- Mow your lawn short before overseeding to improve seed-to-soil contact and boost germination.
- Overseeding strengthens your lawn by creating a healthier, easier-to-maintain root system.
- Keep grass seeds moist with light, frequent watering to help them sprout successfully.
—AKA the process of sowing grass seeds over already-growing grass to establish thicker coverage and an easy-to-mow root system—is a key process when it comes to having a strong and healthy lawn.
However, if you’re new to the lawn care task, you may find yourself unsure of whether it’s best to mow your lawn beforehand or wait until after you finish. To help you get the most out of the process, we asked lawn professionals for their top tips.
- Bruce Spangenburg is the statewide horticulture outreach specialist in the horticulture program of UW Madison’s division of extension.
- Ron Henry is the founder of and a turfgrass specialist at Golf Course Lawn Store.
- Tomislav Nad is the founder and general manager of Juniper Lawns LLC.
Should You Mow or Overseed Your Lawn First?
It’s best to mow your lawn before overseeding it.
“Shorter grass makes it easier to prepare the area for overseeding, including any topdressing with soil, prior to overseeding,” says horticulture specialist Bruce Spangenberg…