The lawn overseeder has been around for quite a while, but lawn overseeding has never been as popular as it is today. As time has passed, the machine used to overseed lawns has become increasingly sophisticated. Now there are various types of machines available, each with its own niche.
In an oversimplified version, the machine cuts partway into the soil, ejects material out the back, and then covers it back up with soil. You can find more details in our article below!
A lawn overseeder is a tool that can be used to make a lawn more lush, healthy and green. It does this by encouraging the roots of grass to grow deeper, thus promoting better drainage and absorption of water, nutrients and other substances.
How Does An Overseeder Work? – Complete Guide
An overseeder is a machine that is pushed over the lawn while spreaders are set to produce 25-50 pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet. The lawn over seeder also has a blade that cuts the soil to a uniform depth.
This machine is great for spreading grass seed in areas where it is difficult to walk, areas with difficult access, and areas where it is too wet to walk.
A lawn over seeder is the perfect machine for spreading grass seed in heavy or wet soil. Lawn overseeding can be done by hand, but this process is tedious and time-consuming. Hand seeding can also take much longer than machine seeding.
Machine seeding is significantly faster than hand seeding, which makes it possible for overseeding to be completed in one day.
The lawn overseeder can also be used to overseed in the fall, which is helpful for overseeding warm-season grasses, like Bermuda grass.
The only downside to machine seeding is the cost of the equipment, which can be several hundred dollars. However, the equipment is reusable and the cost is offset by the time saved and the ease of overseeding.
An overseeder is nothing more than a small machine that works like a lawn mower. It is driven across the lawn to cut the grass and bury the seed at the same time.
An overseeder is designed to automatically overseed a field and operate as a planter to cover the seed in the ground. An overseeder typically has a hydraulic drive that drives the unit. The hydraulic drive can be a PTO driven unit, pull type or hydraulic drive. The hydraulics powers a plant wheel that is used to propel the unit around the field. The plant wheel is equipped with a seed metering device that releases seed at the desired rate to the ground.
How To Use An Overseeder
Overseeding lawns is a popular way to improve the look of thinning grass or to restore an area that has been damaged by lawn insects. Preparing the lawn for the overseer will help the new seeds grow and not just sit on top of the existing grass. By aerating the lawn, you can help break up compacted soil, a common problem with most lawns in America today.
1. Prepare The Lawn
Remove debris from the lawn with a dethatching tool. Avoid damage to the lawn by removing thatch in large clumps.
Pull the rake across the lawn to loosen the topsoil and remove weeds from clumps. Thoroughly water the lawn and make sure that soil is moistened. Direct seed into moist soil for optimal results.
2. Overseeder Basket
The overseeder basket holds your seeds, giving you a way to sort and store them. For example, you can put your warm season grass seeds in here and store them until the ground is ready. Then move them to the appropriate place in your yard without having to bend down every time.
3. Choose A Spreader
Choosing a drop seeder or spreader depends on your particular set of needs. If you need to seed a small lawn area, the drop seeder can be used to disperse the seeds in a straight line while walking it over the grass. If you have a larger lawn and want to cover more area, then the spreader may be suitable. The spreader employs a wheel under the basket that spins as the device is pulled, distributing the seeds across more turf.
4. Fill the Overseeder
You’ll need to prepare your overseeder for the season by filling it with the right grass seed. You can also adjust the overseeder’s speed to drop or spread your grass seed at the proper rate. When you’re using the overseeder, walk at a steady pace, and never turn without closing the overseeder’s delivery trap first. This will prevent seeds from dropping in clusters when you make a turn.
When Is The Right Time To Overseed?
The right time to overseed your lawn is a question that everyone who owns a lawn in the United States, Northern or Southern California, or even in Europe asks themselves. The decision should be easy. Why? Well, overseed your lawn during the fall, when there’s plenty of time for seed germination and seedling growth before the first winter frost.
For example, warm season grasses in temperate areas should be overseeded during late spring or early summer, whereas cool season grasses should be overseeded during late summer or early fall if you’re living in a moderate climate.
Overseeder vs Broadcast Spreader
With an overseeder, you have to weigh the benefits of better germination rates against the drawbacks of a higher expense and complicated use.
With a broadcast spreader, you have to consider the drawbacks of a higher expense and a lack of a complete seed-to-soil contact.
An overseeder is a machine which drills a shallow furrow and distributes seed into the surface of the seed bed.
A broadcast spreader will simply broadcast seed as the tractor is moving along the ground.
Traditionally, broadcast spreaders were the most common way to spread seed. The main drawback of a traditional broadcast spreader is that it doesn’t ensure contact between the seed and the soil since the seeds land on top of the thatch. This inhibits germination and reduces overall seed viability. In addition, many broadcast spreaders spill more seed than overseeder designs to achieve 1,000 pounds of force.
Final Thoughts
Overseeding is a technique by which you can fill in your lawn’s bare spots more effectively without having to resort to replacing the topsoil and sod. Although it is not as good as completely redoing your lawn, overseeding helps by improving your lawn’s overall health and appearance, making it a viable option.
To make sure you overseed properly, hire an expert landscaper or a professional gardener.
Hi there! I’m Sam Hendricks, and I’m a repair technician and expert. I created this website to help people like you save money and time by fixing your own appliances.
Over the years, I’ve seen people spend a lot of money on unnecessary repairs or replacements. That’s why I decided to share my expertise and create easy-to-follow guides for fixing appliances on your own.