How to repair a thin and patchy lawn
- Rake out the dead material. When the grass dies, for whatever reason, the dead material is left in the patch or sward of the grass to decompose slowly.
- Aerate with a garden fork. Aerating will help to decompact the hard-bare ground making it easier for the healthy grass to spread its roots into the bare soil.
- Treat the weeds. Weeds will be taking up space in the lawn making it difficult for the grass to thicken, so now is the time to get on top of ...
- Lightly topsoil. Now you don’t want to smother an already unhealthy lawn, but a light amount of topsoil in the bare and patchy areas can bring the levels up making ...
- Fertilise. Any weeds that were there have now been treated or removed, so you can go ahead and feed the lawn without having to worry about feeding the weeds as ...
- Water your lawn. Once you have fertilised your lawn, you need to water it down into the profile really well where it can go to work and where it won’t ...
- Mow regularly. You have gone through a bit of hard work above to get the grass humming along again, which will likely mean a bit more mowing.
- Simple lawn care principles to avoid a patchy lawn. Once your lawn is back to full health and not patchy some simple lawn care undertaken seasonally should keep it from ...
How can I thicken my thin grass?
Transforming thin, lackluster grass into a thicker, healthier lawn isn't difficult to achieve. With three easy steps—or one simple, three-in-one lawn boost—you can get a thicker lawn and put thin grass behind you. Then add three best practices to keep a thicker lawn, and you'll enjoy a lawn that looks and feels great for years to come. 1.
What to do if your lawn is thinned out?
If your grass is thinned out, adopt a more aggressive plan for total lawn rejuvenation by following the steps shown in Photos 3 and 4. If your lawn has excess thatch or you’ve laid new seed, use the spreader and apply decomposter mix to both accelerate the decay of thatch left in the turf and increase seed germination and rooting (Photo 5).
How do you overseed a lawn?
Overseeding is simply sowing grass seed into existing grass to make thin lawns thick — or keep them from ever getting thin. The new grass fills in between what's already there, creating a thicker, lusher feel and look. Routine overseeding is the pro secret to a great lawn.
Should I reseed my lawn if I have thin patches?
As trees grow up over time, your grass can get shaded out, leading to thin patches. When that happens, you have a couple of options: either replace your grass with a more shade-tolerant variety (such as Scotts® Classic® Grass Seed Dense Shade Mix for Northern climates), or go ahead and reseed with the same type of grass you’re already growing.
How do you thicken thin grass?
Improve Your Soil. To get the most out of every step to a thicker lawn, take a tip from lawn pros and test your soil. ... Overseed. Overseeding is simply sowing grass seed into existing grass to make thin lawns thick—or keep them from getting thin. ... Fertilize. ... Boost Your Lawn. ... Irrigate. ... Mow Properly. ... Control Weeds.
What causes a lawn to thin out?
If your soil is too hard (compacted), it creates a hostile environment for growing grass. When soil is packed down, it prevents roots from getting the air and nutrients they need to grow, resulting in thin grass. In this case, lawn aeration and soil amendments are often helpful.
Can you just sprinkle grass seed on lawn?
Can you just sprinkle grass seed on top of your existing lawn? While it's possible to simply sow the new grass seed over your existing lawn, taking the time to prepare your lawn beforehand will increase the likelihood of seed germination and improve your end result.
How do you fix a patchy thin lawn?
0:303:00How To Fix A Patchy Lawn - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWith either option keep the area nice and moist for the first few. Weeks. If your problem is a thinMoreWith either option keep the area nice and moist for the first few. Weeks. If your problem is a thin lawn then start by clearing it all off a steel tined rake will help here then give it a quick move.
Will fertilizer help a thin lawn?
Lack of Fertilizer There's no question about it, grass needs regular fertilizing in order to grow thick, fill in, and stay healthy. And if your lawn needs a little more food than you're currently giving it, areas of thin grass can spread. Don't worry—it's never too late to get back into a good lawn fertilizing routine.
What is lawn thickener?
Aftercut Lawn Thickener is a mix of lawn feed and grass seed, that greens and thickens the lawn in one easy step. It invigorates existing grass and adds new life to your lawn in just three days. It is also child and pet safe so you don't have to worry.
Can I put topsoil over grass and reseed?
Adding soil over grass can be another effective form of repairing a lawn. It is possible to dump new soil over top of what you have, and prepare it for sod or seed. This option will save you money on excavation costs of removing the old soil and grass.
Do you put topsoil down before grass seed?
Should I Put Topsoil Down Before Grass Seed? If you're applying pure seed to the ground, a layer of topsoil should always be put down first rather than after. Some plant seeds like to be covered to germinate, but grass seeds need to be at surface level to sprout and grow.
Can I sow grass seed on top of grass?
Overseeding is a simple process of adding seeds to the lawn to improve its quality and appearance. While seeding, the gardener adds grass seeds to the prepared soil in order to grow grass from scratch; on the other hand, overseeding is when the gardener scatters grass seeds onto a pre-existing lawn.
What is the best grass seed for bare spots?
Touch-Up™ TRI-RYE Perennial Ryegrass is a 100% premium perennial ryegrass blend. The three perennial ryegrasses in this mixture are all dark-green in color and fast to germinate so they are great for filling in bare spots and thickening the lawn quickly.
