Do I need to remove dead grass before seeding?
When the summer season comes to an end it is time to start to think about recovering your lawn. Recovering your lawn allows the grass to be able to come back full force in the following spring. During the recovery process, there are several steps that need to be completed. The steps include seeding, raking, and trimming. Atlanta Landscaping Matters can help you in every step of this process. Give us a call at 404-620-3374 and ask us for the free estimate we offer!
In order to plant in the fall season, many ask may the questions, “ Do I need to remove the dead grass before seeding?” There is a method to preparing the lawn for the seed and when completed in a certain stepped process it will deliver the best results.
To answer the question “ Do I need to remove the dead grass before seeding?” The simple answer is, yes. But let us explain why.
Performing a recovery process at the end of the season or even at the beginning starts with three steps: dethatching, aerating, and seeding. These three steps when delivered to the lawn in that order will give it the best chance to thrive.
As the summer season is over most people do have dead grass in their lawn. This lays right above the soil. This is known as thatching. It is the dead layer of grass that can be beneficial in just a small amount. When the thatching builds up it will prevent the air and water from being able to reach the grass around it. Then, in turn, will cause even more grass to die. So removing that dead grass is an improvement to the current health of your lawn and when preparing the lawn for seeding.
Removing the thatching is called dethatching. Dethatching is the process that removing the layer of dead grass. This allows for a healthier, lusher, and greener lawn. Allowing the dead grass to build up also weakens the grass around it and will cause even more of it to die. So removing it is important. Especially if you are planting grass and have more than a half inch of dead grass anywhere in your lawn it needs to be removed before the new seed is planted.
Dethatching can be completed by completing the following steps. When preparing the lawn it will need to be watered the day before the dethatching is going to take place. The next day starts by mowing the grass to half the normal level. After the mowing has taken place it is time to start the process of dethatching. That means raking the lawn in two different directions. This allows for the dead grass to be removed from different angles. Often grass, when it has died falls in different directions and raking in only one will not complete the process. There will be grassless spots left when you are finished. This is the first place that you want to start putting the seed to make sure that it has the best chances to repair the spot. But first, before you plant anything after the dethatching, the aeration process needs to occur.
Aeration is the process of perforating the soil. Over time soil becomes compacted naturally and aerating the soil perforates it allowing the water, air, and nutrients to be able to be restored. This is a must when seeding as it allows the new grass to be able to germinate allowing the roots to grow deeper and making grass lusher and greener over time. Aerating the lawn can be completed with a spike aerator or push plug aerator. It basically pokes many many holes in the soil at one time and breaks it up at the same time. The process does not remove any grass or soil so it is important that the dead grass is removed before it is started. It should be completed the same day that the seeding is going to take place.
Once the aeration has taken place it is time to have the seeds planted. The soil has been dethatched and aerated so it is time to patch up that lawn. New seeds will fill in those bare patches and also replace those areas that have been dethatched. This also allows the grass to become lusher in the future. The process will improve the look of the lawn. So, before you seed always make sure that you remove the dead grass for the best possible results.
In order to plant in the fall season, many ask may the questions, “ Do I need to remove the dead grass before seeding?” There is a method to preparing the lawn for the seed and when completed in a certain stepped process it will deliver the best results.
To answer the question “ Do I need to remove the dead grass before seeding?” The simple answer is, yes. But let us explain why.
Performing a recovery process at the end of the season or even at the beginning starts with three steps: dethatching, aerating, and seeding. These three steps when delivered to the lawn in that order will give it the best chance to thrive.
As the summer season is over most people do have dead grass in their lawn. This lays right above the soil. This is known as thatching. It is the dead layer of grass that can be beneficial in just a small amount. When the thatching builds up it will prevent the air and water from being able to reach the grass around it. Then, in turn, will cause even more grass to die. So removing that dead grass is an improvement to the current health of your lawn and when preparing the lawn for seeding.
Removing the thatching is called dethatching. Dethatching is the process that removing the layer of dead grass. This allows for a healthier, lusher, and greener lawn. Allowing the dead grass to build up also weakens the grass around it and will cause even more of it to die. So removing it is important. Especially if you are planting grass and have more than a half inch of dead grass anywhere in your lawn it needs to be removed before the new seed is planted.
Dethatching can be completed by completing the following steps. When preparing the lawn it will need to be watered the day before the dethatching is going to take place. The next day starts by mowing the grass to half the normal level. After the mowing has taken place it is time to start the process of dethatching. That means raking the lawn in two different directions. This allows for the dead grass to be removed from different angles. Often grass, when it has died falls in different directions and raking in only one will not complete the process. There will be grassless spots left when you are finished. This is the first place that you want to start putting the seed to make sure that it has the best chances to repair the spot. But first, before you plant anything after the dethatching, the aeration process needs to occur.
Aeration is the process of perforating the soil. Over time soil becomes compacted naturally and aerating the soil perforates it allowing the water, air, and nutrients to be able to be restored. This is a must when seeding as it allows the new grass to be able to germinate allowing the roots to grow deeper and making grass lusher and greener over time. Aerating the lawn can be completed with a spike aerator or push plug aerator. It basically pokes many many holes in the soil at one time and breaks it up at the same time. The process does not remove any grass or soil so it is important that the dead grass is removed before it is started. It should be completed the same day that the seeding is going to take place.
Once the aeration has taken place it is time to have the seeds planted. The soil has been dethatched and aerated so it is time to patch up that lawn. New seeds will fill in those bare patches and also replace those areas that have been dethatched. This also allows the grass to become lusher in the future. The process will improve the look of the lawn. So, before you seed always make sure that you remove the dead grass for the best possible results.
