Whether you’re establishing new turf or doing an annual overseed, seeding your lawn is an investment of time and money. Different techniques have their pros and cons, and picking the right one ensures your investment won’t go to waste.

Bare Soil Seeding
When you need to start a new lawn or fill in bald patches, bare soil seeding is your only option. You may also want to consider ripping out existing turf and starting over when it’s severely damaged.

• Prepared soil: Freshly tilled and fertilized soil is always the best way to go. It aerates, maximizes soil-to-seed contact, and destroys weeds that could out-compete your seed. Tilling is best, but you can try simple aeration for small patches.
• On top of soil: It may be easy, but expect low germination rates if you seed over unprepared soil. Warm season grasses, like zoysia and Bermuda, will almost never germinate this way. Cool season grasses may, but core aeration will improve your odds.
• Hydroseeding: This professional method provides even coverage and a high germination rate. Seeds soaked in water and fertilizer are pushed into the soil via pressure. It’s economical for large areas, too.

Overseeding
Overseeding helps improve the thickness of existing turf, fill in sparse areas and can add new grass varieties to improve drought or shade tolerance.

• Slit Seeding: Slit seeding uses a professional machine slice the surface of your lawn. Seed is laid directly into the slits through tubes or washed in with a deep watering. It’s a great way to add a new variety of grass to your turf.
• On top of soil: It’s quick and easy to DIY, but seeding on totally unprepared soil has a much lower germination rate. At least aerate the soil before overseeding to increase soil-to-seed contact.

Erosion Control
If you live on a hill or another high erosion area, like near a coast, any seed you lay is at risk of washing away before it establishes. Prepare and seed the soil as usual, then lay the erosion mats or straw over the seed to help it stay in place. Remove the mats or rake up the straw once the grass establishes.

It may sound complicated, but all grass seed needs is a comfortable home in the soil, good nutrients and plenty of water. You’ll have a thriving lawn in no time.