How To Repair Your Grass Lawn

To Successfully Repair Your Lawn Using Seed Follow Lawntechs Step

Step 1: Prepare

Identify if there are any weeds or weed grasses in the area which needs repair, and if so dig them out or spray off with a weed killer such as round-up at least two weeks in advance.

Step 2: Cut

Cut around the perimeter edge of the patch with a spade or half-moon edging tool to create a defined edge to work to.

Step 3: Dig

Lightly dig through the soil to create a workable tilth. Remember it is essential that grass seed has full soil contact to germinate successfully. If ground is compacted make lots of deep holes with a fork.

Step 4: Rake

Rake the soil down to create a fine, smooth, even seedbed tilth. If the soil quality is poor you can add an extra fine layer of soil or sand and loam top-dressing.

Step 5: Fertilise

Apply low nitrogen pre-seed/turf fertiliser such as Lawnstore autumn hi k fertiliser @35 grass per square meter.

Step 6: Sow

Sprinkle on lawn seed @ 35 grams per square meter, such as Lawnstore Turfline multi-purpose lawn seed. Lightly rake in the seed and firm with the back of the rake.

Step 7: Water

The most important part is to keep the area damp for at least the next 3 weeks. Do not let it become dry even for a short period of time. Sometimes this means lightly watering 2 or 3 times per day. When seeding some people like to cover the area lightly with hessian to assist early germination or some wire netting to prevent birds from feeding on the seed.

Step 8: Mow

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Problem: Persistently Thin Patchy Grass Solution: Get A Soil Test

Chronic lawn problems are often about the soil, not the actual grass. Having a soil test done is the best $10 to $15 you can spend. Home and garden centers sell DIY kits, but we recommend working with your local cooperative extension , whose experts will pinpoint your soils pH level and identify any missing nutrients. Theyll also prescribe the best course of treatment, for example spreading limestone if the soil is acidic or sulfur if its overly alkaline. Its prudent to do a soil test every few years, though if you just moved into a new home, you may want to do one annually, at least until the desired results start to show.

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My Lawn Has Bare Spots

If, on the other hand, your grass is in generally good condition but has a few bare spots, youll want to take a different approach. You can get those areas growing again with Scotts® EZ Seed® Patch & Repair or Scotts® Sprouts.

EZ Seed® has a unique combination of Scotts® high performance seed, premium continuous release lawn food, and super-absorbent growing material. You loosen the soil with a rake, spread the seeds according to the package directions, and water daily until new grass seedlings are 2 tall .

With Sprouts, you start the growing process in the bag. Just add 3 cups of water, wait 3 days for the seeds to sprout, and then spread the already growing grass onto any bare spots. Following the label directions, you should see grass pop up in 1 to 2 days.

Cost To Fix A Dead Lawn

So whats the total cost of fixing a dead lawn the frugal way?

In total we spent about $196 on materials to fix the dead lawn, and this doesnt include the countless hours of labour .

You could get more of this covered if you use your Canadian Tire money from Triangle Mastercard .

Fertilizing really works, this is a picture of fertilized grass in our backyard. The middle section is where I missed with the drop spreader. The difference is astounding.

I call grass fertilizer, Rogaine for grass.

In the below picture youll see clearly the part that I missed with the drop spreader, in the middle.

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When Should Most People Repair Their Lawn

For most people early fall is the best time repair lawn issues.

With this timing, your lawn will have the time it needs to thrive in the temperate fall weather before the cold weather begins. Annual weed pressure has begun to fade, but soil temperatures are warm enough for rapid germination of your new seed.

However while the fall is generally the best time of year to repair lawn issues, the exact time of year at which youre best off dealing with lawn damage depends on its cause.

Lets go over some of the most common types of lawn damage, how you can address them, and at what times of year youll likely have the best long-term success.

Use Your Hose For Large Areas Of Weeds

• Pour concentrated herbicide into a dial sprayer and hook it up to your garden hose.
• Turn the dial on the top of the sprayer to the setting recommended on the herbicide container .
• Spray the weeds.
• Pro tip: Spray the herbicide on a calm day so the weed killer won’t drift onto your plants and flowers.