What to do if your lawn hasn't been aerated?
After power aerating the lawn, your first step to correct this problem is to rent a power rake —a gas-powered lawn machine that’s roughly the size of a lawn mower but 1-1/2 times heavier (Photo 3).
Why is my lawn compacted?
The causes are many: In existing lawns, the top 1 to 1-1/2 in. of soil becomes compacted over time from foot traffic, riding lawn mowers, high clay content and rain. New lawns often have problems—beginning with home construction or remodeling—when topsoil is bulldozed, remixed with subsoil and over-compacted.
What is thatch in lawn?
Thatch is a cushion of old, partially decayed grass roots and stems that develop in many sodded lawns (Figure A). It separates the actively growing crown of the grass plant from the soil surface. The power rake (Photo 3) is equipped with vertical fixed tines to cut the soil and prepare a thinned-out lawn for reseeding.
How long does it take to aerate a lawn?
Budget your time: You should be able to aerate and power rake up to 5,000 sq. ft. in three to four hours. Avoid renting aerators that are equipped with spikes and only roll over the lawn and perforate it.
What is the zone where grass meets soil?
The zone where grass meets soil is an amazing micro world of plant roots, bacteria, insects and complex chemical reactions. Healthy soil is soil that’s loose enough to allow air, water and nutrients to pass into it to foster plant growth. Keep these concepts in mind: Compacted soil strangles roots.
Does power raking help with thatch?
Contrary to myth, grass clippings don’t contribute to thatch buildup, and power rak ing doesn’t cure it.
What to do when grass dies?
When the grass dies, for whatever reason, the dead material is left in the patch or sward of the grass to decompose slowly. To help your lawn thicken up again and recover quicker, rake out as much of this material as you can. This will provide space for the healthy grass to spread back through and also help more sunlight, ...
Why is it important to mowing your lawn?
Regularly mowing your lawn will encourage lateral growth further thickening the profile of your lawn. A thicker lawn will also be a lot better at restricting weeds growth and will be more resilient to disease related issues.
How to decompact hard bare ground?
Aerate with a garden fork. Aerating will help to decompact the hard-bare ground making it easier for the healthy grass to spread its roots into the bare soil. Drive a garden fork into the ground to around 100mm and wriggle it back and forth to fracture the soil profile. If you have subsoil irrigation be careful that you don’t do so too deeply ...
What to do after aerting a pipe?
After aerting can also be a good time to apply soil conditioners like gypsum to improve your soil base.
Does topsoil help with a healthy lawn?
Now you don’t want to smother an already unhealthy lawn, but a light amount of topsoil in the bare and patchy areas can bring the levels up making it easier for the healthy areas to spread across. Topsoil will improve the soil profile, improving drainage and providing nutrient to help strengthen the lawn. Make sure you water it in really well after application, so it assists rather than hinders the growth of your lawn.
Why does my lawn turn brown?
Even riding lawn mowers can compact soil over time. When soil gets compacted, it does not let enough water, nutrients, and oxygen in which weakens the grass and makes it thinner. Your grass may also turn brown.
Why is my lawn yellow?
Rust disease can cause irregular patches in your yard and turn the grass yellow. It will also thin out the turf and spread throughout the entire lawn. It is most common with perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, kentucky bluegrass, and zoysiagrass.
How often should I fertilize my lawn?
You should fertilize your lawn at least once a year, but some yards require two applications or more every year. If your lawn has already been thinning out and you notice it thickening from an application of fertilizer that may be a sign that you need more frequent fertilization. Also, whenever you mow the yard, leave the grass clipping because they will also fertilize the lawn.
What is thatch in grass?
Thatch is a layer of decomposed grass stems and roots that builds up over time. It will block the grass from growing properly and becomes a problem when it gets thicker than a half inch. A lot of things can contribute to excessive thatch buildup including over-watering at night, drought, over-fertilization, and poor soil quality.
When should I apply grass seed?
First, you have to dethatch and remove any debris. The best time to apply grass seed is during the fall. This will let your grass establish itself.
When should I aerate my lawn?
For warm-season grasses try to aerate during the late Spring. For cool-season grasses, early Spring or early Fall tends to be the best time.
Is thatch good for lawn?
A thin layer of thatch is actually good for your lawn because it can help to protect against temperature fluctuation and helps to keep in moisture. However, if the thatch gets too heavy it will block water and fertilizer and traps the roots of the grass. Thatch may start to harm your lawn when it gets to a half inch thick, but will really do damage after it reaches an inch of thickness.
Why is my lawn thin?
Common Causes of Thinning Lawns. Cultural problems are the most common cause of thin lawns, which you can usually remedy yourself during lawn repair. If you suspect pest or disease are at the root of the lawn problem, then having professional treatment for the culprit prior to repairing the lawn may be necessary. Shade Issues.
How long does it take for sod to root?
Sod provides an instant lawn because initial root establishment occurs in as little as two weeks.
Can you put sod on top of grass?
Then, the soil needs to be tested so the proper fertilizers and soil amendments can be added. Once this is done, the sod is laid on top the ground and firmed into place.