Finding The Source Of The Problem
My Lawn Is Thin All Over
When your lawn is thin all over, it can be a combination of different environmental factors such as extreme weather conditions and insufficient watering or feeding. Thinking long-term, it would be best to have a care regimen for your lawn to ensure that it is fed and watered well regularly. In the meantime, you can aerate and feed your lawn with fertiliser and apply moisture-retaining soil products to revive the grass.
What If You Plan To Add A Lot Of Topsoil To Your Bare Patch
If youre adding a fair amount of topsoil, you will be better off seeding in the late Summer or early Fall. The reason for this is that topsoil carries a lot of weed seeds that will sprout prolifically in the Spring and Summer. Keep the area wet for 3-4 weeks to get the grass to sprout and water it a couple times per week until it is fully established.
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How To Repair Bare Spots
The cause, of course, determines the cure.
If the bare spots are dog spots, Churchill suggests flushing the area with water to move excess salt through the soil. Afterward, prepare the soil for repair by scratching it up, even adding in some new soil to make the area level with the rest of the lawn.
If the cause of the bare spot is disease or other growth issues, Churchill says to scruff up the straw or dust from the dead area, add new soil and mix into the existing soil. Then overseed the area and water in as you would with new grass seed. If the area is bigger, you may want to consider sprigging or sodding to fill the bare spots. Generally, reseeding the spots will do.
Once you repaired the bare spots, Churchill says you shouldnt need to change maintenance practices, other than spot-irrigating the areas that were reseeded, sprigged or sodded.
Remedying The Soil Problem
Reseeeding
Using existing runners
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It’s High Time To Fix Low Spots In Your Lawn
Have you noticed that your lawn is uneven? Does your lawnmower glide across your yard like a figure skater or bounce along scalping your turf from time to time due to dips and low spots. Low spots can be caused by tree stump removal, drainage problems, animals, and ant mounds, but dont worry. This is fixable, and you can do it!
In this post, we will share everything you need to know to fix low spots in your yard. We will cover two options.
- Option 1: Topdressing to fix small dips and bumps that keep your lawn from looking smooth and could even cause your lawnmower to burn spots in the turf.
- Option 2:Remove pieces of your sod, fill the low spots, and patch.
So lets get started!
How To Plant Grass Seed In Bare Spots
Seeding bare spots in lawn areas is a simple task that can be completed in just a few hours. It can take several weeks for new seed to turn into green grass, but the wait is definitely worth it.
Before you seed the area, get down and dirty by pulling weeds and removing any dead grass from the area. Grab a rake and roughen the soil in the bare spot and surrounding area. This will give the seeds a better chance to work into the soil and establish their roots quickly.
The best way to avoid overplanting which causes weak and spindly grass plants is to mix one part seed and three parts potting soil in a bucket. This gives you a seed application rate of approximately 10 to 15 seeds per square inch and results in the healthiest-looking grass patch repair.
Spread the seed and soil mixture evenly over the bare soil and slightly into the surrounding grass area. A slight overlap is just fine you dont want to see any evidence of the patch job once the grass grows back in.
Covering grass seed isnt necessary, but it can be helpful to give the seeds a boost of nutrients with a light covering of fine compost. Once covered, gently walk over the area and tamp the seeds down into the soil.
Seeding bare spots can often draw in songbirds looking for a free meal. If you have a large bird population, you might want to add a loose layer of straw over the seed just until it germinates. Remove the covering as soon as seedlings appear, or you may weaken the young plants.
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Why Is My Grass Brown
Brown spots in grass have various causes. Some of the most common include:
- Dormant Grass: Grass, especially in northern climates, will go dormant during long droughts. This state of dormancy is a survival mechanism and will turn the grass a brownish color. After a good watering, either from rain or a sprinkler system, the dormant grass will turn green again.
