Mowing After Overseeding, what is the best way?

“Do you want to ensure your lawn looks its best after overseeding? Look no further.” Our guide will give you all the information you need about mowing after overseeding, including when to mow, how often to do it, and what height to set your mower.

Mowing After Overseeding, what is the best way?

After overseeding, wait 2-4 weeks before mowing to allow proper root formation. Use sharp blades and move slowly when mowing to avoid damaging new growth. Mow when dry and at maximum height, cutting no more than 1/3. For cool seasons, mow to 2.5-4″; for warm, 2-3″. Leave clippings for nutrients unless seeding weeds. Proper mowing promotes growth and avoids damage.

This article will help you understand the most common mistakes people make after overseeding their lawns, which is why they are not getting effective results. You will also learn about the right time to mow your grass and the key factors you must consider before mowing.

How to take Care of your Lawn after Overseeding

Overseeding is, without a doubt, one of the most essential and beneficial lawn-caring services that you can provide to your grass, but what you should do after overseeding your lawn is just as important. 

Overseeding in the fall is primarily performed because it is most suitable for this fantastic season’s grass. Aeration can be done on the warm season grass, but they do not require overseeding. August and October are the most suitable months for overseeding.

Combining aeration with overseeding is also recommended because it allows seeds to effectively contact your lawn’s soil. This helps fill. After aerating and overseeding your lawn, proper maintenance for several weeks is necessary for the seeds’ successful germination.

During the first two weeks, you should wait before putting pressure on and avoid walking on your grass to allow for proper germination. Seeds will begin to germinate throughout the first month.

Also, you should water your lawn in the morning to prevent the risk of fungus and diseases. Mowing new grass too soon risks damaging the grass.

Depending on where you live, blade suppliers may recommend different types of blades for mowing and overseeding to thicken your lawn and kill off weeds. This is a great way to reduce the risks of damaging your lawn during the growing season.

Watering Your Lawn After Overseeding

Watering your lawn in the morning is essential because the moisture can reach the roots while the leaves dry out. Night or evening watering creates a very humid environment and should be avoided.

Excess moisture, high summer temperatures at night, and humidity are ideal conditions for severe disease problems.

Soil moisture is essential for seeds to germinate effectively. However, seeds need moist soil that is not too thin to grow in. Therefore, during the first two weeks, water the affected areas twice a day, or more under dry conditions, and moisten the topsoil up to ¼ inches.

As the seeds start to germinate, the frequency of irrigation decreases, but the irrigation time increases. Water needs to get into the root zone and, therefore,, penetrate the soil, meaning that the top 4 to 6 inches of soil are moist.

Seeds need much water to grow well – much more than the standard required water throughout the year. So watering your lawn at least once in the morning is necessary if it’s not too hot. Otherwise, water your lawn twice a day, depending upon the temperature.

Be sure to water all the exposed areas thoroughly, and then you can restart your standard irrigation system after the first few days.

Mowing

After watering your lawn for a couple of weeks, you will notice an inevitable growth in your grass. This is the right time for the first mow after overseeding. If the yard is lined with more fantastic grass, such as Kentucky bluegrass or fescue, the recommended grass height is 2.5 to 4 inches.

The reason is that these types of grasses grow effectively during the spring and fall seasons.

However, grass for the warm season grows best in summer – Bermuda grass and soybean grass are the best examples of these seasonal grasses. These grasses start from 2 to 3 inches high. Determining the grass types before seeding is critical to the best mowing height.

Once these height levels have been selected, you can mow your lawn for the first time.

Generally, however, you should not mow between the first two to four weeks after overseeding and aerating your lawn. That’s because this is the time for root formation, and disturbing your lawn during this time can affect your grass’s growth.

So, for the grass’s mowing height, you should not mow your grass at a shorter height. The mowing height should be at least three inches.

– The Importance of Mowing Height

Trimming your grass shorter can stop grass blades from collecting enough moisture due to the loss of shade. As such, you should set your mowing machine at the highest height possible to mow the grass at the desired length.

Overseeding requires proper mowing, watering, and composting for the seeds to germinate. This will help both root formation and grass growth. You can continue mowing when the grass reaches a sufficient height to mow according to the above instructions.

