Seeding rates by grass
Pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet, from extension publications. Where they give a range, the calculator uses the upper figure; the rate printed on your seed bag comes first.
| Grass | New lawn | Overseeding | Where the figures come from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tall fescue | 6 lb | 4 lb | New lawn 6 lb (UGA). Overseeding 3 to 4 lb (Nebraska); the upper figure is used. |
| Kentucky bluegrass | 2 lb | 2 lb | New lawn 1 to 2 lb (NC State); the upper figure is used. Overseeding about 2 lb (Nebraska). |
| Perennial ryegrass | 6 lb | 5 lb | New lawn 4 to 6 lb (Rutgers); renovating 2 to 5 lb (Penn State). Upper figures are used. |
| Fine fescue | 6 lb | 3 lb | New lawn 4 to 6 lb (Rutgers); overseeding 2 1/2 to 3 lb (Maryland). Upper figures are used. |
| Bermudagrass, hulled seed | 2 lb | Not overseeded | New lawn 1 to 2 lb hulled (UGA); the upper figure is used. Warm-season lawns are not overseeded (Maryland). |
| Bermudagrass, unhulled seed | 6 lb | Not overseeded | New lawn 3 to 6 lb unhulled (UGA); the upper figure is used. |
| Zoysiagrass (seeded) | 2 lb | Not overseeded | Seeded zoysia 1 to 2 lb (Clemson); the upper figure is used. |
| Centipedegrass | 1 lb | Not overseeded | 1/4 to 1 lb (UGA); the upper figure is used. |
| Buffalograss | 5 lb | Not overseeded | 3 to 5 lb (Colorado State); the upper figure is used. |
Overseeding uses less seed
NC State Extension suggests a 25 to 50 percent lower rate when seeding into an existing lawn. The University of Maryland Extension notes that overseeding applies to cool-season lawns such as tall fescue; warm-season lawns are not overseeded.
Prepare the soil first
If the lawn needs new soil before seeding, the topsoil calculator and the compost calculator take the same area.