When overseeding is the answer
A lawn thins for many reasons: wear, shade, drought, moss clear-outs, pet damage. If the soil is sound and the grass is simply sparse, overseeding is the most direct fix. It also helps an older lawn keep its density as individual plants die off.
Seed, soil contact and water
Seed needs contact with soil, not thatch, which is why overseeding follows scarifying. It needs moisture while it germinates, and it needs to be left alone to establish before it is mown short or walked on heavily.
We use a seed mix chosen for the conditions: sun or shade, family use or finer ornamental turf. If you are not sure which suits your lawn, our guides explain how the mixes differ.
How it fits with the other treatments
Overseeding on its own works for lightly thinned lawns. For most lawns it is part of a sequence: scarify, aerate if the soil is tight, overseed, then feed. That sequence is Lawn Recovery and Lawn Restoration.
Price
Overseeding is part of Lawn Recovery (scarify, overseed and feed), from £120 for a 25 m² lawn, and of Lawn Restoration, from £170.
Questions
When is the best time to overseed?
Early autumn is generally best, when the soil is still warm and moist. Spring is the second window. Our guide to overseeding goes through the timing.
How long until I see results?
New seedlings can appear within a couple of weeks in the right conditions, but it takes a full growing season for a patchy lawn to thicken properly.
Can I walk on a newly seeded lawn?
Keep off it as much as you can while the seed establishes. We will tell you how long for your lawn.