The slice seeder, power seeder and renovator are all the same basic machine.
Like Chet said, it slices grooves, drops seed and works the seed into the
soil in one pass. This is a very good machine to use on the entire lawn or
just problem areas. The key to any seeding job is soil contact. You can get
80% or better germination with slit seeding as opposed to 50%-60% with
aeration and overseeding just because of the better contact.

I use a power seeder in lawns that have had problems with weeds and
crabgrass. I run it over the problem areas without any seed in the hopper to
get rid of the crabgrass "skeletons", then rake off the thatch. Add seed and
run over the areas again two times, the second pass at a diagonal to the
first. (The grass fills in quicker this way than if you make perpendicular
passes. Don't rake off any more thatch - at least not until the seed has
rooted good. This way, you don't need to cover with straw.

You're in New England, so I assume you have a bluegrasss lawn or maybe a
bluegrass/fescue blend. When getting your seed, go to a reputable dealer
instead of using the cheaper WalMart / K-Mart / Hardware store seed. Tested
germination rates should be around 90% and weed content should be 0%. Early
spring seeding would probably do ok for you. Bluegrass starts germinating at
around 60 degrees, fescue a little warmer. Get a blend of the grass type you
prefer. Don't go with one seed variety - you'll be setting yourself up for
some problems. In a two-way or three-way blend you hedge your bets. If one
type is susceptible to a certain problem - disease, drought, insect - the
others are usually resistant. That's the way the good companies blend them.

I get my seed from Lesco. In Ohio, the bluegrass blends did fine. Here in
Tennessee, I'm using tall fescue blends and they're doing fine.Make sure you
use preemergent in the spring to head off the crabgrass. Just make sure if
you seed in the spring that it is up and has been cut twice before putting
the preemergent out.

Hope this helps.

Barry

"Chet Hayes" wrote in message
om...
You can rent a slice seeder at most tool rental places. It's a walk
behind, gas powered machine that slices grooves in the soil and drops
the seed in them which gives good germination. It's the best way to
overseed any larger size areas or to establish a new lawn.

Like Peter advised, it's too late this season to do this. In your
area, the best time would be early Sept. If you can make it through
another season, I'd wait till then. If you try to do it in spring,
make sure you start as early as possible. It's more difficult because
you will have weeds to compete with, require more water, and there is
less time for the grass to become established before hot, dry weather.

Another thing you want to decide is whether what is there is worth
keeping. For example, if what you have is a grass that is rougher than
you would like, disease prone, etc., then the solution is to kill the
whole thing with Roundup about a week before reseeding it. Once you
start on a project like this, it's not that much more work. You want
the best grass seed you can find, preferably one that is endophyte
enhanced.