How do you overseed a lawn with Milorganite?

Answered by Ricardo McCardle

I’d be happy to share my personal experience and walk you through the process of overseeding a lawn with Milorganite.

First, let me start by saying that overseeding is a great way to improve the overall health and appearance of your lawn. It helps to fill in bare spots, promote thicker grass growth, and reduce weed invasion. And using Milorganite as a fertilizer can further enhance these benefits.

So, after aerating your lawn to create small holes in the soil, you can proceed with overseeding. The holes created by aeration allow the grass seed to make better contact with the soil, improving germination and establishment.

Now, let’s talk about the materials you’ll need. You’ll obviously need Milorganite, which is a slow-release organic nitrogen fertilizer. It’s important to choose a grass seed that is appropriate for your particular climate and grass type. For example, if you have a cool-season grass like Kentucky bluegrass or fescue, choose a grass seed blend that matches your existing lawn.

To create the overseeding mixture, you’ll want to combine Milorganite and grass seed at a 4:1 ratio by weight. This means using four parts Milorganite for every one part grass seed. This ratio ensures that you’re providing enough fertilizer to support healthy growth while also allowing the grass seed to establish.

Once you have your mixture ready, it’s time to spread it evenly over your lawn. I recommend using a broadcast spreader for this task, as it helps to distribute the mixture more evenly. Make sure to adjust the spreader settings according to the recommended application rate for your grass seed.

Start by walking in straight lines along the length of your lawn, overlapping each pass slightly to ensure even coverage. Then, repeat the process by walking perpendicular to your initial passes. This cross-hatching technique helps to ensure that you’re reaching every area of your lawn.

After spreading the overseeding mixture, lightly rake the surface of your lawn to help incorporate the seeds into the soil. This will also help to ensure good seed-to-soil contact, which is crucial for germination.

Now, it’s time to water your lawn. Keep the soil consistently moist but not saturated until the grass seed germinates and establishes. This may require watering daily or even multiple times a day, depending on weather conditions. Once the new grass reaches a height of about 3 inches, you can reduce the frequency of watering.

It’s important to note that overseeding is not a one-time fix. It’s a process that may need to be repeated annually or biennially, depending on the condition of your lawn. Regular overseeding helps to maintain a thick, healthy, and weed-resistant lawn.

Overseeding a lawn with Milorganite is a simple and effective way to improve the health and appearance of your grass. By following the steps I’ve outlined, you can ensure that the grass seed gets off to a great start and that your lawn will thrive. Good luck with your overseeding project!