- Pet Spots: Dog urine spots, or pet spots, are caused by Fido using the bathroom in one concentrated spot on your lawn. The chemicals in the urine can damage or kill the grass. If you cant train your pet to go elsewhere, rinse the area with water when it has finished doing its business.
- Thatch: Thereâs a layer between your grass and soil composed of organic matter like dead grass, leaves, etc. This is called thatch and, while a little bit is beneficial, too much of it can starve your soil of water and oxygen.
- Lawn Fungus: There are many different lawn fungus types that attack and kill your grass. Like other types of fungus, they thrive in cool, moist, shaded environments. Well talk more about them below.
- Dead Grass: If dormant grass goes too long without water or lawn fungus is left untreated, the grass will eventually die. You can tell whether grass is dead or dormant by pulling on it. If it comes out easily, it is dead.
Out of those common causes of brown spots in grass, lawn fungus is the most sinister . Thats why well cover how to prevent and treat lawn diseases below.
How To Fix Lawn Bald Spots
If youre looking at your neighbours bowling green-like lawn with envy while yours is worse for wear, then its time to point the finger at your pampered pooch. While there are many reasons why youd find a lawn bald spot, your dogs peeing habits are the most common one. Rather than give up altogether and let your lawn look like its suffering through a drought, weve listed some helpful lawn care advice below. Its about time you gave your neighbours lawn a run for its money.
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Why Are There Brown Patches In My Lawn
Brown patches in a lawn may be one of two things. Firstly, your grass may just be dormant in areas, which means it will come back. Or, it could be diseased or dead, and of course it’s important to know the difference before you repair the lawn.
Dormant grass should still have healthy roots so won’t come away if you grab a handful and gently pull it. However, bear in mind that dormant patches will be large, as grass doesn’t become dormant in small, isolated areas. Why does grass become dormant and go brown? These tend to be cold-season grasses that don’t like heat, or warm-season grasses that don’t like the cold once the temperature is more favorable, they will grow green again. To avoid this in future, combine warm- and cool-season grass seed when you sow.
Diseased patches may need diagnosis from a lawn repair professional, who can then deal with whatever is afflicting it.
Dead grass will come away in your hand if you grab a handful and gently pull it. With dead brown patches in grass, you will need to replace the sod or reseed the patch. With dormant patches.
Fill In Bare Patches In The Lawn
If youre filling in patches, be sure to choose lawn seed that will match your existing grass. For example, if your lawn is made of fine-bladed fescues, choose a fine or luxury lawn seed mix, but if its a hard-wearing lawn with thick-bladed ryegrass, a box of general purpose lawn seed will suffice.
In general with lawn seed, the adage that you get what you pay for holds true. Good quality lawn seed will have high germination rates and shouldnt contain rogue grass species, giving you a better lawn in the long run.
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Two: Apply Garden Lime
The reason why your lawn dies after your pet has urinated on it is that the ammonia in the urine is exceptionally acidic. Your grass doesnt like this and dies as a result. Even by removing the grass, you are not able to achieve growth while the soil is still acidic. Therefore, you need to go to a garden store and purchase a bag of garden lime.
Take note of how much damage there is so you know what bag to buy. However, theres no harm in having some left over for lawn care and maintenance later on down the track. Once youve purchased the lime, put your gardening gloves back on, grab a handful, then spread it over the lawn bald spot. Ensure that you cover the entire area evenly to balance your soil and promote growth.
How To Fix A Dead Lawn
There are many ways on how to restore a dead lawn. Lawn restoration starts with healthy soil. Removing thatch and weed build-up, aerating your soil and adding in nutrients by watering well and using fertiliser are all important in reviving your lawn.
If youre still unsure on how to repair your lawn and fix bare or thinning patches, you can ask your local lawn service provider for assistance. Getting professional help for your lawn can be the best thing you can do for your thinning or patchy lawn. You can be sure that your lawn care professionals will properly diagnose your lawn and have the right treatment carried out.