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Which Seed Should You Use To Repair Lawn Patches

There are broadly three types of grass seed mixes that you can choose from, as Homebase explains. Hard-wearing lawn mixes tend to include ryegrass and are good if you’re on the lookout for family garden ideas. Premium lawn mixes are a blend of a finer-textured grass seed for a high-quality result. Or, you can purchase a mix that’s suitable for shadier gardens which isn’t as reliant on direct sunlight as other blends.

When repairing lawn patches, try to use the same seed as you used for the rest of your lawn to avoid a variation of appearance.

Use the same grass seed mix as the rest of your lawn when repairing patches

Weed Out The Competition

The heat of summer decreases the number of weeds that arevying for soil, water and sunlight alongside your grass seed. Few weedsgerminate in the fall, so your new grass seed will have a much easier timethriving in the fall. Dormant weeds will struggle to gain ground in the springbecause your grass will have the opportunity to grow throughout the fall andstick around through the winter.

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Applying Your Seeding Mixture

Choose a repair mixture suited to your climate, grass type and sunlight exposure. Premium grass seed, moisture-retaining mulch and stabilized-release fertilizer in Pennington One Step Complete safeguard germinating seed and nourish emerging seedlings until the lawn is ready for normal care regimens.

Smooth the seeding mixture over the soil, applying it at a rate of 1 cup per square foot. This ensures adequate sunlight for germinating and proper seed-to-soil contact for quick, thorough grass establishment. Forget about planting depth and seed stabilization simply cover exposed soil thoroughly, and water the seeding mixture well.

Proper watering is the most important and often the most neglected part of the spot repair process. Moisture-retentive mulch reduces necessary watering and keeps protected seed in place, even on slopes, but expect to water at least once daily. Let weather guide your efforts adjust your watering to keep repaired areas consistently moist, but never soggy.

Keep repaired areas evenly moist until seedlings reach the recommended mowing height for your chosen grass type. For example, a dense shade mixture should reach 2 1/2 to 3 inches tall, and tall fescue should measure 3 to 4 inches, before you reduce watering to a normal weekly or twice-weekly schedule. Seedlings emerge over seven to 21 days after repair, depending on your mix, and reach mowing height in three to four additional weeks.

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Best Time To Repair Lawn Damage From Pets

If you have dogs that run wild in your lawn, I have an entire article you should read.

But if you have to repair lawn damage from dogs and pets in a hurry, its usually best not to wait .

Grab some , or an annual ryegrass to fill in those bare patches for the summer, and then do an aggressive over-seeding in the fall.

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Problem: Ugly Bald Sports Solution: Start From Scratch

Weeds love bare patches, so if you dont act quickly, they will. Springs cool, wet weather is conducive to growing many types of turfgrass. Start by digging up the damaged section, plus 6 inches of surrounding, healthy lawn, cutting about 2 inches deep. Then level the soil and add a small amount of soil amendment, such as a plant-based compost, and starter fertilizer. If youre using seed, cover it lightly with straw and keep the ground moist until germination. For sod, which is about 10 times more expensive than seed but tends to work better, cut a section to fit, press it into place, and water frequently until it takes root.

What Seed Is Best

If this is a one off event due to peculiar weather conditions then your seed choice should be what is best for your use rather that worrying about getting a grass that will survive in damp shady conditions. The chances are it won’t happen again and if the summer is hot and dry you’ll have to re-seed yet again!

If this is a regular event perhaps you have buidlings or fences that block winter light or you’re in a wet part of the country then a change of grass variety may go someway to reducing the problem though be prepared to make this form of lawn repair an annual event! For areas that have good moisture most of the year use Shadygreen grass seed. For areas that go from shady damp in winter to dry in the summer use Staygreen grass seed.

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So If The Grass Is Greener On The Other Side Should I Be Taking More Care Of My Own Grass

The most simple and efficient way to repair damaged or worn patches in your lawn is to use grass seed. The first thing you need to do is to measure the size of the areas which need repair and choose grass seed from a reputable supplier such as www.thelawnstore.co.uk. The Lawn Store have a wide range of seeds to chose from including agricultural, landscape, golf course, pro commercial, sports pitch seed and popular wildflower seed.

