When Should You Overseed a Fescue Lawn?

Fall is the best time to overseed (or plant) fescue grass seed. Ideally, you’ll put fescue seed down about three weeks before the first frost of the season. This will give the seeds plenty of germination time, allowing roots to establish before winter arrives.

Tall fescue requires consistent moisture during germination, fall typically provides this, with fewer heavy rain storms.

Fall Fescue Overseeding

Overseeding your fescue lawn in late summer/early autumn eliminates competition from weedy grasses like crabgrass, foxtails and others. Also, many weeds go dormant as temperatures drop in the fall.

In the autumn, soil temperatures are still warm, which is important for germination. The cooler air of autumn will also promote better grass growth. Autumn is also a better time of year for moist soil, given that rain amounts are generally higher. The following spring, the grass will have another season to develop roots before the heat of summer comes.

How to Overseed Your Lawns

The amount you should seed will be as directed on the label by the manufacturer. The rate will also depend on the current thickness of your lawn. If you’re overseeding year to year, the amount will become less each year.

As a general rule, 2-4 lbs. per 1000 square feet is required if your lawn is already fairly thick. For are areas you will need 4-8 lbs. per 1000 square feet. If you’re doing a complete lawn renovation, you may need as much as 8-12 lbs. per 1000 square feet to fully cover the yard.

If you follow good irrigation techniques with your overseeding, your lawn could be looking it thickest and fullest within a couple years. Be careful not to apply too much seed in an attempt to get a thick lawn immediately. This could cause overcrowding as the grass matures and you’ll have to start all over again.

Resources found on our website are provided as general guidelines, and Reddi Industries does not assume any liability resulting from the provided information.