Issues with Lawn/Overseeding

Hi Guys,
Newbie here, so would really appreciate any help.

We've been in our property about 10 years now, when we moved in the front lawn was immaculate. Over the last 5 years or so I've noticed a decline in the quality, notably with more moss and weeds etc. I do carry out scarification and aeration at least once a year, but it hasnt made a difference. I also fertilize a couple of times a year.

So a month ago I thought i'd scarify heavily (as there was a lot of dead grass, moss, weeds etc) and then overseed, my process was as follows;
- Heavy scarification
- Aeration
- overseed (using Gro-Sure fast acting) 35g per m2 as per guidlines
- Brush in seed
- Roller to finish for good soil contact
- Installed CD's on sticks to deter birds (which has worked well)

Unfortunaltey its been 4 weeks now and there has hardly been any new grass come through (bits in patches)... I thought i was being impatient but the weeds are now showing back through already!!? I know the soil is moist enough and at a decent temperature (the weather has been perfect for growth with enough rain/moisture and also higher temps)...

Have i missed something (fertilizer perhaps?) or could there be an issue with my soil..?

Any help and guidance would be much apprecaited.

I've attached a couple of photos from yesterday to show
Thanks

 

Could be old grass seed. If you retained the package, perhaps check date of packing/use by date. If you have some remaining seed, try a germination test.

 

Thanks for the response.. the grass seed was brand new..
unfortunaltey all the seed was used...

 

When you last fertilised your lawn, what did you use @Stitch78? If it was a 4 in 1 weed and feed product it can inhibit seed germination for 4-6 weeks, depending on the product.

 

Hi @Plantminded , i did use a weed and feed product, but this was back in April. I havent fertilised since.. this was one of my questions, should i have fertilised at the time of overseeding? is it too late for me to apply an appropraite one now do you think?

 

New seeds don't need fertiliser until they're growing well.

Non-germination is either a problem with the seed, something in the soil inhibiting germination (some weedkillers do that), too dry, too wet (maybe), poor contact with the soil (effectively the same as too dry) or something's eaten it.

Edit - I forgot too hot or too cold, but I don't think that's been the case in the last month or so. That Gro-sure apparently germinates at 7C which is on the low side and it's not been that cold yet here.

 

I’d avoid using a fertiliser or weed and feed at the same time as overseeding. You can apply a fertiliser or weed and feed now, but use an Autumn version which has lower levels of nitrogen and is formulated to encourage root growth.

 

I redid my lawn 4 weeks ago and it’s coming along nicely. I treated myself to a lawn lute and it really helped spread the topsoil/sand. My process was….

Cut grass,
Scarify,
Cut grass again,
Apply autumn grass feed to help existing grass recover
Apply a top dressing mix of topsoil/compost/silica sand 1:1:1 (spent a fortune buying bags) using lawn lute
Apply seed and give it a once over with the lute to help seed contact the soil.
……and wait.

Looked like a tattie field but after 2 weeks the seed (gouldings) had germinated, old grass recovered and I had to give it a light trim already the other day too. I should have aerated it but I ran out of steam.

 

Whereabouts are you @Stitch78 ? It could certainly have been too cold for reliable germination, and importantly -for growing on beyond that. It is here, let alone further north, even if it germinates at 7 degrees. It's also about the length of time it's colder, rather than just the highs and lows. We only just got to double figs at midday yesterday, for the first time since Monday evening, and that's being mild for the time of year here.
You can give ground a feed prior to sowing, to help the general health of the soil you're sowing into, although that's more for doing a completely new lawn. It has to be done a few weeks beforehand though.

 

Recently bought is not the same as 'fresh' .Its not a fast moving commodity ; garden centres are not pro-active on sell by dates like supermarkets are required to be. Shelf life of grass seed is no more than 2 years...., and dependent upon conditions of storage.

 

If you still have the box maybe check the label to see if there are details of when the seed was gathered or a batch number and query Gro-sure maybe.
Are you sure the area is wet enough?
I sowed quite a large area a few weeks ago and watered continually every day for about a fortnight as god had not obliged with any rain. Not a sausage appeared or even grass seedlings! and then all of a sudden bingo, fantastic germination as we have had some incredibly warm weather ( in the 70’s in Scotland). A bit of my field which got damaged when new electricity cables were laid I also seeded but did not water nearly as much. There has been a bit of germination but no great.
If you have no rain forecast I would give the area a really good water and keep everything crossed that things start to move.

 

Thanks for the responses guys.. I don’t have the batch no/boxes unfortunately. I’ll give it a good watering over the next couple of days and see if that works.