Lawn Slice Seeding and Overseeding in the Northern Chicago Suburbs

Slice seeding is not needed on lawns that have small spots, 3-4” in diameter or smaller. Applications of fertilizer combined with lots of sprinklings and high mowing will usually fill these lawns in 1-year time. If your lawn features more damage or larger bare spots, then slice seeding may be a good choice for you.

In Barrington and the Chicago suburbs, there are a few times we recommend seeding your lawn for optimal performance.

The best time to seed is early Fall (last week in August thru 3rd week in September). This is the best time for seed germination and establishment, there is less weed competition, and the Fall rains help keep the ground at the proper moisture level for germination. However, you will need to avoid fall broadleaf weed control. You will also need to blow any fallen leaves off the seeded area, so they do not block sunlight to the seeds. Finally, an unexpected early overnight frost may damage or kill newly germinated seedlings.

Another great time to seed your lawn is Late Fall (after the grass has gone dormant in November & December). During this window, new grass seed will typically remain in place until such time in early spring when soil and air temperatures are high enough for seed to begin germination. Plus, there is no broadleaf weed competition until mid-April of the following year, by which time the seed should be up and nearly mature enough to handle weed control application. However, fluctuating winter temperatures may cause germination to start, only to be damaged by the next freeze. In addition, any wet, non-freezing weather may drown out the seed and cause it to lose viability.

The final window for seeding your lawn is Spring (late March through mid-May). The Spring rains help keep seeds moist for best germination and potentially requiring less irrigation. This is also a great time to seed for shady lawns; since there are no leaves on the trees yet, sunlight can get through to germinate the seeds. You will need to limit pre-emergent crabgrass and broadleaf weed controls, which can leave your lawn open to a higher weed population until the new seed has become established.

Consult with your Turf Care lawn care professional for advice and recommendations on the best time to seed your lawn.

The single most important requirement for successful germination of your seeding is adequate moisture. Without proper moisture, the seed will not germinate and will eventually die. Keeping the seed damp either by rainfall or irrigation is required to encourage proper seed development.

The first watering can be done right away. It should be a good soaking to moisten the soil to a minimum depth of three inches. This usually requires an inch of actual water. Water gently, being careful not to apply the water with such force that it washes away the soil or dislodges the seed.

After the initial watering, irrigate the seeded areas lightly and frequently, enough to keep the seed and soil surface moist. The frequency of these sprinklings is dependent on the weather conditions and the amount of thatch protecting the new seed. Lawns with little thatch protection or lawns that are subjected to warm temperatures may need to be watered as frequently as 2-3 times a day. Lawns with thatch or lawns subjected to cooler temperatures will need less frequent irrigation. Check your soil daily to determine how often you need to water to keep the soil surface damp.

Once the grass begins to establish and mature, the frequency of your sprinklings can be lengthened, and the amount of water applied at one time increased.

Mow the lawn like you normally would using the 1/3rd rule (Never remove more than 1/3rd of the grass blade when cutting). If you regularly cut the lawn at 2.5 inches, mow the grass before it reaches 4 inches high. Do not mow the lawn when the ground is too wet and be sure to mow with a sharp mower blade. A dull blade rips and shreds the grass instead of cutting it, seedlings can actually be torn from the soil. Mowing with a dull blade also makes the plants susceptible to other problems such as additional stress on the turf, brown leaf tips and potential disease infestation.

Too much activity on your newly seeded lawn can interfere with seed germination. For the next 3-4 weeks, we suggest limiting the amount of activity on your lawn as much as possible. This is especially required for lawns with bare soil and little thatch protection.

Some seed varieties can take up to 3 weeks to germinate, and this is under optimum conditions (temperatures between 65-80 degrees with frequent rains). Conditions other than optimal, can extend germination beyond 3 weeks. Be patient during this germination period and be sure to continue watering frequently which is critical during this time.

Do not apply any lawn care products in addition to the program we have you on. Certain lawn care applications can affect the outcome of the seeding. If you are thinking about applying something to the turf, it is very important to discuss with your service advisor.