New lawn - should I overseed?

Hello everyone!

At the end of November we had new turf installed and had to leave it over winter. 5-6 months later, I'm glad to see it hasn't died and generally looks like it's taking quite well.



In shady areas though (along the fence lines) it's noticeable that the grass looks a bit thin and patches of earth can be seen.



Would I be sensible to overseed it? Is there any shade-tolerant seed you'd recommend? Many thanks.

 

Your lawn looks fine to me @Temmy, I wouldn’t be worried. As the temperature starts to improve any patches will soon disappear as your grass grows.

 

For a new lawn that’s been through one of the wettest winters on record, that’s looking great .., Id be very pleased with that.

 

You can get shade tolerant seed from many outlets/online, personally I'd get a mixed seed with shade loving grasses - but give it another couple of months at least, because I agree, it looks good.

 

Thanks all. I'll leave it be through the summer and give it a chance to grow. I will be adding some wildflowers in though. Really want to add a bit of colour and do something for pollinators.

 

Adding wildflowers to a lawn successfully is a tricky thing as the conditions needed by most wildflowers are totally different to those needed by grass.
In my experience it’s much better all around to grow the flowers in a border.

 

I agree with what @Dovefromabove has said. Many wildflowers aren't suitable to being just plonked in either, so they have to be grown on as small plants and then put in.
It would probably be easier to create a nice border - and you can add another later on if you want, and plant with a variety of easy bulbs and perennials which are suited to your conditions and the site. Having something flowering from as early in the year as possible, to as late as possible, will be the most beneficial.
If you want - a small pond and some bird feeders will all add to the space and be helpful to other wildlife as well

 

I agree, it looks good. And I agree about the difficulty in adding wildflowers. It also means going no-mow for a good part of the spring and summer, which means when you do cut the grass down it'll be yellow and stubbly and patchy like a cut hay meadow. That might be OK for you, but maybe not as you are already concerned about being able to see a little bit of soil in the lawn.

 

If you keep your lawn as a lawn @Temmy and maintain it well, you'll build up a population of earthworms beneath which the blackbirds will thank you for, so you'll still be encouraging wildlife!

 

Yes, wildflowers like poor soil, so your lovely new stuff wouldn't suit them. But I see a bit of sunshine by the wall there where where flowers could go, or you could put pots or troughs in for them with old garden soil.

 

Hi @Temmy , Introducing biodiversity is a good thing, in particular if you live in urban area.

I have an idea, possibly a (very) bad one. You could perhaps arm yourself with a plastic bag, some damp toilet tissue and a digging weapon (a teaspoon should do the trick), and start digging up lawn Daisies from a park lawn. Daisies should transplant easily, after all they are weeds.

Keeping the mower blades on highest setting should allow them to establish well.

If you get arrested or after some years change your mind, please blame someone else for the suggestion.

Daisy lawn looks lovely, and is great for insects and kids alike.

 

Don’t dig up any plants from a public park, or from any other place that does not belong to you. It’s against the law. All wild plants are protected.


LANCASHIRE POLICE - Lancashire Constabulary

 

Ox eye daisies don't mind richer soil - in fact, they love it, but they get bigger because of it.

 

It's great to hear your new turf is taking well, despite the winter! For those shady spots by the fence, overseeding is indeed a wise move. It'll help fill in those thin areas and give you a lush, even lawn. For shade, you'll want a seed mix specifically designed to thrive with less sunlight.

I have a north facing garden and have a similar problem but I've had good results with this grass seed:Grass Seed mix for Shade UK | Best for shady, wet areas - 70% fescue | TRG. It's tailored for areas that don't get as much light, perfect for those tricky spots along fences.

Hope this helps!