Planting New Grass And Reviving A Dead Lawn
There are two ways of planting new grass and reviving a dead lawn. The first is to lay down seed. Use a high-quality grass seed and spread it evenly over your prepared lawn. For a larger lawn, you can rent seed spreaders from your local garden store. After the seed is laid down, cover it with a thin layer of soil.
The second method is to lay down sod. Sod is grass that is already growing and comes in rolls or squares with the roots and soil attached. To lay down sod, place it over the soil, making sure each section is set tightly against the one next to it to avoid empty patches. If you are only filling in dead spots, you can use plugs to fill in wherever you need new grass.
Whether you use seed or sod, follow up planting by rolling. Rolling sod helps press it down into the soil so the roots can attach to the ground. Rolling seed helps push the seed down into the earth so it can take root and grow strong.
Test And Fertilize The Soil
To prepare the soil for new sod or grass seed, you need to determine the nutrient levels and adjust them to create the ideal environment for new grass. The best way to find out what your soil needs is to take a sample to your nearest Extension Office for testing. Many offices charge a small fee and return results in just a few days. Results from an Extension Office are often more useful than an at-home test because they usually include fertilizing recommendations. Once you know what your soil needs, go to your local garden store to find the right fertilizer and apply it to your lawn.
Top Tips For Growing Lawn From Seed
When you are planning on growing a new lawn from scratch, there are generally two options to do so: turf or seed. Seed is the less expensive of the two options, and can be a good choice for those not wishing to do the heavy lifting that comes with laying turf. It can also be good for covering up bare patches of ground after weeds have been removed within an already-established lawn. Below are a few tips and tricks for those choosing to grow grass from seed.
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How To Grow Grass Fast
Theres no secret trick to get grass to grow overnight, but here are the top tips to get your grass to grow in thick and lush as fast as it can.
If you wish your lawn would spring up thick, green, and vibrant overnight, youre not alone, but theres simply no secret method of ultra-accelerating grass growth. However, by following a proper process, you can minimize the time it takes to establish your lawn. Choosing the optimal grass type and planting at the ideal time go a long way toward getting the lawn you want.
Whether you choose seed or sod, This Old House has all the tips right here for you. Read on to discover how to grow grass as fast as you can.
To maintain your lawn, we recommend hiring a lawn care company like TruGreen to handle your routine fertilization, weed control, and more. To get a free quote, call 1-866-817-2287 or fill out this simple form.
Lawns Killed By Infestations
It is not unusual for pests and diseases to damage a lawn, but they rarely destroy the whole lawn. If you find patches of dead grass, big or small, it is worth investigating if some insects or fungus are killing your lawn. Take hold of a handful of grass and pull it if it comes away easily, you might be having a disease or pest problem.
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Is It Safe To Use Chemical Fertilizers
Many chemical fertilizers are safe to use on your lawn, but make sure children and animals are kept away from it before it is absorbed.
The wind can blow the fertilizer and if it is ingested in large quantities, it can be toxic. Fortunately, once it is absorbed into the soil naturally or with the help of watering, it should be entirely safe to walk or play on. Just dont over fertilize or you may end up doing more harm than good!
About The Author
Aaron is the founder of and Essential Home and Garden. He likes to spend his spare time with his family, and doing DIY projects in the home and garden.
Start With The Best Type Of Grass For Your Climate
As a professional horticulturist and a former landscaper, Ive seeded dozens of brand-new lawns over the years, and Ive over-seeded bare spots in hundreds more. No matter how large or how small your job is, success always starts with selecting the best grass seed for your region. Different grass species thrive in different climates. There are cool-season grasses and warm-season grasses. The label of the package will tell you which grass varieties are included. It will also tell you whether or not there is a starter fertilizer included. Do not choose a blend that includes weed control products. They could harm young seedlings.
Which grass seed is best for your yard also depends on the amount of sunlight it receives. I suggest contacting a local garden center or feed store and speaking with them about the best options for your region. There are also some useful online maps with all the information youll need to choose the appropriate grass species for your growing conditions if you live in the US.
Some brands of grass seed come blended with a filler product intended to help you distribute the seed evenly and to act as a protective covering. I personally avoid these products because they are more costly than purchasing a bag of high-quality plain seed and they dont cover as large of an area.
