Two lawn equipment that has always been on the mind of the gardeners are slice seeder and over seeder. And if you are being reminiscent of how green and lush your yard used to be, you might need one of these two pieces of equipment.
A slice seeder and an over seeder aid in the efficient spread of grass seeds.
But you might be wondering which one to get: a slice seeder or an overseeder. The best way to decide would be to understand both types of equipment, their advantages and disadvantages, and their differences.
So, today we will focus on the differences between a slice seeder and an overseeder to determine which one is preferable. Our investigation will cover their definition, distinctions, pricing, and pros and cons.
Let’s initiate our comparative evaluation by focusing on the main distinctions between the two items.
What is a Slice Seeder?
To begin, what exactly is a slice seeder?
A slice seeder is a machine that helps in slice seeding! Not enough? So, let’s get into the explanation style.
Slice seeding or slit seeding is seeding your yard or lawn. A slice seeder is used to carry out this process by cutting 1/2″ to 1″ deep slices in the ground into which grass seeds are slid. The slices made by the slice seeders allow grass seeds to touch the soil and sprout quickly and easily.
Slice seeding is a robust method of seeding your lawn that should be used on lawns that requires a thorough restoration from scratch.
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How To Overseed A Lawn Using A Slice Seeder?
Slice seeders use vertically rotating discs to bore slits into the ground, where the seeds are deposited.
The grass has to be cut at the height of 1 to 2 inches. If there is a substantial layer of debris and matter on the lawn, it needs to be dethatched. The soil then has to be aerated. Adjust the blades of the slice seeder to penetrate the earth to a quarter of an inch depth. The slice seeder can now be run over the lawn. Repeat the process of running it across the lawn. Half of the seeds may be used at both times.
What is an Over Seeder?
An overseeder is a machine that aids in distributing grass seeds into the soil directly. It is used on thin and patchy areas of a lawn or yard. An overseeder does not remove anything from the lawn or start from scratch.
It simply works by scattering grass seeds over a previously established grassy area. However, before using this machine, another step is required: aeration. It is a procedure for loosening up the soil.
An over seeder would assist you in keeping your lawn greener and lusher all year. The best part is that you can implement over seeding on an existing grass lawn.
How To Prepare Your Lawn For Overseeding?
Before you go overseeding, you need to know why preparation is essential. The process makes a lot of difference to the appearance of the grass after the actual overseeding has taken place.
You need to pick grass seeds compatible with the grass type on the lawn. Next, the soil must be checked for missing any crucial nutrients. Mow the yard to the lower levels of grass, and then water it down.
After moistening, the soil needs to be treated with a lawn aerator. This would create gaps in the ground for the seeds to fall through. A bit of composting would be handy but optional.
How To Overseed A Lawn Using An Overseeder?
The overseeder needs to be attached to the tractor since it is more significant than your average lawn mower. The seed will have to be applied at the right rate, and after that, the dispersal rate has to be adjusted as per the requirement of the garden. There will be a lever in the overseeder to adjust the blades’ depth; they should be set at half an inch into the topsoil.
While operating the machine, it should be in a natural motion where it feels that the overseeder is pulling the operator along. Maneuver the tractor in a straight line, and maintain a decent speed limit.
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Slice Seeder vs. Over Seeder: Marking the Differences
After you’ve figured out what a slice seeder and an over seeder are, it’s time to dig into some of their differences. In this section, we will look at their pricing and other factors.
Aeration
When soil is left unruffled for an extended duration, it becomes solid and tough, restricting the flow of water and nutrients to plant roots. As a result, aerating the soil is critical. This method loosens compact soil by puncturing it with tiny holes that permit air, water, and nutrients to reach the grassroots.
If you use an overseeder on your lawn, you will need to perform soil aeration. Overseeding can only be done properly after the soil has been aerated. Because overseeding spreads seeds on the ground surface, the likelihood of seeds making proper soil contact is low. As a result, aerating the soil may aid in placing the seeds into the perforated soil, increasing the chances of germination.
On the other hand, a slice seeder does not require separate soil aeration. Because this equipment makes deep slices in the ground, the soil is already loosened. As a result, grass seeds could be placed in the slices for better soil contact. In other words, this method accelerates germination, promotes proper root formation, and encourages stronger turf growth.
Verdict: Aeration is an added step for over seeding the lawn.
