If your lawn in Oregon looks thin and patchy, overseeding it is the best way to thicken it up and make it more beautiful. To get the best results for your lawn, preparation is crucial! One way to prepare your lawn for overseeding is to mow it shorter than usual so the grass seeds don't get caught in tall grass blades instead of falling into the ground where they can grow. You should also remove any debris on your lawn, like leaves, twigs, and sticks, as they may block the seeds' access to nutrients and other resources that promote germination. It's also important to aerate your lawn before overseeding! Aeration breaks down compacted soil and creates holes in the ground where the grass seeds can fall, get good seed-to-soil contact, and absorb the resources they need to grow.

Mow your lawn shorter than usual for good seed-to-soil contact.

Before overseeding your lawn, you'll want to mow your grass shorter than usual to prepare it before the grass seeds are spread. Tall grass blades can prevent the grass seeds from falling into the soil where they are supposed to get the resources they need to grow. By cutting your grass shorter than you usually do, the seeds will easily reach the ground and have good seed-to-soil contact! Shorter grass blades also ensure the seeds have optimal access to essential nutrients and resources like water, air, and sunlight. Overseeding when your grass is too tall can inhibit the seeds' access to these resources and affect their germination.

Remove any debris on your lawn that will block the grass seeds.

Another important thing to do before you overseed your grass is to clean up your lawn and remove any debris scattered across it. Debris like leaves, sticks, and twigs can inhibit the germination of the grass seeds. These pieces of clutter can block your lawn's access to essential nutrients and resources that promote successful germination and healthy growth. The grass seeds can also get caught in the pieces of litter on your lawn and not reach the soil where they are supposed to grow.

You'll want to ensure your turf is free of debris before overseeding it so the grass seeds can fall to the ground and absorb the nutrients they need to germinate. This will give the seeds the best chance to grow successfully while improving the visual appeal of your existing lawn!

Aerate Your Lawn Before Overseeding For Optimal Results

Holes and cores of soil on a lawn in Gresham, OR, after aeration.

One of the most important things you need to do before overseeding is to schedule an aeration service. Aerating your lawn involves going through your turf with an aerator machine that will pull out cores of soil from the ground to loosen hard, compacted soil. This will create tiny holes in the ground where grass seeds can fall into and enjoy optimal seed-to-soil contact. These holes will also serve as pathways for nutrients and other resources to pass through and get absorbed by the grass seeds. This will give the grass seeds a much-needed boost to germinate and continue growing.

When you overseed without aerating, the seeds will sit on top of the ground and will have trouble absorbing vital nutrients. These lawn care services are best paired together if you want to achieve a lusher and stronger lawn!

The grass seeds will be safer from being blown away by the wind and eaten by animals when they fall into the aeration holes.

Call us today to sign up for our overseeding service!

Our team at J&C Lawn Care offers a top-quality overseeding service to property owners in Gresham, Happy Valley, Troutdale, Fairview, Sunnyside, and nearby areas in Oregon. We offer this service in conjunction with our aeration service in the fall so we can address soil compaction and increase turf density at the same time! Call us today at (971) 284-2035 to sign up for our overseeding service and get thick, lush grass for your property.