Also, the soil must be dry enough when mowing your lawn because the blades of your mowing machine can damage your grass when the soil is wet. Your mower’s blades should be sharp enough to cut the grass evenly and effectively.

Mowing Techniques

Mowing your lawn after overseeding should be done carefully to avoid any grass damage, so the following techniques should be considered when mowing for the first time.

• Mower Blades: The first rule to follow when you mow your lawn is to keep the blades sharp. Remember that you have to sharpen your blades after every 20 hours of mowing. Many hardware stores can do this for a small fee, and it is well worth the effort because a dull blade will cut grass unevenly and affect growth.
• Patience: When mowing for the first time after overseeding, you should not rush things –try to move slowly and turn your mower gently to avoid tearing off new seedlings. Their roots are still growing, and they will not hold the grass stems in the ground as tightly as mature plants.
• Never mow a wet lawn: Since this is your first mow after overseeding, take each step cautiously. As such, try to avoid mowing when the grass is wet or during the watering session. Wet grass can be torn and compacted by your mower and will be pulled up by the roots.
• Mowing Height: As discussed above, the mower should be set at the highest height to mow the grass long enough not to disturb the root system. The grass should not be cut more than 1/3 of its total height. This will usually ensure a healthier look. The advantage of these rules is that you do not have to mow your lawn often.
• Mow Mulching: Try to leave your grass clippings on your lawn just so long as they do not pile up. They will provide nutrients to the soil and maintain moisture without adding too much to thatch. But if seeding weeds are also on your lawn, you should mow your lawn with a bag attached to your mower and collect the grass clippings to dispose of them far enough away from your lawn to stop the weeds from growing again.

Tips for Successful Results from Overseeding

Sometimes, people do not get the desired results after overseeding because of some mistakes that cost them both time and money. So avoid these mistakes to get the healthy and fresh look you want.

The Right Equipment:

Some people spread the seeds on their lawns when seeding and do not use the right equipment. I recommend you use a slit seeding machine with a mechanical slit seeder. It has vertical cutting blades that cut through a grass layer and open a lump or small ditch in the ground.

The depth of the furrow or slit depends on the type of grass seed used. Generally, you should not go deeper than half the length of the grass seed pod.

The vertical blades of this slit-seeding machine keep the slit open while the seeds are discarded. This ensures good seed contact with the soil, which helps seeds penetrate the soil from where they can germinate.

Using this type of slit seeding machine takes less seed than the traditional method because most of the seed goes into the soil to grow. Multiple contact with the soil means a higher germination rate and new turf that looks fresh and healthy.

Overseeding at the Wrong Time:

The perfect time to oversee your lawn is when a new life has an excellent opportunity to grow. You don’t want to be overseed too early or too late before the frost occurs and kill the seeds.

You also won’t want to do it when the temperature is at its peak during the summer, and the heat suppresses the growth of your grass.

It is recommended to oversee your lawn for winter grasses during fall or spring. Summer grasses, common in the southern grasslands, grow best in the spring or early summer.

Avoid Overseeding During Dry Conditions:

Overseeding is most effective for your grass when the soil of your lawn is considerably moist and wet. Dry and compacted soil is difficult to penetrate and requires extra human effort to compress the equipment. Especially in drought, when the grass is already damaged, waiting for a good amount of rain is best.

Weed Control:

This is necessary for the healthy growth of your grass, but applying chemicals and herbicides can damage the seedlings and new blades of the young grass. Even organic and natural solutions can pressure young plants, so it is usually best to wait until your lawn is strong before applying weed control agents.

I recommend you wait until you cut your new grass four to five times before weeding out any weeds that appear.

Remarks

Overseeding can negatively affect your grass if you do not give it proper attention and use the best ways to mow it. You are cutting right after overseeding stops the growth of the grass and damages the seeds.

As such, you should wait for two to four weeks until the grass reaches a height of three to four inches to mow it perfectly.

Proper watering is essential for seeds to germinate effectively. You should irrigate your lawn at least once a day to give its soil enough moisture.

When mowing, set your mower at the highest height because mowing your grass shorter can damage the grass blades. Also, ensure that your mower’s blades are sharp to cut the grass evenly and properly.