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Weed Management
Overseeding a weed-infested lawn right away may cause more harm than good. As a result, it is a good idea to kill and remove weeds before you begin overseeding. And as previously mentioned, aerating the soil is one of the best ways to manage weeds.
In this context, it is worth noting that using an overseeder can help manage weeds on the lawn. How? The thick turf often prevents weeds from spreading because an overseeder spreads grass seeds on an already established grassland.
On the other hand, a slice seeder may diffuse weeds all across the lawn with its blades. Because it comes into contact with land to slice it, there is a good chance that the internal weed will spread through its slicing blades. Therefore, to control weed spread on your lawn, you may need proper weed control.
Verdict: Overseeding does not spread the issue of weeds on the lawn.
Lawn Preparation
It is always a good idea to prepare your lawn ahead of time to maximize the success of greening it.
Check the soil and apply a suitable fertilizer to your lawn before implementing slice seeding. Also, before using the slit or slice seeder, remove any rocks or other debris from the area and level the soil. Doing so will aid in the easier slicing of land with your machine without encountering any obstacles. Also, the night before using the slice seeder, moisturize your lawn with 1 to 2 inches of water.
However, if you intend to overseed your lawn, the first step is to aerate the soil. We already have a section on soil aeration. Please see that for more information. It is recommended that you water your lawn before beginning the aeration process.
Remember that the effectiveness of the overseeder is highly dependent on adequately aerating your lawn to increase the chances of your seeds dropping into the tiny perforations for better sprouting.
Also, mowing and weeding your lawn soil is an important pre-overseeding step that should not be overlooked. If you want to add compost to your soil after aeration, don’t go farther than a 1/4-inch. This is an optional step, however.
Verdict: The use of over seeder requires some unavoidable land preparations.
Ease of Use
True, we don’t want a patchy and dried-up lawn. It is always preferable to have a greener lawn. That being said, we always prefer an easier way to achieve a beautiful lawn. So, which machine is more versatile: a slice seeder or an overseeder?
A slice seeder is simple to operate. Begin by determining how much land needs to be seeded and how much seeds are required. Next, fill your slice seeder with the pile of grass seed. Then, walk the seeder in a single direction from one end to the other of the lawn. The seeder makes furrows in the soil and places seeds in them, keeping a distance of 2 to 6 inches between each hole.
Once you’ve finished horizontally, repeat the process crosswise until every square inch has a newly sown grass seed row. The adjustable blades of the seeder will assist you in creating furrows at various depths as needed. On the other hand, learning to adjust the blades properly may take some time.
An overseeder, on the other hand, is a simple seed broadcasting machine. To begin, load your machine with as many seeds as you intend to sow, depending on your lawn size. Then adjust the delivery faucet to manipulate the desired seed flow.
Next, ignition system, adjust the drive power, open the seed diffuser, and begin broadcasting the seeds! That’s all! This process requires no adjusting of blades and is simple enough for a novice gardener to execute.
However, this method necessitates some land preparations that cannot be avoided.
Verdict: An overseeder is a more straightforward machine than a slice seeder.
Maintenance
We understand how aggravating it can be when your lawn equipment causes you to lose sleep over maintenance. Hence, it is ideal for investigating the level of maintenance required by a slice seeder and an overseeder.
Because a slice seeder has blades, it requires more maintenance. Therefore, cleaning the blades after each use is critical to preserve their sharpness. In addition, your slice seeder could become a breeding ground for fungus and other gunk if you don’t clean it every time after using it.
On the other hand, an overseeding machine does not require much upkeep.
Verdict: An overseeder is easier to maintain.
Germination
Checking the germination rate is critical to determining how lush your lawn will be at the end. A slice seeder, in this regard, would have the upper hand. Because this machine perforates the land and places grass seeds in it, they are likely to contact the soil directly. As a result, the germination rate in this method is quite high. Nothing will move the seeds from their sowing location.
An overseeder, on the other hand, only broadcasts the seeds, which may not diffuse every single seed in the correct location. Although soil aeration improves seed-soil contact, the overall germination rate in this method is quite low.
Verdict: With a slice seeder, you would get a higher seed germination rate.
Price
Let’s move on to the pricing section. This section had to be included because we all have a set budget.
The brand and seller determine the cost of both products you select. However, in general terms, a slice seeder comes with a higher price tag than an overseeder.
