· Ortiz Landscaping & Tree Services
If you only seed once a year, seed in late summer or early fall. For the cool-season grasses that make up most New Jersey lawns, that window gives new seedlings the best odds.
Why late summer and fall work
By late August the soil is still warm from summer, which speeds germination, while the air is starting to cool, which suits cool-season grass. Weeds such as crabgrass are finishing their life cycle rather than starting it, so seedlings face less competition. The young grass then has the whole fall, and the following spring, to build roots before its first summer.
What about spring?
Spring seeding can work for small bare patches, but it is harder. New grass has only a few months before summer heat arrives, and it emerges at the same time as spring weeds. There is also a practical conflict: many pre-emergent crabgrass products stop grass seed from germinating too, so you usually cannot use both on the same area at the same time. If you seed in spring, plan on extra watering through June and July.
Preparing the ground
- Seed needs contact with soil. Rake out dead grass and loosen the surface so seed is not sitting on thatch.
- Thin areas benefit from overseeding into the existing turf. Bare spots may need a light layer of soil first; see our post on top dressing a lawn.
- Keep the seedbed evenly moist, not soaked, until the new grass is established. Light, frequent watering beats one heavy soak in the first weeks.
Choosing seed
The right mix depends on sun, shade, traffic and what is already growing. A sunny front lawn and a shaded strip under mature trees rarely want the same seed. That choice is part of every consultation for our seeding and planting work: we look at the site and recommend a seed solution for it.
Planning to thicken your lawn this year? Call (609) 454-7355 or request a free quote and we will talk through timing for your property.