How To Revive Dead Grass: The Step
Having a healthy lawn is a top goal of many homeowners. Unfortunately, there are times when a dead lawn can create quite a bit of work for you. In our guide showcasing how to review dead grass, we provide:
- Step-by-step instructions for how to revive dead grass
- How to be sure your new grass doesnt die
- Proper lawn maintenance techniques to keep your new lawn healthy
Whether this is the first time you have struggled with dead grass, or its been a recurring issue, we have the solutions you need to get a green and lush lawn again.
So Is Your Lawn Really Dead
Although you might think that your brown grass is done for, this might not actually be the case.
In case you didnt know, just because your grass is brown, it doesnt mean that its dead.
There are some turf grasses that actually become dormant during very dry conditions.
To test if thats whats been happening to your lawn, you want to ensure that the grasss root structure is still intact and healthy.
Basically, if it is, then the grass will become green again after watering and some rain showers.
Wait for the next few spots of rain or water your lawn a few times to see what youre dealing with.
You should also inspect your grass closely.
Do you see any green shoots in the grass when you look at it?
However minimal, these all point to new grass growth and show that your lawn can still be rescued.
The Wrong Type Of Turf
There are many different turfgrass types, and not every variety is suited for every climate and soil type. If you plant a turfy type that is incompatible with your weather or landscape, it may not last.
The first factor to check is whether your turf grass variety is recommended for your climate zone. In general, the US is divided into three growing zones for turfgrass. The northern half of the country is considered a cool-season zone and requires cool-season grass. The Southwest and Deep South are considered warm-season zones and require warm-season varieties. The area between is regarded as a transitional zone, and lawns can be planted with either type of grass, or a combination to withstand both hot and cold temperatures. If you grow a variety of grass that is not suited for your climate, you may find your grass dying during the season it is least well-adjusted to.
Turf varieties also vary in how they handle different growing conditions. While no turf can thrive in full shade, some varieties can tolerate partial shade better than others. One of the most shade-tolerant varieties of warm-season grass is Zeon Zoysiagrass, sold exclusively by The Turfgrass Group. For lawns with trees and partial shade, Zeon Zoysiagrass will grow better than other sun-loving varieties.
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How To Revive Brown Grass
Naturally, rain will revive a brown lawn. However, if rainfall is insufficient watering the lawn deeply once a week will help your lawn to spring back to green. With Gilmours Pattern Master Circular sprinkler, you can customize the spray area so you water only the lawn and not the sidewalk. Set up a timer on your spigot, so the sprinkler will come on for 15-20 minutes per watering session. The best time to water is early in the morning between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., when its usually less windy and when temperatures are low.
Once grass starts to grow again, its okay to mow with your mower set to 3 ½ inches. Do not scalp the lawn to try to remove brown blades of grass. Let new fresh grass grow around them. Leave grass clippings on the lawn to fertilize the lawn naturally.
When soil is rehydrated and grass plants turn green, so will the weeds. Remove them by hand or spot-treat with a natural herbicide by following directions on the label.
Is My Grass Dead Or Dormant
First, make sure your lawn is actually dead, not just dormant grass. Northern, cool-season grasses can go dormant in midsummer, particularly under drought conditions, going from a green color to brown grass. Even warm-season grasses will go dormant under high heat and low water conditions.
Closely inspect the crowns of your grass plants the whitish area at the base of the plant, from which individual grass blades emerge. If the crowns are still alive, your lawn is likely just in a period of dormancy.
If the crowns are dried out and discolored, your grass is not going to get greener again, no matter what you do.
If youve determined that your lawn is dead, follow these steps to bring it back to life.
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Faq About Reviving A Dead Lawn
How long does it take to revive a dead lawn?
If a lawn is truly dead, you cant bring it back to life without reseeding or resodding. But it may not be dead. Many grass types, especially cool-season grasses, tend to go dormant in times of high heat and low water. Check out Is My Grass Dead or Dormant? to tell the difference between a dead lawn and a dormant lawn.
How long does it take to revive a dormant lawn?
With regular watering, a dormant lawn will come back to life in about three to four weeks.
Should I rake my dead grass?
Yes. You should rake your dead grass for multiple reasons. Your dead grass may just be dead thatch. Removing the dead thatch will allow air, nutrients, and water to reach your healthy lawn. Raking may reveal that not all your grass is dead. You may just need to seed parts of your lawn instead of replacing entire sections. Warning: Dont rake too much. If you do have healthy grass within the dead turf, you risk damaging the delicate blades with over raking.