That said, both the slice seeder and the over seeder are available online and at a local garden supply store. If you already own an old over seeder, you can get its body parts reasonably.
Slice Seeder vs. Over Seeder: Pros and Cons
It’s now time to shed the limelight on the pros and cons of a slice seeder and an over seeder. There is no doubt that both these products are great in their respective field of usage, yet there are certain things we liked and disliked about them.
It’s now time to shed the limelight on the pros and cons of a slice seeder and an over seeder. There is no doubt that both these products are great in their respective field of usage, yet there are certain things we liked and disliked about them.
Slice Seeder
Pros
- More effective in aiding in seed germination.
- Does not require any aeration of the soil beforehand.
- Effectively remove thatch from the soil.
- It uses fewer seeds per square inch.
- Adjustable blades for manipulating planting depth.
- Almost no seed displacement.
- Allows direct seed and soil contact.
- It creates perfect seeding spots.
- Good for a total renovation of the land from scratch.
Cons
- It might cause internal weed spread.
- Blades require more maintenance.
- Learning to adjust blade height could take some time.
- This machine is good for intense landscaping, more than just seeding grass seeds.
- It might destroy the already grown grass.
- It might affect the aesthetic value of the lawn
- Costly resurfacing of your entire lawn ground.
- If furrows are not filled properly, the seeds could get destroyed.
- Pouring fertilizers in the holes requires precision.
Over Seeder
Pros
- It is easy to use.
- It is easy to maintain.
- Does not damage the aesthetic value of the lawn.
- It is a cost-effective method.
- Since aeration of the lawn is necessary, water and nutrients get better absorbed.
- You can use this machine in all weather conditions.
- No structural damage to the soil.
- t does not cause the issue of internal weeding.
- It does not interfere with the roots of the already grown plants.
Cons
- It has a low germination rate, as seeds do not get into direct contact with the soil.
- The added step of aeration is a must before using an over seeder. Hence, extra time and effort are required.
- Spreading seeds can attract birds, transforming your lawn into a bird haven. This can be harmful to other crops on your lawn.
- It requires a lot of seeds.
- Results may take more time to achieve.
- Added steps like mowing is a must for over seeding.
- Over seeding is not a great option for a total renovation of the lawn.
Which One Stands the Best?
Now the final question- which one stands the best?
We cannot answer the question in a straight yes or no. After going through all the differences, pros, and cons of both machines, we should state that the answer would depend on the users’ needs.
To be more specific, a slice seeder is typically used only when the lawn owner wishes to renovate the lawn completely. Remember that after using this equipment, you will need to spend some extra time recreating the aesthetic appearance of your lawn. Furthermore, because it is more expensive, it is not widely used.
An overseeder, on the other hand, is ideal for plumping a slender lawn with an established grass area. This equipment is also reasonably priced. It is, however, only ideal if a high germination rate is not on your wish list.
As a result, we can confirm that the best of these two overseeding machines is dependent on your lawn situation. Therefore, please use the information provided to choose the best for your lawn.
The Takeaway
This concludes our discussion of the differences between a slice seeder and an over seeder. We hope you now have a clear understanding of both of these pieces of equipment and can make an informed purchase decision. If you liked our post, please share it with your friends and family, especially if they need help learning about this topic.
FAQs
Strictly speaking, aeration is mandatory only if you decide to go for overseeding. How the slice seeder is used causes slices to appear in the soil leading to soil perforations.
Aeration should be sufficient if the grass cover on the lawn is even and seems lush. However, if the grass growth is not good and requires rejuvenation, slice seeding is a better option to restore the cover.
In short, the judgment has to be taken based on the existing condition of the lawn.
Garden owners often have doubts when it comes to the use of overseeders. It might often appear to be little more than throwing expensive seed away, with precious little appearing in return. The assumption is that germination rates are not increased by that much.
As far as the benefits are concerned, overseeding is recommended to keep thinning lawns from dying out. Spreading seed on the soil helps to restore the lawn to a healthier state. It can also be a natural way of preventing the onset of insects, pests, plant diseases, etc.
Two weeks.
If you go for mowing right after slice seeding, there is the risk of crushing the new plants. A waiting period of at least two weeks is recommended. Using a plant growth regulator along with the mower would be advisable, slowing down the grass growth.