What’s The Difference Between Interseeding & Overseeding?

 In Blog, Fall

We often get asked: What’s the difference between interseeding and overseeding, and when is the best time to do this?

Interseeding is seeding the same grass species into the existing lawn. This will help to create a thicker look and will help to recover any grass that’s been lost over the course of the summer.

Overseeding, or slit-seeding, is planting seed directly into the existing soil without disturbing the soil or turf. This method of seeding will help your lawn to have thicker growth, better colour, and resistance to disease and drought.

As grasses age, the reproduction rate slows. Over time, grasses become thinner and will allow room for weeds and unwanted crabgrass to grow. Overseeding compensates for the slowing down of your turf’s reproduction and creates a thicker, healthier lawn.

The Fall Is Ideal for Lawn Seeding

Fall is an ideal time for either method of seeding your lawn. During the stressful heat and drought of summer, grasses weaken and thin out.

Fall is ideal for growth. Fall temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees Celsius are ideal for germination. The warm days and cool nights of early fall promote rapid turfgrass growth, and the competition from weeds is also reduced.

Once either interseeding or overseeding is completed, it’s important to keep the soil moist. Sometimes this means watering more than once per day. Ensuring that you keep the top inch of soil moist for the germination period of 2 to 3 weeks will pay off with great results. Next spring, your lawn will be out of the gate with stronger and much more vigorous growth.

Spring Projects Don’t Happen Until You Make The Call

Every year it’s the same scenario — our team has been experiencing it for the past 48 years.

The scenario goes like this: Someone, let’s call her Sally, starts thinking about garden improvements in the fall but, because fall is the end of the growing season, Sally decides to wait until spring. No real rush.

Let’s say we have a lovely few warm March days and Sally gets excited about her summer garden. After doing a bit of Google research, she contacts us — but when she calls, she is shocked to learn that we are already booking mid to late June projects.

The truth is, early spring installations were booked before the winter holiday season! 

The moral of the story? Don’t wait for spring. Do it now! We’ll help make your journey smooth and rewarding. While the procrastinators wait, you’ll have your project completed as soon as spring weather allows work to begin.

Contact our team and let’s start the plan to turn your landscaping dream into a reality.

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