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How To Remove Dead Grass From Lawn After Roundup
Roundup is a Glyphosates-based herbicide that works as a non-selective plant killer to remove weeds, shrubs, grass, and other plant species by inhibiting enzyme action. While it is effective, it kills off the grass and leaves brown unsightly patches to huge areas where the grass was lush. The dead foliage inhibits new growth and makes your outdoor space look dead and drab. Removing the dead grass is the first step to reclaiming your lawn after Roundup.
So how do you clear the dead grass to prepare the lawn for a new look?
The most effective methods to remove dead grass after Roundup call for machines. These include
- Dethatching and mowing
- String trimming
- Sod cutting
Alternatively, you can map out small affected areas and manually shovel the dead grass from the lawn.
Use these detailed methods to clear the brown patches of dead grass after exposure to Roundup.
Sod Cutting To Remove Grass
Of all the grass removal methods covered, sod cutting is the most expensive. Sod cutting, however, is the most commercially applicable method if you are dealing with huge tracts of land.
Sod cutting uses a sod cutter to remove strips of grass from the root with some soil attached. Since Roundup kills the grassroots, sod cutting is a great way to clean up the turf before preparing the grounds for new grass.
A manual sod cutter needs you to grab the horizontal handle and use your foot to drive the blade into the soil. You then push forward the sod cutter to remove the strip of grass.
The most affordable option is to rent a sod cutter and remove the grass after using Roundup. A gas-powered sod cutter will give you quicker results and more uniform removal.
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S To Repair Dead Patches In Your Lawn
1. Prepare the Soil: Begin by removing thatch from the area of dead grass using a garden rake or hand rake. Once you get below the layer of thatch, rake the soil to loosen it for the seeds.
2. Spread the Seed Mixture: Following manufacturers instructions on the product, spread the product over the area, being careful not to overseed. The seeds will germinate best when daytime temperatures are between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit .
3. Gently Water: With a garden hose and spray nozzle set to the gentlest setting, water deeply and thoroughly to give the seed the best possible start. Keep moist for up to two weeks when germination occurs. Keep pets and people away from the seeded areas until the grass is restored.
Salt And Chemical Causes
Frequent feeding without good irrigation results in excessive salt build up in the soil. If you notice brown grass along the periphery of the lawn along your driveway or near the street, it could be salt damage from road salt or other de-icers. Salt can burn the grass roots and cause the lawn to die out.
Your pets can cause dead spots in your lawn if they frequently relieve themselves on the grass. The wind can carry the herbicides you or a neighbor uses in nearby flower patches can kill your lawn as does water runoff from treated areas.
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What Does Burnt Grass Look Like
Leaf scorch or leaf burn is when leaves develop brown spots on their tips, looking like the grassblade was burned with fire. Burnt grass can also refer to grass that has been burned by fire.
However, sometimes people use burnt grass to refer to spots that have wholly turned brown, which could be an advanced stage of leaf burn or caused by something else.
Finding the cause of burnt or brown grass requires a bit of detective work. If you have:
- Brown-tipped grass is definitely leaf burn, either from excess nitrogen or heat.
- Brown spots:
- Small straw-coloured patches surrounded by green turf is generally from dog urine.
- The soils pH may be too high/acidic. Use a home soil test kit to determine the pH of the soil under the brown spots. Excess nitrogen can raise the pH level.
- One large brown spot could indicate a problem with one sprinkler. Check if the soil is dry within the top 3 by sticking in a stick or screwdriver and seeing if the end is wet.
- Brown patches with white-tipped grass blades around a place where herbicide was used are generally chemical burn, where herbicide was applied improperly and was spread to other plants.
Dilute Dog Urine Before It Kills Your Turf
‘Dog urine patches are essentially a huge shot of fertilizer on your grass,’ explains David. The problem is, it’s concentrated in one area and is very strong in some dogs, especially females.
The RHS recommends to water affected areas immediately. This will dilute the urine and thus help to reduce damage.
There are also products available that claim to deal with the source directly by affecting the chemical make-up of your dog’s urine. These include special dog food and , which are put into your pet’s water bowl. However, as the RHS advises, you should consult your vet before using or feeding your dog any such product.