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How To Repair Your Lawn To Fix Bare Patches
by Jamie Donovan | Jun 13, 2022 | Yard Tips
A thick, gorgeous lawn doesnt happen by itself.
When you have foot traffic from people and pets, wear and tear can take its toll on your grass and make your lawn look patchy. The next thing you know, weeds will start growing on these patches. What youll be left with is an unsightly lawn you wont get to enjoy.
What to do now? Kick your worries to the kerb because were giving you our best lawn repair tips on how to fix bare patches like a pro.
How To Make Lawn Repairs
Once you address the cause of the bare spots in the lawn, its time to restore those spots so they match the rest of your lawn. In most cases, the best way to repair those bare spots is to replant them with grass.
Whether you use grass seed or sod, you must first dig up the soil to be planted. Loosen it with a shovel and add some good topsoil to give the new grass a good start. Level the area off to match the ground level of the surrounding lawn.
Lawn Repairs With Grass Seed
There is more than one way to make lawn repairs with grass seed. The simplest is to buy a bag of lawn patch with fertilizer and mulch pre-blended in. Cover the bare areas with grass seed and then be sure to keep it wet while the seed germinates, sprouts and gets established in your lawn.
How To Repair Bare Spots With Sod
Sod is sections of established grass. If you use it, be sure to keep it wet until you can install it. Cut pieces to fit the bare spots in your lawn, and lay them down. Make sure that the sod has good contact with the soil bed you prepared ahead of time. Water well!
Trying to improve an area of your lawn that grows in shade? Check out my grass-growing tips for shady areas.
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How To Repair A Lawn With Seed
If your lawn seems thin all over, try overseeding it. The basics are the same as patching.
Fix Your Spotty Grass Now
Spotty grass can make your otherwise lush turf look neglected. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to fix those balding patches of grass.
Whether you prefer the immediate gratification of laying sod in the bald spots, the cost savings of letting it fix itself, or something in between, the key is getting started now. The sooner you begin repairing those bald spots, the quicker your lawn will get back to its full, lush self.
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What Causes Bare Spots In My Lawn
If you notice Bare Spots in your otherwise lush, green and healthy lawn, they could be the result of excessive foot traffic, poor soil conditions, pet urine, grub infestation, chemical spills, fungal disease, buried rocks, or a variety of other things. Several approaches exist to effectively patch these Bare Spots, however, it’s important to understand and address the underlying cause, so that this same problem doesn’t continue to manifest in your lawn. If you’re uncertain about the catalyst for your Bare Patches, give us a call or submit a question and we can offer some insight.
What Causes Bare Spots In The Lawn
Bare spots in your lawn can have several causes. They are:
- High foot-traffic areas
- Disease or pests, such as grubs
- Chemical burns from too much fertilizer or weed killer
- Drought or watering issues
Before you repair bare spots in your lawn, you need to figure out whats causing them and address the source. Thats a big step towards controlling them. In high traffic areas, figure out how to redirect the traffic or diffuse it. Treat grubs or insect infestations, and find and solve issues with under-watering.
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Lawn Repair Seeding Tip
Spread a thin layer of topsoil or straw over the lawn repair area that you’ve just patched with seed. This protects the seed and, later, the sprouts from wind or getting washed away. More importantly, covering the soil reduces moisture loss. A constant supply of moisture is the key to good germination for a repaired lawn.
Choose The Best Lawn Repair Product For Your Lawn
Here are some useful things to remember when buying grass seed, weed killers and pest control products.
- For a quick fix, use multi-purpose lawn seed products. These are convenient, easy to use and contain nutrients that nourish your soil while repairing your lawn at the same time.
- When looking for weed killers, choose one thats appropriate for your grass type. There are also available weed killers that fertilise while doing the job. Youll be left with weed-free healthy green grass after the treatment.
- Use pest control products that kill grubs and parasites but are non-toxic to earthworms. Youll need these little creatures to burrow through and aerate your soil to keep it healthy.
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