Now is Prime Time to over seed and repair any unsightly spots in your lawn. Follow these easy steps towards a perfect lawn.
Step 1: Control any Weeds
Control any broadleaf weeds (anything that’s not a grass) with a weed killer such as Bonide Weed Beater Ultra. This will kill the weeds and clover without harming the existing lawn. It’s best to spray when temperatures are below 80 degrees and dry. This product is rain proof within an hour and can be used to temperatures down to 45 degrees. For best results, spray 1 week before you mow your lawn so the weeds have plenty of leaves for the herbicide to cover.
Step 2: Mow lawn really short
If you have completed step 1, be sure to bag your lawn clippings. Set your mower to the lowest setting and bag your clippings. By mowing the lawn really short, this will help the new seed to reach the actual soil easier and will allow the new lawn seedlings to establish before being mowed again.
Step 3: Thatch and Aerate
After mowing, rake out any thatch and dead moss that has built up over the years. Thatch is the organic buildup of materials between the lawn blades and the actual soil layer. If you have a large build up, the fertilizers you add to your lawn will get caught in this layer and not actually penetrate the root system.
Now you can actually reach your soil level, now you should aerate. Most soils in the Willamette Valley are clay based and don’t allow for good drainage or air pockets. Core Aeration will create small air pockets in the soil to allow better air circulation around the root system and help increase drainage.
Step 4: Fill in the low spots
Use a quality top soil to help fill in any of the low spots and aeration holes. Also be sure to use a lawn roller to help the soil settle into place.
Step 5: Add Lime
Our soils in the Willamette Valley are acidic due to the lovely winter rainfalls. Turf lawns prefer to have a more neutral soil ph. level (6.0-7.0). In order to accomplish this Lilly Miller Lime needs to be applied in the fall and spring months. This is a fine dolomite lime that can be added to the lawn via a drop spreader. By lowering the pH in the soil, the calcium and magnesium become more readily available and organic life will increase. This will help combat the pesky weeds and thinning of the lawn.
There will be a chemical reaction and you will lose all benefits of the fertilizer.
Step 6: Seed
Now you can over seed. Be sure to use any of the Dennis 7 Dees custom lawn seeds. Ask us which blend is right for your needs. Seed can be applied via a hand spreader or a drop spreader.
Step 7: Water
Keep the new seed evenly moist at all time. Turning on the sprinklers for many short bursts is a lot better than one long watering as the seed can float away or drown.
Step 8: Apply a good fertilizer
Once the seed has sprouted, about 4-6 weeks after planting, apply a good fertilizer. We recommend either Bonide Premium Lawn food or Dr Earth Organic Lawn Food. It’s good to get in the habit of fertilizing the lawn two to three times per year during the active growing season- Spring, summer and fall. If your lawn is brown or dormant, this will give it the kick it needs to wake up and green up.
Now is Prime Time to over seed and repair any unsightly spots in your lawn. Follow these easy steps towards a perfect lawn.
Step 1: Control any Weeds
Control any broadleaf weeds (anything that’s not a grass) with a weed killer such as Bonide Weed Beater Ultra. This will kill the weeds and clover without harming the existing lawn. It’s best to spray when temperatures are below 80 degrees and dry. This product is rain proof within an hour and can be used to temperatures down to 45 degrees. For best results, spray 1 week before you mow your lawn so the weeds have plenty of leaves for the herbicide to cover.
Step 2: Mow lawn really short
If you have completed step 1, be sure to bag your lawn clippings. Set your mower to the lowest setting and bag your clippings. By mowing the lawn really short, this will help the new seed to reach the actual soil easier and will allow the new lawn seedlings to establish before being mowed again.
Step 3: Thatch and Aerate
After mowing, rake out any thatch and dead moss that has built up over the years. Thatch is the organic buildup of materials between the lawn blades and the actual soil layer. If you have a large build up, the fertilizers you add to your lawn will get caught in this layer and not actually penetrate the root system.
Now you can actually reach your soil level, now you should aerate. Most soils in the Willamette Valley are clay based and don’t allow for good drainage or air pockets. Core Aeration will create small air pockets in the soil to allow better air circulation around the root system and help increase drainage.
Step 4: Fill in the low spots
Use a quality top soil to help fill in any of the low spots and aeration holes. Also be sure to use a lawn roller to help the soil settle into place.
Step 5: Add Lime
Our soils in the Willamette Valley are acidic due to the lovely winter rainfalls. Turf lawns prefer to have a more neutral soil ph. level (6.0-7.0). In order to accomplish this Lilly Miller Lime needs to be applied in the fall and spring months. This is a fine dolomite lime that can be added to the lawn via a drop spreader. By lowering the pH in the soil, the calcium and magnesium become more readily available and organic life will increase. This will help combat the pesky weeds and thinning of the lawn.
DO NOT MIX LIME WITH YOUR FERTILIZER. There will be a chemical reaction and you will lose all benefits of the fertilizer.
Step 6: Seed
Now you can over seed. Be sure to use any of the Dennis 7 Dees custom lawn seeds. Ask us which blend is right for your needs. Seed can be applied via a hand spreader or a drop spreader.
Step 7: Water
Keep the new seed evenly moist at all time. Turning on the sprinklers for many short bursts is a lot better than one long watering as the seed can float away or drown.
Step 8: Apply a good fertilizer
Once the seed has sprouted, about 4-6 weeks after planting, apply a good fertilizer. We recommend either Bonide Premium Lawn food or Dr Earth Organic Lawn Food. It’s good to get in the habit of fertilizing the lawn two to three times per year during the active growing season- Spring, summer and fall. If your lawn is brown or dormant, this will give it the kick it needs to wake up and green up.
