lawn get per day. My advice has always been to keep the seed moist as if it dries out it will die. I rarely get call backs so I assume my customers are following this advice. Should I be giving them an amount instead? Say 20 minutes a day or such?

 

I like 30 minutes every day. There are so many variables--it is almost impossible to give a general rule. Irrigation by rotary heads or spray heads? Hose and oscillating sprinkler? Is it cool or hot? Sandy soil or clay?
It would probably make sense to give (or loan) the customer a moisture meter. Tell them to keep the soil moisture above 5 --or 6. Cheaper than driving out to the site to talk with the customer.

http://goto.walmart.com/c/404739/56...rden-Plant-Flower-Testing-Tool-Hygrometer-Meter-Detector/418803253?athbdg=L1200

Another odd idea. Give the customer a coffee mug. Put in 5 pennies. Tell them to set it under the sprinkler and run the sprinkler until the stack of 5 pennies are covered with water. Repeat each day.
Is it hot? Low humidity? Windy? Just want to be sure--then mark a line around the cup at 3/4 inch deep.

 

Double pass AND double seed!

The more holes and seed the better!! Thumbs Up

(Although in an ideal world, slit/slice seeding would yield better results, over aeration overseed.) IMHO

Agreement here. Having tested both aeration and slit seeding. Each have their own advantage. We've gone to aeration and then a few weeks later slit seeding. Seems aeration fills more in bunch type growth (only holes fill with seed) which leads to dense growth in bunches as opposed to wide spread growth. where as slit seeding has more coverage overall.

 

Have had better, more even results with slice seeding also. But, customers always request aeration and oversees so that is what they get.

 

How are you charging for the 4 passes. I'm not sure my market will bear the cost. I am at $75 for the first 5k and $8 each 1k after that. For a double pass it's another $8 per 1k. So our average 8k lawn would be $163 for a double pass. Seed is usually 2x my cost and who knows what seed will be later this year

We are much higher than that, however we are in a market that can support it. Seed is included, in the past we were seeding at 7 pounds per 1000 but that is changing due to the high cost of seed. We will also come back and touch them up until they look good. All included in the original price. I look at aeration and seeding as the one time a year to really make a significant improvement to a lawn. But that costs money!

 

It is probably a good incentive to give the customer a reward for keeping the soil constantly moist.
For instance, if the moisture meter shows at least 6 whenever you ( or your assistant) come by--and the water meter is up by 50 percent--then--they get a free "grow-in" fertilizer--this after about 2 weeks or when the new grass is about an inch high. Free Tenacity or Mesotrione for weeds and crabgrass is also a possibility--but only if the soil was constantly moist.

 

I’ve improved a lot of crappy lawns and 2 passes is enough. The Key is watering 2 or even 4x a day for 2 - 3 weeks. I mow most of the lawns that I seed so I see the results weekly. Watering is everything… 4x is best because you get a lot of seed that falls on the surface and even gets stuck in the plugs as they break down on the surface. If they only water minimally you’ll see the “hair plug” look as the grass will only grow out of the aeration holes. If watered more and kept damp 24/7 …the surface seed grows also .

 

I've improved a lot of crappy lawns and 2 passes is enough. The Key is watering 2 or even 4x a day for 2 - 3 weeks. I mow most of the lawns that I seed so I see the results weekly. Watering is everything… 4x is best because you get a lot of seed that falls on the surface and even gets stuck in the plugs as they break down on the surface. If they only water minimally you'll see the "hair plug" look as the grass will only grow out of the aeration holes. If watered more and kept damp 24/7 …the surface seed grows also .

My watering advise has always been to keep the lawn moist for 4 weeks. I explain that seed is expensive and they are just wasting their money if they don't water because we don't gaurantee it. If the seed dries out it will die. Seems to work. When I drive by the lawns later they always look good.
I have always used the Aera-Vator which works really well at overseeding. This will be my first year running coring aerators. We will see how it goes. I don't plan on too much seeding in the spring. Mostly fall. I will just be doing aerations this coming spring. Gives us a chance to get used to the machines before overseeding season starts.

 

We need a moisture meter that transmits a signal to your office computer.
The idea being--you would not have to drive out to the new-seeded site--to determine if the soil is most three days per week.

 

...to determine if the soil is moist (6 or above on the meter), every day.
Do you have any other ideas you have used?
This to assure success and protect yourself from callbacks, and from non-payment. And from calls for reseeds, thin spots and disputes.
Do not let the customer exaggerate how much water he applied.
Or ask the customer to email you a picture every day--hopefully showing the moisture meter at 6 or above, soil moist, sprinklers running and the new grass showing green.
Good excuse to buy a drone and fly to their house and take a photo every day. You wife can do this right? LOL!
Or...maybe you can find a techy guy that can handle this for a small charge.

 

Since we do not guarantee the seed I do not purposely drive by and check the lawns we have done. The few slice seeding jobs I have done over the years we did go and check on them. The market here will not bear the cost of slit seeding for most customers. For aeration and overseeding we are making money but not enough to guarantee it and go back and check on it. No one in my area guarantees overseeding if it's not slice seeding.

My wife would love to fly a drone around. Wish I could sell more slice seeding jobs. A good friend of mine specializes in new lawns and full lawn renovations. He doesn't even own a slice seeder. The rich people around are willing to pay big for a complete lawn rip out and redo but can't seem to sell them on slice seeding. He sends me customers for aeration after he gives them a new lawn. I also aerate his lawn. He doesn't own an aerator either.