Grass Dying In Winter
The reason for grass dying in Winter is because the underlying soil retains too much moisture due to high clay content, which when combined with higher levels of Winter rainfall, prevents root respiration causing the grass to turn yellow or brown and die back over Winter.
During Winter the rate of evaporation is also much slower due to cooler temperatures and a lack of light means the lawn can be saturated for a long time after rainfall.
Whilst established grass is very hardy, grass cannot survive in consistently saturated soil as the excess moisture excludes oxygen from the soil, which interferes with root respiration, so that the roots cannot draw up the nutrients and moisture they need, resulting in dying grass.
Boggy soil in Winter is most often due to a high clay content in the soil which can become impermeable and prevent water from effectively infiltrating the soil, although boggy soil can also be as a result of low lying areas or even natural springs in the garden.
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How To Naturally Revive Your Dying Lawn
Jul 17, 2019 | Lawn Care Tips
A dead or dying lawn is never anything a homeowner wants to face. However, there is no denying that this summer has already been a scorcher. Even with appropriate lawn maintenance, your grass could face some serious damage from the sun.
Many homeowners get concerned when brown splotches or dry patches appear on their dying lawn. This means its either dead or dormant, and its time to take action. At Executive Lawn Care, we veer away from using chemicals and perform our jobs the all-natural way. Here are some of the steps you should take when trying to revive your lawn after summer has made its mark in your yard.
Treatment And Ongoing Care
There are a number of fast acting chemical pesticides, but if you use the lawn frequently or have kids or pets, it is safer to use neem oil or use biological control with nematodes or milky spore available in garden centers. A general fungicide will take care of most fungal infections, but they are toxic. Avoiding over-watering and keeping the thatch to a minimum may help avoid fungal diseases.
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How To Fix Brown Patches
The ugly brown patches plaguing your lawn may be a much easier fix than you presume. Though it may look like your lawn is completely dying, there are several solutions that are perfect for getting rid of brown spots around your yard.
How to Fix Lawn Dehydration
If youve determined that your lawn is starting to turn brown and die because its dehydrated, youll have to put some hard work into the solution. Consider your pre-existing lawn watering routine. Do you have a small yard that you can simply spray a hose onto now and again, or do you have a bigger yard with an entire sprinkler system?
If youre working with just a hose and some intuition, you will need to manually water your yard much more frequently than you are now. If youre only watering your garden once or twice a week, youll want to increase that every other day.
If this seems like too much effort, consider investing in a sprinkler system like this GrowGreen Rotating Lawn Sprinkler . Whats helpful about this sprinkler style is that its a 360 degree rotating unit with an almost 33 foot spraying distance. If you place this at the center of your lawn, connected to a simple garden hose, you will be able to water your lawn for a span of almost 66 feet .
How to Fix Lawn Fungus
Though its a pesky issue, lawn fungus is easy to take care of. What youll need is a high-quality spreadable fungicide and a spreader for tracking it across your property.
How to Get Rid of Lawn-Eating Insects
What Not To Do:
- Dont just water your lawn in hopes that itll come back. How to revive brown grass will almost always require more than just water.
- While watering the soil is important, over-watering can actually cause more damage by creating conditions for fungus and other pests. Be careful not to oversaturate your lawn.
- If you have a healthy root system, the grass will grow back by itself as long as it has enough water and sunlight. However, if those bare patches are due to pests or disease damage, they may not come back on their ownin this case, youll need help from professionals who know the best ways to treat your lawn for the best results.
This is where hiring a landscaping company can be really helpful because theyll know how and when to fertilize and treat your grass so that it comes back healthier than ever! They may also need you to do some preventative maintenance like treating the soil with pesticides or mowing low. For help with lawn care in Alpharetta, Contact Absolute Lawn Pros.
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Kill Weeds And Dandelions
Weeds can spring up quickly, feeding on water or any moisture available in the ground. When you have weeds growing alongside grass, this creates a battle of survival, meaning there is less water for grass. Remove weeds by hand-pulling them out by the root or by using a tool like this Walensee Weed Puller ). Similarly, knowing how to get rid of dandelions also helps keep more moisture and nutrients for the grass.
