how to repair spotty lawn

1. Grass Seed. One of the most common methods for repairing bare spots is to seed the bare patches. ...
2. Grass Plugs. An alternative to applying grass seed is planting grass plugs in the bare spots to create a uniform surface.
3. Treat Lawn with Insect or Disease Control Products. If the cause for bare spots is disease or insects, then you’ll need to treat your lawn with an insect control ...
4. Apply Fertilizer. For lawns with poor soil conditions, applying fertilizer may help fix the bare spots in your lawn. ...
5. Choose the Best Type of Grass for Your Lawn. Bare spots often occur due to cold weather or excessive shade. ...

Full Answer

How to repair bare spots in the lawn?

How to Repair Bare Spots in Your Lawn 1 Addressing underlying issues. Rooting out causes of bare spots is an important part of the repair process and helps prevent repeats next season. 2 Preparing bare spots for repair. ... 3 Applying your seeding mixture. ... 4 Maintaining repaired areas. ...

How do you fix a patchy lawn?

You can also use a lawn repair mix ($15, The Home Depot) that includes grass seed and mulch or soil, and just sprinkle that on top of the bare patch. Mow the new grass when it reaches about 3 inches tall. Spread a thin layer of topsoil or straw over the lawn repair area that you've just patched with seed.

How do you get rid of bare spots on grass seed?

While you may not be able to prevent bare spots completely, you can keep your lawn as healthy and green as possible. Using a fine spray from a hose, keep the soil moist, but not drenched. Preventing the soil from drying out allows the roots from the grass seed to enter the soil.

How do I get rid of brown spots on my lawn?

To repair existing brown spots, rake the affected area to remove the dead grass, then applying Scotts® EZ Seed® Patch & Repairfor small areas or Scotts® Turf Builder® Grass Seedfor larger areas. With all of these products, be sure to follow label directions. Dog Urine Burns

How do you fix a patchy uneven lawn?

Areas of a lawn can become uneven over time, due to settling, drainage issues, and various natural and unnatural causes. In the least extreme cases, you can solve the problem by topdressing with a thin layer of leveling mix (soil, compost, and sand).

Why is my lawn so spotty?

The most common reason that lawns deteriorate and patchy areas of poor or no growth develop is the lack of sunlight. Grass thrives on full sun, so if you have shady areas, a fence that has just gone up, or a new tree blocking sunlight, you may start to lose patches of green.

Can too much water cause brown spots on grass?

Excessive moisture can lead to Brown patch, so be sure to water your lawn either early in the morning before 10 a.m., or between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to ensure that the grass dries out fully before nightfall. If you allow your grass to remain wet all night, it will become more susceptible to disease and pests.

What lawn fungus looks like?

Affected grass blades have hourglass-shaped lesions with bleached centers and brown to purple borders. In the mornings, you might see cobweb-like mycelium coating the turf. If favorable conditions allow the disease to spread, the spots may merge to create large areas of dead grass.

What causes small round dead spots in lawn?

A fungus called Rhizoctonia infects your grass and causes the area to develop a circular spot of brown and dead grass. You may also notice a dark ring around the patch and tan lesions on the individual grass blades.

How do I fix brown patches on my lawn UK?

To tackle disease-related brown patches, you should: Aerate your lawn - small, deep holes can improve the grassroots' water and nutrient consumption. Keep mowing to a minimum in moist, damp conditions - aim for sunny, dry days to cut the grass. Scarify your lawn to remove thatch and prevent repeat problems.

How do I repair a lawn?

Spread a thin layer of topsoil or straw over the lawn repair area that you've just patched with seed. This protects the seed and, later, the sprouts from wind or getting washed away. More importantly, by covering the soil, it reduces moisture loss. A constant supply of moisture is the key to good germination for a repaired lawn.

What do I need to repair a lawn?

What You Need for Lawn Repair. To fix larger areas of your lawn, you'll need a few tools. If you're just working on a small patch, you can get away with just gras s seed, topsoil, and a trowel. Lawn mower.

How do I patch a dead lawn?

Prepare the soil the same way you would for patching with seed. Keep the area an inch or so below grade so the new grass will be level with the lawn. Then cut a piece from the strip of sod to fit the repair site. Press it firmly onto the soil, placing its edges snugly against the surrounding lawn. Walk on it to settle it into place. Water deeply and often until roots grow into the soil beneath the sod.

How often should I fertilize my lawn?

Keeping a lawn in tip-top shape often means applying an organic fertilizer twice a year, aerating periodically to discourage thatch buildup and soil compaction, watering regularly, and properly mowing it. But even if you do everything right, you can still end up with bare, thin, or weedy patches here and there.

Why is my lawn bare?

One of the most important parts of lawn repair is figuring out what has caused the problem. Sometimes an accident, such as a fertilizer spill, creates a bare spot in the lawn. Or there could be a plant disease, destructive insects, or competition for light and moisture from overgrown neighboring plants.

How to grow grass seed in a garden?

Otherwise, use a mixture of grasses appropriate for your region. Cover seeds with a light sprinkling of topsoil or a thin layer of compost. Then, lightly water the area to help the seeds germinate.

Why is rooting out bare spots important?

Rooting out causes of bare spots is an important part of the repair process and helps prevent repeats next season. Some damage doesn't require investigation — de-icing salts, household pets and snow removal equipment leave clear calling cards — but other causes aren't always apparent.

What to do if soil is too alkaline?

If your soil becomes too alkaline, a soil test confirms the best approach to lower your soil pH. Sandy soils and clay soils react differently, so follow the recommendations made for your specific soil. Simple corrections at repair time position new seed for optimal growth.

Is green grass good for spring?

Even well-maintained lawns can yield bare or thin spots, but early spring provides excellent opportunities for corrections.

Does Pennington fast acting lime help with pH?

Pennington Fast Acting Lime applied according to soil test results quickly restores acidic soil to the pH range needed for healthy grass growth.

What causes dead spots in lawns?

Dead spots can also occur in the lawn when annual weeds like crabgrass, annual bluegrass, and foxtail begin to die back. This is a natural cycle that can be avoided with proper lawn maintenance and quickly patched with Scotts® EZ Seed® Patch & Repair. As always, be sure to follow the directions on the label.

Why does my lawn have thatch?

Thatch can build up when the lawn is not properly watered, fed, or mowed. It’s an accumulation of dead and decaying plant material between the plant leaf blades and the root system that prevents water and food from getting to the roots. When thatch build-up is high, grass plants can actually start to grow roots up in the thatch layer. Because that layer won’t hold water, the plants begin to dry out, causing brown spots in the lawn. To solve the problem, follow the steps in this article to dethatch your lawn.

Why is my lawn turning brown?

When thatch build-up is high, grass plants can actually start to grow roots up in the thatch layer. Because that layer won’t hold water, the plants begin to dry out, causing brown spots in the lawn. To solve the problem, follow the steps in this article to dethatch your lawn. If your lawn develops brown patches, don’t panic.

Why do GRUB patches roll up?

Patches caused by grubs will feel sponge-like and roll up when raked because of the root damage. To kill existing grubs and prevent future grub damage, use Scotts®GrubEx®1 every spring. Damage can be repaired at any time, though fall is best.