Turf density
Fall fescue over-seeding
Drops new tall fescue seed into an aerated, topdressed surface in the fall window, when soil is warm and the seed has two cool seasons to establish.
The problem it solves
The lawn thinned out over the summer, there are bare patches where fescue died back, and weeds are filling the gaps faster than the grass is.
What actually happens
New tall fescue seed is applied into an aerated, topdressed surface so it lands in soil contact rather than on thatch. Seed sitting on a hard compacted surface germinates poorly and dies in the first dry spell; seed that falls into an open aeration hole with compost around it has moisture, contact and protection.
Why it matters here
Tall fescue is a bunch grass. Unlike bermuda it does not spread to fill a gap, so every thin patch stays thin until new seed goes into it. That makes annual fall overseeding a maintenance requirement in a fescue market, not an optional extra.
When it should happen
Mid-September through mid-October in the Triangle. Seed needs warm soil to germinate and cool air to establish, and that overlap is short. Seeding in November means going into winter with immature plants.
What’s included
- Quality tall fescue seed appropriate to the site's sun and shade
- Applied into an aerated and topdressed surface, which is what makes the difference to establishment
- Seeding rate set against the lawn's current density, not a flat rate everywhere
- A written watering schedule for the establishment period, because this is the part that decides the outcome
What this will not do
Worth reading before you book. It is cheaper for both of us to find out here than on the day.
- Results depend on watering that we do not control. A lawn that is not watered through establishment will not fill in, and that is the single most common cause of a disappointing result
- We do not guarantee germination percentage on a lawn without irrigation during a dry fall
- This is not a fix for a lawn that is failing because of shade — if there is not enough light, more seed will not change that
- Seeding outside the fall window carries a materially lower success rate and we will tell you so rather than take the money
Priced on treatable square footage, measured from satellite imagery and confirmed on site. Beds, drives and gravel come out of the number. How pricing works.
Usually done together
These belong on the same visit.
Not an upsell — the treatments genuinely work better in combination, and one visit costs less than two.
Compaction
Core Aeration
Pulls thousands of soil cores out of the lawn, opening compacted clay so water, air and roots can move through it again.
Read the detailOrganic matter
Compost Topdressing
Spreads a thin, even layer of certified compost across the turf, raising soil organic matter so the ground holds water instead of shedding it.
Read the detailWant this done on your lawn?
Tell us where it is and what’s wrong with it.
Takes about 2 minutes. Or call (919) 495-5850.