Brown patches caused by dog urine can spoil an otherwise luscious lawn
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How To Plant Grass Seed
There are several options for planting grass seed. You may look into hydroseedingan efficient planting process that involves spraying a slurry of grass seed, fertilizer, water, mulch, and wood fiber through a high pressure hose. Because of the built-in fertilizer, hydroseeding helps your grass grow quickly.
If you opt not to hydroseed, whether you think its too difficult to DIY or dont want to pay to hire a professional, you can plant seed the old fashioned way.
How To Grow Grass On Slopes
The process of planting grass on sloping lawns is basically the same as seeding a level lawn area. Start by picking a grass seed thats suitable for the growing conditions, such as a full sun or dense shade grass mix. Prepare the soil, spread the seed, and keep it watered until established. When growing grass on a slope, these additional tips can improve your success:
- Grade the area. Before planting, grade to create a gentle slope at the top and bottom of the hill. This prevents scalping the top and leaving high grass at the bottom when mowing.
- Condition your soil. Prep soil before planting by incorporating fertilizer and adding lime if needed. This will help grass seedlings become established quicker.
- Consider using a deep-rooted grass for hillsides. Species such as buffalo grass and creeping red fescue are better suited for the environmental conditions found on sloping lawns.
- Try mixing seeds with soil. Mix the seed with small amounts of soil and compact to prevent the seed from washing away during rainstorms. The recommended ratio is 2 parts seed to 1 part dirt.
- Protect the seed by covering with straw. On steeper slopes use mesh fabric, coarse cheesecloth, or burlap to hold the seed in place. Anchor these fabrics to keep them from slipping.
- Consider runoff. Redirect runoff by building a temporary wood wall with lumber and wood stakes at the top edge of the seeded area.
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How To Prevent Scalping
To prevent scalping your lawn you need to take care of 3 main things. The leveling of the lawn, the sharpness of the blade, and the height of the mower. If you check all these things and make sure all these are perfect then you wont have scalping in your lawn. Lets talk about these things in detail:
- Level it scalping can happen by mistake on the bumpy area of the lawn when the mower is standing on the lower part of the lawn and the blades can cut through the grass very low on the bump. Make sure while preparing your lawn that it doesnt have any bumps or any low parts which can disturb the mower height and harm the lawn.
- Have a sharp blade having a dull blade can destroy the grass but it can also scalp some areas as it will be hard for the blade to cut through the leaves it can pull or scalp the grass from the lawn. So to ensure this you need to shape the mower blade at the start of every season and also check for sharpness every 2-3 months.
- Check the mower height always before mowing the lawn, check the blade height of the mower. Sometimes the height can be set to the lowest by mistake or the mower can malfunction so to make sure it doesnt harm your lawn, make a habit of checking the height of the blade every time before you mow the lawn and try to only cut rd of the grass.
Hope you find out all the answers about scalping and what to do after it. Get Set Gardening!
How Long Does It Take For Grass Seed To Germinate
Some varieties of turfgrass take longer to germinate than others. For example, perennial rye grass germinates in as little as 3 to 5 days, fescues take more like 10 days, Kentucky bluegrass takes 2 to 3 weeks, and warm-season grasses like centipede, Bermuda, and zoysia grasses can take over a month. If your grass seed is a mixture of varieties, know that not all of them will germinate at the same time. To encourage good germination and a healthy start no matter which type of grass seed you planted, its critical that you keep the seeded area and the young plants well-watered until they are established. See the section below on watering for more info on how and when to water new grass.
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Learn How To Restore A Lawn In Eight Simple Steps
Bare spots. Dead grass. Lawn full of weeds. Its enough to make you give up hope on ever having a beautiful green yard. But, with a little work and a few growing seasons, you can restore your yard into that plot of healthy green grass youve always wanted.
Ready to fix a weedy lawn and get your green grass back? Lets get started.
The More Your Mow The Thicker Your Grass Will Grow
As soon as the cold winter snap seems to be over, and your grass seedlings are dry and established, start mowing at least once a fortnight in spring and once a week in summer to prompt full and thick regrowth. Remember to collect your clipping to store in a your compost bin. If you dont have one, a thick black bin bag will do!
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