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How To Repair Dead Lawn

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Dont Assume The Cause

DIY how to repair lawn Patchy dead areas, brown dead grass, turf insects. What’s wrong with my lawn

While we love educated homeowners and we put a lot of information out there in order to help people in Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, PA understand their lawn problems, we dont advocate taking matters into your own hands.

When you try to make your own diagnosis, you risk implementing the wrong solution and making the problem worse. As we mentioned, many lawn problems mimic one another and it really does take a professional examination to determine the cause of your problems.

Do Apply The Right Lawn Care Products Based On The Issue And Timing

If material is improperly applied to your lawn , this can also cause damage. For example, fertilizer burn is caused when too much product is applied to the grass. Excess product can draw moisture out of your grass and cause it to yellow and ultimately die.

However, all lawn care products have a proper amount and a proper timing associated with them. And some lawn care products may be warranted in certain instanceswhich can differ from lawn to lawn.

You want to make sure that your lawn care company is applying the right products at the right time in order to not only be most effective but also to prevent possible problems.

How To Repair A Lawn & Seed Bare Patches

Water’s only part of what you need to fix those dead spots in your lawn and keep them from coming back.

Bald. Bare. Thin. Whatever you call it, one thing is certain: Patchy lawns stink. Until automatic, self-repairing lawns are invented, we’ve got the next best thing quick and easy bare spot repair. Read on for the simple how-to, plus a few extras for keeping your lawn looking lush even longer.

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Do Not Water Too Much Or Too Little

If you arent watering enough, your grass wont be able to grow properly because it needs water in order for its roots to reach out into the ground and grab nutrients from the soil.

However, watering too much can cause problems as well because overwatering leaves your lawn susceptible to diseases like fungal leaf spot which can reduce its vigor and ability to grow healthy roots.

Try watering once every 2-3 days for 10 minutes at a time during the summer months depending on how hot it is outside and how dry it is outside as well this should be sufficient but not excessive watering for most lawns.

When winter rolls around, stop watering altogether unless there has been heavy rain or snowfall in which case you should hold off until the next day before watering again so that your lawn doesnt get soggy overnight this could cause root rot if left untreated so make sure you keep an eye on how wet or dry your lawn gets during winter months!

Caring For Your New Grass

How To Fix Dead Grass

In general, youll see grass seedlings start to appear after 7-21 days .

After about three weeks or a month, the grass will probably be long enough to mow. There are exceptions to this, though. Zoysia grass and some other species may not get to that stage until several months after planting.

After planting the seeds, the shoots will begin to grow underground. This is the period during which roots are becoming properly established. This is important as it will help ensure that your lawn is able to withstand the stressors of the future. It also puts the grass in a good position to ensure satisfactory growth during peak season.

Now that you know how to fix a dead lawn, the last step is to make sure to take attentive care of your lawn from the time of planting.

Dont take success for granted just because youve planted at the correct time and seen your seedlings emerge. Always follow best practices for lawn care.

Ensure that you take proper care of your lawn through the fall, setting it in good stead for the rigors of the winter. Correct fall lawn care is a must. Thats the way to make sure that your lawn stays healthy throughout the cold season, and early the following spring I recommend over-seeding with the same type of grass seed to ensure your new lawn is thick and lush all year.

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Hiring The Right Lawn Care Professional To Fix Dead Grass Areas

When it comes to how to repair grass at your home in Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton, PA, it may be a bit more involved than you had anticipated. As we mentioned, we often hear from homeowners who tell us they thought they could just water the spots or throw fertilizer down, and they could be fixed.

But your best bet is to hire a lawn care service who truly understands the science behind lawns. First and foremost, you want to be sure that your lawn problem is properly diagnosed as time is often of the essence when it comes to the solution.

If youre ready to work with a lawn care company that knows what your grass needs at your Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton, PA home, get in touch with us to get some free expert advice and learn more about our lawn care program options.

Ready to get started?

How To Fix A Dead Lawn

If the entire lawn is dead or you have dead patches, then it may be time to replace a part of or the entire lawn. There are a few steps to take to make this go as evenly as possible.

Sometimes one of the above problems are not the culprit and adding in a variable is not going to work. Sometimes you just have to accept that the lawn is dead.

So, how do you fix a dead lawn?

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Repairing An Uneven Lawn

Levelling an uneven section of lawn will make it easier to mow, prevent damage from scalping and eliminate a potential tripping hazard, as well as improving its appearance.

