Overseeding: How To Do It And When To Mow New Grass

Are you thinking about revitalizing your lawn? If so, overseeding may be the way to go.

There are several essential steps to follow if you want to thicken up your grass and create a healthier lawn.

Just as importantly, you need to know when to mow new grass after overseeding.

Read on below to learn everything you need to know!

Step One: Mow Your Existing Grass

The first step in revitalizing your grass is mowing the lawn. Before you overseed, cut the pre-existing grass and check for problem areas including bare spots and compacted soil. Take note of these spots and make sure to treat them with extra care.

If you have bare spots larger than a few inches, or hard and compacted soils, you’ll want to use a spike aerator on those particular areas of the lawn before moving on to overseeding. Aerating the problem areas helps loosen the earth and allows more seeds to take root.

A garden tractor may be needed for lawns that are over an acre in size. In this case, a pull-behind broadcast spreader is highly suggested for the next step.

Step Two: Overseed Your Lawn

After you cut your grass, it’s time to start overseeding. The most common method is using a broadcast spreader(pictured above). That said, if you are only overseeding patches of lawn, rather than your whole yard, a hand-held spreader works even better.

Make sure to do your homework before purchasing just any grass seed for overseeding. In most cases, a trusted product such as Scotts Fescue Seed is the way to go. But, if you have a less typical sort of grass, such as Kentucky Bluegrass, you’ll want to make sure you buy matching seed.

Depending on what state you live in, there are numerous guides and resources available online to help you find the best grass for your neck of the woods.

Step Three: Water the Grass and Give it Time

Once you successfully overseed the lawn, the next step is to water it daily. Some folks suggest watering it each morning and again in the evenings. However, as long as you water it sufficiently every 24-hours or so nature will do the rest.

Practicing restraint is crucial at this point in the process as the new seed requires approximately two to three weeks to take root and begin to thrive. Cutting the lawn before enough time has passed may undo all your efforts. In other words, just be patient and let nature do its thing!

Step Four: Mow the New Grass

When enough time has passed, break out your mower, or call your landscaper, and cut the lawn. Keep in mind that depending on your climate, and grass type, you may be able to cut it sooner than the suggested two to three weeks. Likewise, you may need to wait an extra five to ten days before mowing.

The general rule of thumb for mowing new grass is to cut only one-third of its overall length. Removing more than a third of the grass blades’ length may throw the new growth into shock or even kill it.

In the YouTube video shared below, from Ryan Knorr Lawn Care, Ryan talks about and demonstrates this step in greater detail.

FAQs

How long should you wait to cut new grass?

You shouldn’t cut the new grass for at least 14 to 21 days. Cutting new grass sooner causes unnecessary stress and slows down growth. After the first cut, repeat every two weeks.

When to cut grass after overseeding?

After overseeding, the lawn needs cutting after two or three weeks depending on the type of grass, climate, and how often you water it. New roots and seeds suffer greatly if cut earlier.

Does cutting new grass help it grow?

Cutting new grass sends signals to the roots telling it to grow horizontally as well as vertically, resulting in a thicker and healthier lawn. Cutting it too soon, however, only puts you back at square one.

A Final Word About Cutting Grass After Overseeding

Knowing when to mow new grass after overseeding is as essential as knowing how and when overseed in the first place. Cutting the new grass too soon causes extra stress, and mowing later than you should equally slows down the revitalization process.

Do you have a tip, trick, or question regarding mowing new grass after overseeding? If so, we’d love to hear from you in the comments section below!

Remember:

• Mow your grass and check for problem areas
• Aerate the lawn and overseed
• Water your grass and wait two to three weeks
• Cut the grass and repeat in 14 to 21 days

Suggested Reading: WEEDING THE GARDEN: A COMPLETE GUIDE