How to Seed Your Lawn // Cool Season Lawn Guide

Performing a complete renovation or overseeding of your lawn can make a large difference in the quality of your turf.
Seeding your lawn can seem intimidating, as there is a lot to consider, but this video will take you through that process.
One of the first things to be mindful of is the time of year. Living up north there are not that many weeks in the year when seeding your lawn is ideal. The two best times of year to seed your lawn are in the spring or fall. Even then, finding the right window during these two seasons can make or break a seeding project.
In the spring you want the soil temperature to be 50 degrees and rising. There are a couple of ways to check your soil temperature, by either using a meat thermometer, or checking the online greencast temperature tool. Or if you live in a rural area, just wait until the farmers start planting their corn and soybeans. Ideally you want air temperatures between 60-75 degrees.
One thing to keep in mind with a spring seeding is that you won't be able to apply a pre-emergent herbicide. You can apply the pre-emergent herbicide Tenacity or use scotts starter fertilizer with Mesotrione, but that effect only lasts about a month. Come late July or August and you might be fighting against a heavy case of the crabgrass.
Fall is the best time of year for a seeding project as the soil temperature is still warm, which quickens the time it takes for seed to germinate. I usually start my fall seeding project once I see consistent temperatures in the upper 70’s. Usually, sometime in Late August or Early September is a good time depending on where you live.
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Greencast Soil Temperature
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[@stepheneckert4006]

New “set” is looking stellar man!

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

Ha, stellar is a big word, thank you!

[@Cary_Shultz]

Those bags look suspiciously like "Twin City Seeds". Love them. United Seed is also ah-mah-zing! New subscriber, Aaron. Greetings from Lexington, NC!

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

Good eye, because it is. Ha. Thanks you!

[@YardBrah]

Oh the production value is A+++++++++++++++ Sweet vid brotha! 😊🙏🏾🤙🏾

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

Lol, thanks brotha!!!! 👍🏽

[@josephppopp7493]

Your serious. LCS 👍

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

Maybe too serious? Ha! Thank you. I just like grass.

[@SOMETHINGWITHSETH]

Great to see another one of your videos. Getting ready for the spring...I can't wait!!!

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

For real, looking forward to those nice spring days, and lawn stripes. Have a great year, Seth.

[@IsaacMomperousse]

I was all excited about the sod solutions calculator, but the image is taking during the summer...Full trees blocking the turf...surprising that they don't have maps taken in the winter.

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

Ugh, sorry. Yeah that’s a pain. Otherwise it’s a nice tool.

[@IsaacMomperousse]

@@theperfectcutlawncare yeah it looks like it... Maybe at some point Google will update their image, thanks for the video

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

Hope so too. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏽

[@PacificNorthwestLawns]

Great video Aaron! You're definitely stepping up you game. Well done man 👍🏼

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

Thank you, Nate. Had to dust the cobwebs off the camera.

[@PacificNorthwestLawns]

@@theperfectcutlawncare 🤣

[@andyslawncareandoutdooradv]

Good to see another video from you Aaron! I won't have a need to do any spring seeding but I'll use this advice should I ever need to do any seeding!

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

Hi Andy, hope you’re doing well brotha. Sounds like a plan. Looking forward to another season, hope to see you on the KZbins soon for an update.

[@andyslawncareandoutdooradv]

@The Perfect Cut Lawn Care I hope to be posting soon! Had some content plans but they revolved around us getting some good snow.. needles to say this has been a huge bust of a winter as far as snow goes. Last year we didn't get much but this year is on a whole new level

[@FranciscoLopez-xp2dc]

Have you tried pre germination of the grass seed by soaking and rinsing for 5 prior days before throwing down the seed?

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

Oh yeah, it’s nice little trick.

[@heatherclarise]

Thanks for the video! Very awesome content. Quick question for you, I live in Georgia in the transition zone but I really would like to plant Kentucky bluegrass. I noticed that you recommended a turf type tall fescue instead. Is turf type tall fescue, similar to feel as Kentucky bluegrass? We got a lot of rain in the summer, so would we be OK planting the Kentucky blue?

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

Thank you. Bluegrass would have a hard time in Georgia during the summer, but doable. You’d have to keep it at 3.5 inches, irrigate, and use fungicides. The roots don’t grow very deep and it goes dormant faster than other cool season lawns. Fescue has deeper roots which will help in the heat. It’s not as soft and doesn’t self repair. Have you considered Bermuda grass? If I lived in Georgia I would grow Bermuda. I’d also maybe reach out the a university extension school in your area and ask them what grass does best for your specific area. Transition zone is a difficult place to grow and maintain cool season grasses.