Top dressing gradually, with 10mm at a time of soil or sand, can be enough for relatively shallow depressions.

Fixing deeper indentations will require a different method, known as Lift and Fill.

In this case, the lawn is cut into strips and lifted out. Clean fill is then deposited to the required depth and the lawn replaced on top.

If youre not sure how to repair uneven spots in your lawn, read our article Repairing an Uneven Lawn.

How To Fix Dead Grass Spots Or Patches

How to repair Brown Dead Grass Dormancy spots. Dead Spots in my lawn after fertilizer application.

A healthy lawn is the pride and joy of many homeowners, and in many cases, it can be a very expensive investment.

What you dont want is this beautiful looking investment to turn into a brown, patchy mess.

If your lawn is a barren, patchy wasteland of brown spots and dead patches then you might be wondering whats causing the problem.

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The Drought Tolerant Lawn

Technically there is no such thing but a grass that has deep roots will tap into water deeper in the soil thus staying greener longer at least long enough to survive a typical british summer. That is all true when using drought tolerant grass to establsih a new lawn. Over seeding an existing lawn is a different ball game altogether.

For starters, when over seeding only about 25% of your newly introduced seed survives so if you over seed at the new lawn rate you’ve still got 75% original none drought tolerant grasses remaining!! This means you need to over seed for 3 years running to effect a desirable change!

Secondly it is all very dependant on the condition of the established lawn. If it is old, never been aerated, heavily used or heavily compacted then it’s water holding capacity is perhaps 20% of what it used to be as a new lawn. Healthy soil contains air spaces it is these spaces that fill and hold the water when it rains. Compacted soil has minimal air spaces so no water holding capacity! Solving this will solve 90% of your lawns drought problems. Adding a drought tolerant grass is the icing on the cake.

Also see Compaction

Causes Of Grass Dying

Below are the major causes of dead grass:

  • Poor preparation and installation: Properly preparing the area and installing new grass is much more than spreading seed or laying sod over the area and if done incorrectly, seed and sod wont properly grow and can eventually die.
  • Cultural Practices: Keeping your lawn green and happy involves properly watering, feeding and mowing at the proper height for the particular grass you are growing. In the turfgrass industry, these are called cultural practices. When not correctly carried out, any of them can lead to your turfs demise.
  • Grass Type: Make sure the grass you are growing is hardy in your particular climate and grows in the light conditions present in your yard. Planting grass that prefers a sunny location in the shade, or using grass not hardy in your area of the country leads to its eventual death.
  • Pests and Diseases: Various pests and diseases affect turfgrass, leading to a weakened state and possible death. You can take a sample of the affected turf to your local garden store for diagnosis or contact your local county Extension Office. Its imperative to treat the pest or disease problem before installing new grass in the area.

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Remove Weeds And Dead Grass

Grass can get smothered if there are too many weeds present. This can kill the grass, and lead to a garden of weeds instead. To begin the process of reviving your grass, remove as many weeds as possible, along with dead patches of grass. Doing so will give the new seeds a better chance of getting established, with less competition and coverage.

Choose The Right Seeds For Your Soil

How to Repair Those Bare, Patchy Spots in Your Lawn in ...

First and foremost, you must make sure to get the correct type of lawn for your place. As we said before, having the wrong kind of turf is often one of the main reasons you may have a brown lawn.

Depending on your area, you would want to choose a lawn that adjusts to your local climate. Moreover, keep in mind that some turfs stop growing and become brown during certain seasons due to their kind.

Do your research to know which type of grass plant works best for cool-season or warm-season grass.

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Test Soil And Fertilize

It is advised to get a soil test to determine the amount of phosphorus in the soil, which assists in the healthy root development of your turfgrass. Unruh says, Perform a soil test to make sure that there is adequate phosphorus available. The University of Florida does not recommend that anything other than phosphorus be applied before planting.

Once you know the test results and the amount of phosphorus required, if any, spread it evenly over the site. For those who dont feel they require a soil test before planting, you can find grass starter fertilizers at your local garden store which you can incorporate into the areas soil. Their formulas are designed to assist in the healthy development of newly planted grass.

Repairing Dead Grass Spots

Bare patches and dead spots in your grass can be a frustrating sight. Find out what causes them and how to fix them from the experts at Jonathan Green.

Jonathan Green has been working for more than 100 years to bring beautiful dark-green lawns to homeowners using only the highest quality traditional and organic products. Since 1881, we have experimented with turfgrass varietals to breed our genetically superior turf grasses, such as those found in our Black Beauty® grass seed mixtures.