For smaller areas there is plenty of choice from the Turfline range including, Multi-purpose Lawn Seed or even Eco Lawn Seed which contains micro-clover. Additionally, there are some excellent choices from the Johnsons range including Tuff Lawn Seed and Luxury Lawn Seed. The Turfline seed packages cover 50 square metres per pack and are ideal for lawn repairs. For large seeding projects we recommend using the DLF Pro Master range which is available in 20kg bags which cover 600 square metres when sowing at a rate of 30 grams per metre.

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Other Ways To Repair Lawn Patches

Short on time? You can repair your lawn patches with turf rather than seed for instant results. If you’re using new turf, be sure to lay it as soon as possible once you have it, to prevent it from drying out.

Cutting turf to fix a lawn

Whether you want to repair lawn patches by reseeding or turfing, it’s important to give it a chance to establish before you mow it.

Even with the best lawn mower, you’ll need to wait until your newly sown grass is at least 2.42.8in tall . If you’ve used turf, you’ll need to wait until the grass is 22.4in tall. Don’t set the blades too low you’ll want to remove no more than 25% on the first cut, say the experts at Premier Lawns.

Don’t mow your new grass too soon

Most of us want to know how to get rid of lawn weeds in our garden, however one weed in particular clover can be rather beneficial for avoiding brown patches in your lawn.

Fancy a lower maintenance groundcover for your yard? We’ve rounded up lots of alternatives to grass that are practical and stylish in our dedicated guide.

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Recurring Annual Lawn Damage

One of the things I deal with every year on my lawn is damage from the snow plow along the front border of my lawn. One side of my property has a curb and sustains no damage, but the frontage that lacks a curb has the topsoil scraped clean by the snowplow every season.

Ive tried bringing in topsoil or compost and re-seeding perennial grasses as soon as the soil temperature allows in the spring, but every year the same problem reoccurs.

There are two ways to address this. The first is to build a fence or barrier that forces the snowplow to steer clear and take a wide berth of my property.

The second, is to accept that perennial grass is just not worth the investment there, and just seed a vigorous annual grass seed that requires less money and resources in that section of your lawn every spring.

Annual Ryegrass is a great choice, and this is what i use on my property since I dont want a fence on that part of my property.

You can grow Annual Ryegrass anywhere, even if you try to kill it. Its a great option to fill in sections of your lawn for one season.

Spread Lime Water Some More

Lightly spread horticultural lime over the affected spots. Don’t add too much lime follow the directions on the package closely. Too much can have the opposite effect and do more damage. Thoroughly water the spot again. Keep watering every day. Eventually, the natural green color of the grass will return. If it doesn’t return in a few weeks, you may have to dig out the area and reseed.

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Ive Got Crabgrass In My Lawn

Theres no argument about it: Crabgrass is a troublemaker. The best way to treat it is to keep it from appearing in the first place. Use Scotts® Turf Builder® Halts Crabgrass Preventer with Lawn Food* in early spring to stop crabgrass from sprouting and protect your lawn all season long, while fertilizing at the same time for strong, lush grass growth. Crabgrass already making its unwanted presence known? Stop it cold with Scotts® Spot Weed Control for Lawns, which kills crabgrass down to the root without harming the lawn.

This Is How You Repair Bare Patches In Your Lawn:

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Determine If Your Grass Dead Or Dormant

Determining whether your grass is actually dead or just dormant is important because it dictates what your next steps should be. If it salvageable, you can save time, money, and a lot of work by restoring it rather than starting all over. If not, no harm no foul.

Try these tests to see if you have a dead lawn or a dormant lawn.

Aerate Fertilize Seed And Water

Use a hand rake to loosen and turn over the soil. This allows it to receive more oxygen and water. Additionally, you can use an aerator to thoroughly stir around the loose soil to prepare it for fertilizer, seeds and water.

Water the area using a garden hose, giving it a good, long soaking. Spread fertilizer and some topsoil to the patch and then water thoroughly again. Spread grass seed over the area using a seed spreader or by hand . Lightly aerate the soil again using the hand rake or an aerator to work in the seeds and fertilizer into the soil. Water the spot every day for a month or so until the grass has re-grown and blended in with the surrounding lawn.

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