Lawn Seeding Techniques – Which One’s Right for You?

It starts out pretty straightforward. Seeding a lawn is, exactly as it sounds, adding seed to grow grass. It is used to grow a new lawn, fill in patches, or thicken existing grass. However, each one of these projects requires a different seeding method intended for a specific purpose. The primary goal of lawn seeding is to promote germination, a development process that relies on seed-to-soil contact for growth. These are some of the most common ways that professionals seed soil:

Overseeding

Overseeding refers to the process of seeding an established lawn to help it grow thicker. If grass starts to thin out and die, this strategy will fill in bare spots. So unless you’re planting a new lawn, overseeding will make the grass denser.

Power Seeding

Any seeding efforts that use a machine will be power seeded. This style distributes grass seed quickly, over both small and large areas of lawn. Power seeding can be used to plant a lawn or overseed. This method often incorporates scratch seeding—randomly scattering seed below the surface to allow seeds to germinate to their maximum potential. Since seed-to-soil contact is the key to growing new lawn, scratch seeding with power seeding equipment provides the fastest and most efficient path to lawn maturity.

Aeration Seeding

A lawn is aerated by removing small plugs of soil from the ground. This helps alleviate soil compaction, and provide passageways for water, oxygen, and vital nutrients to reach grass roots. To complement this, aeration seeding is performed directly afterwards, to help new grass develop in the loosened soil.

Slit Seeding

Slit seeding uses vertical blades to cut evenly spaced slits in long, shallow rows of parallel cuts into the ground. Resembling the production of corn, the grass will grow in rows.  

Conclusion

Perhaps the most important aspect of seeding is ensuring seed-to-soil contact. Seed that lays on the surface and is never incorporated in the soil will not germinate. The narrower the seed spacing, the denser it will grow (if planted properly). For a fuller and richer lawn, seeding the right way will provide great results every time.