We supply grass seed, organics, and weed, insect and disease control products to both the independent retailer and professional lawn care markets. All of our products are rigorously tested to ensure that they perform to the highest standards in order to transform your lawn and help it thrive.

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See The Color & State

Not the most accurate way to find out, but it works. If you can tell the difference between dead grass colors and dormant grass, then youll realize what is happening.

For example, dirt-like brown patches with dead spots all across the lawn mean the grass is dying. Simultaneously, any damage on the soil, signs of pests and diseases, plus a deep-brown color mean the grass is not alive.

But if you see that the grass is losing its color uniformly, then it is probably dormant.

What About Weeds Are They Dormant Too

How To Repair Dead Patches In Your Lawn

Some weeds may grow while the grass is dormant. Dandelions, for example, are perennial weeds with tap roots that reach into the soil for moisture. They can survive heat and drought. The best way to keep weeds in check is to maintain a healthy lawn. If you see weeds actively growing when your lawn is dormant, pull them by hand or spot-treat with an organic herbicide .

If hot weather and drought make your grass turn brown, just remember that brown lawns are not necessarily dead lawns. Good lawn care practices and a little patience are all you need.

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Quick Guide To Lawn Repair

1. Patch your lawn. Repair thin or bare spots with Scotts® EZ Seed® Patch & Repair or Scotts® Sprouts. Both are great solutions, but take two different approaches . There is one exception: If you have a St. Augustine lawn, its best to pull up dead turf or edge out bare spots. Apply Scotts® EZ Patch Lawn Repair for St. Augustine Lawns then place new sod or plugs.

2. Water well. New seed and sod require more frequent watering. Keep your soil moist, but dont drown it.

3. Feed your lawn. After 6 to 8 weeks, give your new grass the nutrients it needs to grow lush and strong. Feed your entire lawn with Scotts® Turf Builder® Lawn Food.

4. Kill weeds and pests. Bugs and weeds will try to creep into your lawn while it grows. Before you apply any weed or bug control product, check the product label to see when it can be applied to new grass.

5. Mow later. Be sure to wait until your lawn is at mowing height before you mow.

Brown Grass Vs Dead Grass

They tend to look very similar and the only way to tell which it is is to add water. Dead grass is dead and like anything dead it can’t be reversed. Brown grass is in a dormant state and can be brought back to life. It generally takes a couple of inches of steady rain to start the process of greening after summer drought and then in a week or so you should know where you stand. Unfortunately you may find that even though most of your lawn revives it may be patchy and thin in areas. If you’re lucky and end up with total recovery all you need to do is four things:

  • Keep the mower on a high setting until the middle of next spring
  • Give the lawn a generous feed with autumn fertiliser so that the grass re-builds depleted carbohydrate levels before the winter
  • Spike the lawn to ensure penetration of further rainfall
  • Next year vary your mowing height

If not then read on……..

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Do Not Let Animals Poop On Your Lawn

Animals like dogs and rabbits will poop on your grass, but this can be devastating for your lawn if left untreated.

Dog poop contains harmful bacteria that can kill grass instantly while rabbit feces contain spores that can cause diseases like ringworm which is deadly for most plants including grass.

If you see dog or rabbit droppings on your lawn, try cleaning them up with a broom or rake immediately before they have a chance to spread around dont forget about the grass blades!

How To Bring Your Lawn Back To Life In 5 Simple Steps

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Does your lawn look dead and dying or filled with brown grass instead of green? Don’t give up hope quite yet. Chances are there’s still life in that “dead” lawnit’s just calling out for help. You can answer its cry and restore your lawn to lush, living beauty with all-in-one Pennington Lawn Booster and these five easy steps:

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How To Revive Your Dead Grass

Before you begin the process of repairing the dead grass on your lawn, youll need to make sure that your grass is actually dead. Sometimes your grass can turn brown because the grass is dormant or needs watering.

According to the experts at Green Blade Lawn Care, youll want to carefully inspect the grass before removing the grass.

While your lawn may look like its dead, it can also be dormant. Before you remove the sod on your lawn and begin repairing your lawn, youll want to inspect the crowns of the grass plants to determine if the grass is dead. ~Green Blade Lawn Care

If you want to determine if your lawn is actually dead or not, youll need to inspect the crown. The crown is at the base of the grass plants, and if the crown is green, then the grass is still alive. However, if the crown has turned a golden brown color, dried and shrivelled up, the grass has died, and its time for repair.

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