Johnson's Garden Centers Text File document - copyright 2007 
PDF file available at http://www.johnsonsgarden.com/advice.html#lawn

Overseeding Your Cool-Season Lawn 

START WITH A GOOD QUALITY GRASS SEED
    For best results, overseed cool-season lawns during the cooler
months in the spring and fall. Choose a good quality grass seed like
Gard'n-Wise Kansas Premium Fescue Blend, because the quality of the seed
determines the quality of your lawn. Kansas Premium has a
high germination percent and very little to 0% weed seed and other
fillers. It is a pleasing dark green color and is drought, wear and
shade tolerant. The fescues in Kansas Premium have been tested in
Wichita and other Kansas towns and are the best varieties for this area
where heat and humidity are common threats to turf. For more information
about choosing grass seed, see our handout "Read the Label Before You
Buy Grass Seed."

TEN STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL OVERSEEDING 

STEP 1.  
    Before you begin, make sure the soil is evenly moist. It should be
neither too wet nor too dry. If your soil is very dry, water a day or
two before seeding to soften it.
 
STEP 2.  
    Use your lawn mower to scalp the existing grass to 1" - 11Ú2" and
bag the clippings. This helps get the seed down into the soil.

STEP 3.  
    If you have heavy clay soil or your ground is compacted, you may
want to aerate and add gypsum. A core aerator pulls out plugs of soil
and deposits them on the surface where they break down into a beneficial
top dressing. Aerating every few years is good maintenance for
cool-season lawns to alleviate natural traffic compaction. This allows
better penetration of water, air and fertilizer. To further loosen heavy
clay soils, add gypsum to your lawn after core aerating. (Rental core
aerators are available at Johnson's.) If you don't core aerate, you can
still improve your soil before seeding by applying Natural Guard Soil
Activator with 100% humates. Soil Activator creates a soil-building
process that results in more organic matter in the ground. This
increases the nutrient uptake of roots so the fertilizer is absorbed
better.

STEP 4.  
    Good seed-to-soil contact is crucial in attaining desired results.
Small areas can be worked with a rake. For large areas, a vertislicer or
comber (rented from Johnson's Garden Centers) may be used to cut the
seed into the soil. To avoid the "row" effect of new grass, overseed in
one direction, then "cross-cut" at approximately 45¡ from the first run
using 1/2 the recommended seed rate for each pass. Recommended seeding
rates are as follows:

       Gard'n-Wise Kansas Premium Fescue 
       - 3-5 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. for overseeding 
       - 6-8 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. for new lawns

       K-31 Fescue
       - 6 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. for overseeding 
       - 10 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. for new lawns    

    For a healthy lawn, DO NOT EXCEED the recommended rate. Seed sown
too thickly is a breeding ground for disease. A small amount of debris
will be left behind after vertislicing. Don't worry about raking it up
unless there are very large clumps. A thin layer of debris will keep the
soil moist while the seed is germinating and protect the new seedlings
as they grow.

STEP 5.  
    Apply ferti-lome New Lawn Starter (9-13-7) with a broadcast spreader
at the recommended rate. (You may borrow a spreader from Johnson's with
your lawn fertilizer purchases.) New Lawn Starter is high in phosphorus,
which helps your grass seedlings develop strong roots and mature stems
before rapid growth begins. If you overseed in the spring, a potential
problem is weed competition, especially if you've had a lot of weed
problems in the past. If so, substitute New Lawn Starter with GreenView
Seed Starter Fertilizer and Crabgrass Preventer with Tupersan. Tupersan
is the only preemergent weed control that can be used on newly seeded
lawns.

STEP 6.  
    Moisture is vital to grass seedlings. The seed bed should never dry
out, but be kept constantly moist (not soggy). Water 3-4 times a day if
necessary depending on weather conditions and soil type. Don't water to
the point that water is puddling or running off. Continue watering this
way until the new grass reaches 1.5" - 2" then reduce the frequency of
watering times but water for longer periods of time.

STEP 7.  
    Start mowing when some of the new grass reaches 3" tall. Don't wait
until all the grass reaches 3". The sooner you start mowing the faster
the grass will start to thicken. Don't mow more than 1/3 of the grass
blade at any one time and make sure the mower blade is sharp.

STEP 8.  
    If you overseed in the spring, apply ferti-lome South-West Green
Maker (18-0-6) 30 days following seeding. This slow-release premium lawn
food will provide all the nutrients needed to get your new grass well
established before summer. It is specially formulated for alkaline soils
... just like we have here in Kansas. If you overseed in the fall, apply
ferti-lome Winterizer (25-0-6) 30 days following seeding and again 30
days later. These two applications will establish a healthy root system;
build in winter hardiness; and give you early spring green up.

STEP 9.  
    The cultivation necessary to plant grass sometimes brings weed seeds
to the surface. To spot treat those weeds, spray with ferti-lome
Weed-Out after the new grass has been mowed three times. To spot treat
in cooler weather, apply ferti-lome Weed Free Zone.

STEP 10.  
    If you overseed in the spring, apply Winterizer in September to
encourage maximum growth during the peak growing season for cool-season
lawns. Apply Winterizer again in November. This late fall application
increases winter hardiness, keeps grass greener longer and promotes
earlier spring green up. If you overseed in the fall, apply ferti-lome's
For All Season Crabgrass and Weed Preventer containing BARRICADE in
January to mid April to feed your lawn while preventing crabgrass and
other annual weeds from getting started in your turf.