Bringing Your Lawn Back To Life
The health of your lawn can make a huge difference in how your yard looks. Learning how to revive dead grass will help you on your quest for a perfect lawn, whatever the problem. While you cannot revive completely dead grass, you can reseed it or take steps to save your grass before its too late.
If your lawn is dry and brown due to a lack of hydration, it can be tempting to simply water it, but this may be prohibited if you are in a drought area. In the meantime, theres plenty you can do to help revive your lawn.
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Get Rid Of Winter Weeds And Dry Blades
Dead, dry blades, fungi and moss can all build up on our lawns during the winter and extended cold spells. Snow mould in particular only rears its head during extreme weather, so watch out for that in your garden. Its time to get your wire rake out of the shed to get rid of this debris to make way for spring growth and reseeding if necessarily. Think of this raking, otherwise known as scarifying the lawn, as exfoliating your lawn of the dead cells and dirt to celebrate the spring season.
Mow At The Highest Setting
Finally, even when your lawn is growing, never forget to continue giving it the TLC it needs from consistent lawn mowing. Our recommendation is to mow every one to two weeks.
Dont mow too short, though! Raise your mower to the highest setting in order to provide a level of shade for your budding grass leaves.
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Plant Grass Seed Or Sod
How to Plant Grass Seed
After testing the soil and applying the appropriate fertilizer, its time to plant your grass seed. If you are reviving a patchy lawn section with grass seed, you can reduce the recommended amount of new seed. For example, Clemson University suggests reducing the amount by half if half the lawn doesnt require reviving. Use these tips:
- Spread the grass seed evenly over the prepared area.
- Make sure to get good seed-to-soil contact.
- After youve applied grass seed, spread a thin layer of soil over the top.
How to Plant Sod
If you are reviving a brown lawn by laying down sod, you can use full sod pieces to fill in large areas of the lawn. However, if you are replacing dead patches, you can also fill in those smaller areas using sprigs or plugs. When laying sod, follow these tips:
- Make sure to butt the pieces firmly up against each other making sure their root section makes firm contact with the soil.
- If repairing the area using sprigs or plugs, use a hand trowel and dig into the soil deep enough to contain the root section, and then firm the soil around it.
- Clemson University suggests planting multiple sprigs or plugs 6 to 12 inches apart.
Revive Your Lawn This Spring With Bury Hill
Nows the time to invest in a high-quality grass seed mix that has been blended for your specific use. Bury Hill supplies Limgrain grass seeds which have been treated with a transparent coating made from seaweed extract which ensures fast germination and strong root growth.
Find out about our package options and delivery prices by clicking through to our Grass Seed page.
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Plant New Grass Seed Or Lay Sod
The next step is to plant new grass seed or lay sod. Laying sod is considerably easier and will give you an instant lawn, but it also comes at a much higher price tag.
Planting Grass Seed: Seeding and Overseeding
When planting grass seed, be sure you are first using the proper type. Use a spreader so that the grass seed goes on evenly and covers all of the areas that you need it to. In addition, after placing the seed, try to cover it with a thin layer of soil so that it does not wash away the first time it is watered.
Planting and Rolling Sod
Sod is very simple to put down. Simply lay the pieces out where you need them to go and then cut grass into the shapes you need to landscape around beds. One of the most important things about putting sod down is to use a lawn roller after the fact so that the sod starts to take root with the soil underneath.
Why Do I Have Patches Of Yellow Grass
Patches of dying or dormant grass alongside an otherwise healthy lawn mean that there is a problem other than weather conditions that is restricting its growth. In some cases, a sprinkler head could be broken which isnt allowing the area to be properly watered. It could also be infected with bugs that are damaging the soil and grass, which will need to be treated. Finally, it could be a result of over fertilizing a specific area or using weed killer too liberally, causing it to harm the grass as well.
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Causes Of Dying Grass
Believe it or not, many factors contribute to killing your yard, from overwatering to droughts, and more. Learn some of the most common causes of your dying grass and how to revive a lawn. There are a number of reasons your grass may be dying, here are just a few conditions that your lawn may be suffering from:
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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When All Else Fails Hire The Experts
Following a step-by-step guide for reviving your dead lawn can result in some immaculate new lawns. However, not everyone has the inclination or time to bring their yard back to life or plant a new one.
Why not look up a local lawn care company that can both plant your lawn and keep it in tip-top shape for its lifetime? The only thing you then have to worry about is enjoying your new back yard to its full potential.
