usually pretty similar action to power dethatching,
i wouldnt rule out your topdressing idea either way

 

It will to some degree...but if you need to seed, who really cares.

Several things depend on the severity of how much the turf gets tore up.

Biggest thing is what seeder are you planing on using?


Some keys to not tearing up the turf is....make sure it is somewhat dry and CUT THE GRASS VERY SHORT!

Remember, if you don't "tear" up the existing turf and expost soil germination will be lacking!

It may look bad for a week or two, but it will recover! You can topdress if you want, but waste of time unless needed IMO!

 

rcreech - I have checked around and found that a local rental establishment does have a Bluebird slit-seeder (5.5 HP Honda engine) available for rental, if that is any use to you.....

I guess the main pt of this thread is that if I can slit-seed, I can do my seeding in one operation as opposed to two with overseed then topdress (still plan to aerate either way). However, I want to have some comfort level with its operation, in other words, I don't want to totally tear out the turf I have now, which doesn't sound like it would be the case.

Maybe I should ask this...given a choice on EXISTING (but thin) turf, would you overseed/topdress or slit seed preferrably?

 

Slitseed and topdress is my recommendation, given the choices. It sounds lie you want your yard as you can have. Topdress with what, by the way? Over waht typ of existing soil.

 

rcreech - I have checked around and found that a local rental establishment does have a Bluebird slit-seeder (5.5 HP Honda engine) available for rental, if that is any use to you.....

I guess the main pt of this thread is that if I can slit-seed, I can do my seeding in one operation as opposed to two with overseed then topdress (still plan to aerate either way). However, I want to have some comfort level with its operation, in other words, I don't want to totally tear out the turf I have now, which doesn't sound like it would be the case.

Maybe I should ask this...given a choice on EXISTING (but thin) turf, would you overseed/topdress or slit seed preferrably?

If you have already aerated...then slice it and you will be fine. The Blue Bird will not tear up your lawn!

Does it drop the seed in front of the blades or in the back of them?

I have NEVER topdressed...but you can if you want! You are not gong to add enough to make any difference. If you need to add soil or an ammendment I would do that before seeding personally!

 

Looks like this slit seeder drops behind the blades....
And I have not yet aerated but will soon, followed by seeding.

Potential compost topdress over clay soil after seeding...but jury is out on that yet as I have no good way to spread it.

 

Looks like this slit seeder drops behind the blades....
And I have not yet aerated but will soon, followed by seeding.

Potential compost topdress over clay soil after seeding...but jury is out on that yet as I have no good way to spread it.

I would core the crap out of it and slice seed only!

Good Luck!

 

It will to some degree...but if you need to seed, who really cares.

Several things depend on the severity of how much the turf gets tore up.

Biggest thing is what seeder are you planing on using?

Some keys to not tearing up the turf is....make sure it is somewhat dry and CUT THE GRASS VERY SHORT!

Remember, if you don't "tear" up the existing turf and expost soil germination will be lacking!

It may look bad for a week or two, but it will recover! You can topdress if you want, but waste of time unless needed IMO!

Great advive RC, I got the same advice here myself a week ago and thought I'd share the before and after pics withDA Quality Lawn & YS.

These two pics are not even a week apart, but I did have to water water water.

 

IMO, depending on how thick or thin your existing turf is, a slit seeder may not due that well. If your lawn is even halfway thick, slit seeders like the bluebird will not penetrate down far enough. Why not just give it a good double or triple pass aeration and then overseed and topdress? Thats what I do on all my yards every year, unless they are really thin and then cut the grass low and slit seed. No matter how you do it, just find a good way to get the seed in the ground and have a good seedbed.

 

doestsch - thanks for the advice, I would aerate/seed/topdress but there is not a rental topdresser to be found and no one around here that I have found does that work. So, knowing what kind of poor emergence I might expect by just broadcasting over aeration holes, I decided on slit seeding.

kirk - that is slit seeded I am assuming. And what you are trying to show is minimal damage to the turf, correct? Also assuming the grass seed has not germinated at the time of the 2nd photo.

 

Poor germination from aeration and overseeding????

 

kirk - that is slit seeded I am assuming. And what you are trying to show is minimal damage to the turf, correct? Also assuming the grass seed has not germinated at the time of the 2nd photo.

You are correct DA, however one problem now that I see going on is in the bare spots, the seed was put in the ground which was great news and germinating.

The seed I put in the existing turf however does not seem to have made it through the grass when I slit seed it and made it to the slits. Still, I thought the seed would wash into the roots of the existing turf and germinate and it still might be too soon to say it won't.

Today is one week since it was done.