Reseeding the Lawn in the Fall: Will it Improve my Grass?

I am no lawn care expert—but, I can clearly see that our front lawn is a wreck.  We have battled dead patches, weed patches, grub worm induced “crop circles” and this past summer’s lovely drought.  We decided it was time to reseed (again) with a seed suited to our ever-changing landscape.  Reseeding the lawn in the fall was our latest do-it-yourself project, but will it improve our grass?

What is the problem with our front yard?  It’s old and worn out.  It has faced three kids, dogs, deer, skunks, and general wear and tear for over twenty years.  We fertilized.  We watered.  We tried to take care of the front yard.  We called in the lawn experts for a couple of years of grub worm battle plans, we aerated and reseeded our front lawn with “shade loving” grass seed since our once sunny front yard had been overtaken by three massive, 20 year old trees over the years.  We saw a little success. We actually had real grass in spots for a season or two. Then a winter ice storm took down one twenty year old tree.  Our yard became a little sunnier.  Then a fall windstorm took down another twenty year old tree.  The front yard became lots sunnier.  Then Mother Nature refused to allow rain for about three months straight this summer.  Now, this fall, our front lawn is virtually sunbaked, dead, and dried out.  The shade loving/sun loving/mixed up grass that we had struggled with for years gave up this summer in a few massive patches.    

 What was the expert, lawn care advice?  We needed to either start over and do a complete front yard “rehabilitation”, so to speak, or give yet another attempt at aeration and reseeding—with grass seed more suited to the front yard’s changed environment.  We also needed to add some nutrient rich soil to our old, rocky, “dead” soil, and keep the critters off the lawn to allow the new grass seedlings a shot at life.  Well—the aeration, soil additions, and reseeding were all easy enough—and we can keep the kids out of the yard.  Now we just need to wait and see if the grass can withstand all of our suburban deer, skunk, rabbit, and kitty cat traffic!

 Will reseeding the lawn in the fall improve my grass?  Lots of lawn care companies recommended that we reseed in the fall rather than the spring for better results in our situation.  (Believe me--I have someone trying to sell me a lawn care contract at least once a week!)  So, we are giving a spot-reseeding to one of the worst areas of the lawn.  The husband actually spent his day yesterday on the task.  Only time will tell.  We’ll post an update as the seedlings sprout—or fail to sprout—weather and skunk willing.   

Disclosure:  I am not a lawn care expert--nor have I been paid by any company to offer advice or endorsements.  I just wanted to let my readers know what we are up to--and what happens when I'm out of the kitchen for a day or two!