[@PushaDee]

You mentioned dialing the watering down once the shoots are about half an inch to an inch. How often do you water when it gets to that stage? Thanks!

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

If it’s dry and hot every day in the morning. Otherwise I’ll go every couple of days.

[@PushaDee]

@@theperfectcutlawncare Thanks!

[@mysteryman5213]

Wait, What? There's more to growing grass than spreading out a few bags of what ever is on sale and hoping for the best? Who knew? lol Very informative video that has me second guessing if I have the patience or dedication to get my lawn to look as good as yours.

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

Lol. That’s how I seeded my lawn the first time, to poor results…Thank you though, appreciate it. Certainly takes time and dedication 👍🏽

[@mysteryman5213]

@@theperfectcutlawncare the real sad reality is I have repeated the same process year after year with the hope the results will be different. No surprise, my lawn still is a disater zone.

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

Oh no, I’m sorry. I love growing grass, so if you ever need some help reach out and I’ll do what I can.

[@mikeschriffen6321]

Great video! Quick question, Seed Super store has gone through some changes last season, any thought on where your buying your seed for this year?

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

As far as I understand supply is just not there. Twin City Seed is where I bought some bluegrass for this spring.

[@mattb9664]

I second buying blue tag, or at the very least something like a Barenbrug or Jon Green brand seed if budget conscious. Don't support Scotts or Pennington..two separate occasions on two separate properties their seed came with lots of undesirable "other crop" not to mention grassy weeds that suddenly appear in early July. Their 'guarantee' is garbage too.

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

I hear you there. 👍🏽 Hoping supply gets better. Hard to find the right seed right now.

[@chris_favreau]

Not trying to get to personal, but are you in upstate NY?

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

Ha no worries. I live in rural Illinois . Lived in Boston for first 35 years of my life. My mother from Tupper Lake, NY.

[@millschristophe9865]

Aaron - any putting green planned for this year ?

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

Want to go for a bentgrass green, but I also have side yard I need to fix. Can’t decide on the green or the side yard. Or maybe leave my job and do both, and not eat, ha. Good to hear from ya though.

[@millschristophe9865]

@@theperfectcutlawncare If you quit ya job - i'll quit mine. The we can work on both projects... Bentgrass NOT cheap my brother! Good luck! Good to see ya back 👍

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

Lol, I let you know when that happens.👍🏽

[@dhdustinhurt]

I seeded my 100% KBG lawn from bare dirt Aug 15, 2022. Our first frost was around Nov 1, 2022. My question is, do I put prodiamine down, mesotrione, or wait until summer for pre-emergent? Do seeds from last fall still have a chance to germinate this spring? There are a few bare spots but overall it's good enough to get me to fall for seeding.

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

Seeds from last fall will germinate this spring and in the fall. If it were me I’d do the prodiamine and stop the crabgrass you’ll get in summer and heat stress. Then I’d take a divot repair bottle and seed the bare spots. Made a video about that process called pre germinate seed if your looking for how to something like that. Then I’d wait and see how it’s looking in the fall. 👍🏽

[@appiconll]

Would milorganite be a good starter fert? I have a lot of milorganite, and really didn't want to spend more money, but I will.

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

Milorganite has a good amount of Phosphorus, would certainly do fine. Go for it.

[@appiconll]

@@theperfectcutlawncare Thanks

[@seanmirabito3104]

I am seeding 5ksf hopping to drop seed this Tuesday or Wednesday using 21-22-4 with meso. Is it to late to seed?

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

Now is a great time to seed. Go for it. Meso will help. You might have some weed issues come July/August, but they are easy to take care.

[@seanmirabito3104]

@The Perfect Cut Lawn Care I figured. Crabgrass very easy to take care. My front was all poa had to roundup the whole front. Hoping I am able to also get prodiamin down this fall.

[@seanmirabito3104]

I know I'll have to over seed some spots this fall as well have you had any lucks seeding in the fall and also putting pre emergent down for poa. I'm seeding tttf

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

I haven’t had a Poa problem so I haven’t put do pre emergent in the fall. Unfortunately the timing for fall seeding and premergent don’t line up well.

[@seanmirabito3104]

@The Perfect Cut Lawn Care thank you. I swear the seed I used last fall to over seed had to have poa in it cause I never had poa. My soil test came back pretty good slightly high in phosphorus. Shouldn't really use 21-22-4 but want the pre emergent liquids sacre me

[@Striperman]

Hey there he is. Welcome back. Looking forward to your dominating lawn this year. 👍💚🦸

[@theperfectcutlawncare]

Ha! Been quite trying to get through winter. Looking forward to some warmer weather and lawn stripes. Good to hear from ya Kieth.