How to Overseed Your Lawn Without Wasting Your Time Aerating

Planting the seed of a simple DIY with a big payoff

Siblings playing soccer in the yard
Photo: FluxFactory / E+ / Getty Images
Siblings playing soccer in the yard
Photo: FluxFactory / E+ / Getty Images
SKILL LEVEL
Simple
COMPLETION TIME
3 hours
COST
$50–$100
Get quotes from up to 3 pros!
Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you.
Geo Icon
What you'll need:
TOOLS
  • Dethatching tool
  • Rake
  • Watering system
  • Lawn mower
  • Seed spreader (optional)
SUPPLIES
  • Lawn fertilizer
  • Grass seed

Having the perfect lawn takes work, time, and money. A lush and flawless lawn is well worth it for some, but for others, near perfect with less work is just fine. Ready to do less, spend less, and achieve almost perfect results? Here’s how to overseed a lawn without aerating it beforehand.

Before Overseeding Your Lawn

Before you spend time and money overseeding your lawn, it’s worth considering what’s going on with your lawn. Are the bare patches and yellowing blades a result of pests, overwatering, or just bad luck?

While overseeding will lead to more growth in the short term, if there’s a long-term issue plaguing your lawn, it’s just a bandage on a bigger issue. Addressing bigger issues with the lawn before overseeding gives you a higher chance of success. 

If you’re ready to overseed your lawn, move on to the first step. 

  1. Select Grass Seed

    Hand holding grass seeds
    Photo: Wavetop / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

    Not all grass seeds are the same. Depending on where you live and what grass has already taken root on your lawn, you’ll want to pick the right seed to take root.

    When purchasing your seed, it’s better to over-buy than under-buy. You won’t run into issues over spreading seeds during the overseeding process, but putting too little down could result in a patchy lawn.

  2. Pick the Perfect Time

    Using hands to spread grass seeds on the lawn
    Photo: Imagesines / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

    Generally, you can overseed a lawn any time of the year, but you might want to pick a several-week period where you can avoid foot traffic on the newly seeded sections.

    For some, depending on the size of the yard, this might mean overseeding in sections instead of doing the lawn all at once.

  3. Mow the Lawn

    Using push mower to mow the lawn
    Photo: fotokostic / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

    When you overseed without aerating your lawn, you’ll want your grass as short as possible to start. That means mowing it so it stands between 1 1/2 to 2 inches tall.

    The low grass will give the seed the best chance of reaching the soil and taking root. Keeping the grass low also means it’ll be several weeks before you need to mow it again, cutting down on foot traffic.

  4. Rake or Dethatch

    Using electric dethatcher on the lawn
    Photo: BanksPhotos / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

    While you don’t need to aerate the lawn, you’ll need to rake or dethatch the freshly mowed grass. If you’re using a manual rake or dethatcher, just drag it along the lawn the same way you’d rake leaves. In the case of a motorized dethatcher, push the rake across the yard in a criss-cross pattern. 

    Dethatching your lawn will remove any dead grass, making it easy for new seed to take root.

  5. Plant the Grass Seed

    Gardener spreading grass seeds on the lawn
    Photo: jamievanbuskirk / E+ / Getty Images

    Use your hands, a push spreader, or a hand spreader to distribute grass seed across your lawn, paying close attention to areas with bald patches or thinning grass. Spread half the seeds in one direction and the other half perpendicular to the previous direction to create a pattern. This can encourage fuller coverage.

  6. Gently Rake

    Using rake to spread grass seeds
    Photo: mtreasure / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

    Use a garden rake to comb over the areas you spread seeds in. This can help the seeds reach the soil and prevent them from being eaten by a bird or swept away during watering. Rake in all directions to avoid dragging seeds toward a single spot.

  7. Fertilize

    Using spreader to fertilize lawn
    Photo: brebca / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

    Using manufacturer’s guidelines, use a spreader to fertilize the overseeded portions of your lawn. You should use about 2 pounds of fertilizer for every 1,000 square feet of overseeded lawn. 

    Depending on the type of grass you have and your preferences, you can choose between an organic or synthetic fertilizer.

  8. Water and Wait

    Using nozzle to water the lawn
    Photo: Maksud_kr / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

    Now, it’s time to water and wait for your seeds to take root. 

    Aim to water your lawn two to three times a day. Water the overseeded areas in spurts, taking care not to overwater them. They’ll benefit from small watering sessions several times a day. This is when an irrigation system or a garden hose can come in handy.

    During this time, avoid walking on the lawn whenever possible. Keep children and pets off the grass, and step gently on the area only if necessary. 

    You’ll likely need to stick to this watering routine for several weeks (up to four) until you see signs of the grass seed germinating.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro 

While you can hire a professional landscaper to overseed your lawn without aerating, it’s unlikely that they offer that service. That’s because overseeding without aerating is technically skipping a step in the process. What’s more likely is a professional landscaper will want to include aerating in the treatment package.

On average, professional lawn aeration costs $75 to $225, with overseeding adding a charge of $100 to $160. Alternatively, if a landscaper did agree to overseed without aerating, they’d still need to dethatch your lawn, which costs between $160 and $225.

Whether you hire a pro or DIY, you’ll still have to water the lawn after, which might be the biggest time commitment. And if you choose to do it yourself, you could spend hours laboriously aerating your lawn, so you might want to find a lawn aeration pro near you if you’d rather spend your weekend relaxing.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can overseed during any season, but the best time is late summer or early fall. You can still overseed your lawn during spring or winter, but seeds are less likely to take root at this time. However, if your lawn has to be torn up for any reason, that’s an ideal time to seed.

Yes, you can overseed your lawn without aerating it, but results may vary. If you have the time, dethatching or aerating your lawn before overseeding will yield the best results. Overseeding your lawn without aerating will work, but less seed will take root. For the best possible results, aerate your lawn before overseeding it.

Yes, you can throw seed on a lawn and hope it grows, but taking a few steps beforehand, such as dethatching, aerating, or raking, will give the seed a better chance of germinating. While it sounds like it’ll save time, throwing seed on the lawn without doing anything will require much more seed than any other method.

Need professional help with your project?
Get quotes from top-rated pros.
The homeowners guide to lawn services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
House and beautiful garden
Feb 5, 2025
Feb 5, 2025
The cost to renovate your lawn depends on the extent of the damage. Our guide will show you how much lawn renovation costs.
Lawn care professional mowing the lawn
Feb 10, 2025
Feb 10, 2025
Your total lawn care cost depends on several factors, including the type of service and lawn size. Our guide will cover what you can expect to pay for lawn care.
Nicely landscaped back yard
Feb 5, 2025
Feb 5, 2025
The average lawn mowing cost runs between $50 and $200 depending on factors like your lawn’s size and shape. Here’s what to expect.
large house with fresh cut lawn
Feb 26, 2025
Feb 26, 2025
When it comes to regular lawn care service—mowing, trimming, weed killing, and other landscaping—don’t settle for anything but the best; here’s how to find it.
Closeup of a green lawn
Feb 22, 2025
Feb 22, 2025
Dreaming of a lush lawn but don’t want to wait for seed to grow? Use these sod questions to prep yourself for an easy and stress-free installation.
Brother and sister running in the front yard
Feb 26, 2025
Feb 26, 2025
Learn how to grow grass fast to get the lush lawn of your dreams. From the best time to plant to choosing the right seed, here’s the quickest way to grow grass.
Share project details to get started.