Does your lawn tend to look thin in spots? Would you like it to be a lush green all year long? Then you should consider the practice of lawn improvement called overseeding.

Overseeding means that you plant more seeds than necessary to improve the density of your lawn. By planting more seed than is needed, more seeds will germinate than would otherwise have done and your turf can become much thicker. However, simply throwing some seed on top of your existing grass won’t do the trick. Do really make overseeding work, follow this advice:

Overseed at the right time
Choosing the right time means knowing when the type of grass you are seeding for will germinate best. If you’re overseeding using a cool season grass, do it in the autumn, which is the best growing time for cool season grasses. If you’re using grasses that flourish best in warm weather, overseed in the spring.

Prepare the soil correctly
Rake away all dead, thatched grass and aerate the existing turf if your soil is clay. Testing your soil at this point is a great idea because then you will know exactly what amendments to make to improve soil nutrients and balance pH correctly. Add organic compost or fertilizer if necessary.

Cut it short
Most garden experts advise against mowing grass very short as this can allow seeds to gain a foothold. However, when you are overseeding, you’ll need to mow it quite short to make it easier for the added seed to germinate and begin to grow. The idea is to allow the new seeds as much contact with the soil as possible, and mowing the existing lawn very short helps this to happen.

Seed lavishly
Overseeding means exactly that—using a lot more seed than would normally be required. You should at least plant double the amount of seed you would plant if you were planting the seeds on soil unencumbered by existing turf.

Pamper your new grass
Don’t be deceived by the presence of existing turf grasses. Your new little grass sprouts need tender loving care to ensure they thrive and grow. They are every bit as delicate as a brand new lawn. Use protective mulch; apply good organic compost or fertilizer to enrich soil and support growth and water consistently and sufficiently.

Finally, until your overseeded lawn has reached the point in its growth at which it can stand up to human feet and animal paws, keep off the grass!

No garden is quite complete without at least one or two pieces of garden furniture. Garden furniture is useful not only for creating a focal point in a specific area of your garden, but it’s also handy as a place to actually enjoy all the fruits of your gardening labor.

There are many types of garden furniture, and these also come in a wide variety of styles too. So you can purchase furniture not only for its intended use, but also as a decorative item that fits into your overall garden design and theme.

Some of the most popular types of materials for garden furniture include wood of various types, with Teak wood being preferred due to it’s durability and beauty. Iron garden furniture is also popular, but it can be on the heavy side and it also gets extremely hot in arid climates or exposed areas of the garden. Wicker is another popular material for garden furniture, and it has the benefit of being lightweight while still lending an all natural appeal like that found with wooden furniture.

A garden bench is one of the most popular types of furniture, because it provides beauty as well as a place to sit and enjoy the flowers and plants all through the seasons of the year.

Garden benches are popular in wooden form, because this is a natural material that can withstand the various weather changes encountered outside. Teak wood is especially popular, because it tends to stand up to the weather the best. Iron is another popular material for garden benches, and these not only last for many generations, but they also lend a specific old world, or romantic style to the garden as well.

Some garden benches are made to double as a swing too, so you can lazily rock back and forth in it as you enjoy your garden blooms, textures, and colors. There are also garden benches which are designed to wrap around a tree or bush, and these take up less space in the garden while also providing a beautiful focal point.

If you don’t have room for a garden bench or swing though, a similar piece of garden furniture used for sitting is a garden chair. Many people often buy patio chairs to use as their garden chair, and these can also range in styles and materials they’re made from. Wood and Wicker are still quite popular, as is iron too.

A garden furniture set is another option you may want to consider, because this provides more than one chair along with a table and sometimes an umbrella for shade too. These are quite useful if you want to entertain directly in the garden areas, or if you often have someone who likes to share the beauty of the garden with you.

When choosing your garden furniture, think first about the primary purpose of the piece and where you intend to locate it. If you want the ability to sit outside and enjoy your garden anytime of day or night, you’d want a garden bench or chair - possibly placed under a favorite tree for shade. If on the other hand, you plan to entertain visitors in your garden, you might want a table and chair set in an open grassy area that can handle the additional foot traffic.