Every property owner wants their lawn to be thick, lush, and green. A beautiful lawn enhances the aesthetics of your property and bolsters your curb appeal. Unfortunately, your grass may become bare or patchy over time due to environmental stress or heavy traffic. If you are looking to make your grass in Iowa thick again, you can spread new grass seeds over your lawn.

However, there are a few tips you should keep in mind to ensure the best results. Firstly, you should seed shaded areas of your lawn in the spring. Secondly, you should seed sunny areas of your lawn in the fall. Thirdly, you should prepare your soil by having it aerated. And, lastly, you should water your new grass seeds 1 to 2 times per day to help them become rooted and established in your soil.

Seed Shaded Areas of Your Lawn in the Spring

If you want to thicken your lawn with new grass seeds, the first tip you should follow involves when to seed your turf. You should seed shaded areas of your lawn in the spring to set up your new grass seeds for success. Since your trees were barren over the winter, there will not likely be much, if any, plant debris on the ground that could interfere with the seed germination process. Plus, your soil will be loosened up and receptive to seeding after thawing out from the cold winter.

Seed Sunny Areas of Your Lawn in the Fall

The next tip you should follow when thickening your lawn with new grass seeds also involves when to seed your turf. You should seed sunny areas of your lawn in the fall, ideally before the end of October. The conditions at this time of the year are highly favorable to grass growth due to the cooling temperatures. With ample sun exposure and care, your seeds will have access to the resources they need to germinate and grow deep roots before the harsh winter weather rolls around.

Prepare Your Soil With Aeration

A lawn recently aerated by our team in order to prepare for overseeding in Carlisle, IA.

Another tip you should take heed of has to do with preparing your soil for the new grass seeds. Before spreading the seeds, you should aerate your lawn. One way to aerate your lawn is through a process called core aeration, which involves the mechanical removal of soil plugs, or cores, from your turf. This relieves soil compaction and makes it easier for resources, like water and nutrients, to reach the roots of your grass. It also creates ideal conditions for seed germination.

Aeration allows for maximum seed-to-soil contact during overseeding, helping to ensure your seeds take root and grow into thick blades of grass.

Water Your New Grass Seeds 1 to 2 Times Per Day

A homeowner watering a patchy lawn in Clive, IA.

Finally, if you are looking to thicken your lawn with new grass seeds, you should water your seeds 1 to 2 times per day once they have been spread over your lawn. This will keep your seeds moist and support their development. Water is a key growth ingredient, and keeping your seeds hydrated will enable them to develop strong roots and become established on your lawn. However, you should be careful not to overwater your new grass seeds, because too much water can wash them away.

Call our team today to schedule your overseeding service!

Do you want to eliminate those bare and patchy areas on your lawn? If so, we're here to help. At A+ Lawn & Landscape, we offer our professional overseeding service to residential and commercial properties, as well as HOAs, in Des Moines, IA, and nearby cities like West Des Moines and Ankeny. Our team performs overseeding in conjunction with core aeration to ensure maximum seed-to-soil contact and produce the best results for your lawn.

We overseed using premium Kentucky bluegrass and ryegrass seeds that will grow into thick, green turf blades. Once we finish overseeding, we then apply a starter fertilizer to jump-start new growth. You can schedule our overseeding service in the fall or spring, depending on the needs of your lawn. We have been helping local property owners since 1988 and look forward to assisting you in the near future. Call us today at (515) 289-2020 to sign up for our top-notch overseeding service!