Is your lawn filled with more weeds and bare patches than grass? Does nothing you do help to grow a better lawn? It might be time to give your lawn a fresh new start, especially if you’re thinking of selling your home.

1. What’s The Problem?

Figuring out the problem with your lawn is the first step in fixing it. Is there any area that’s simply too shady to grow grass properly? Perhaps add a landscaping feature where grass struggles to grow. Is your lawn plagued with grubs? Are you using the right type of grass for your soil and climate type? Addressing these issues first will help you improve your chances of your lawn growing beautifully after replanting.

2. Out With The Old

The second step is to get rid of weeds, crab grass and unhealthy grass first. If more than half of your lawn is filled with weeds and other invasive vegetation, it might be best to start from scratch. Do this by spraying existing grass and weeds with a non-selective herbicide. Carefully follow the directions and safety precautions on the label. It will take a few days for the herbicide to kill off the grass and weeds.

3. Take It Down Low

Once the turf is dead, set your mower to the lowest setting and mow the lawn. This will ensure that any dead vegetation will not shade the new grass while leaving the roots of the existing turf intact to prevent against soil erosion.

4. Rake and Repeat

The excess organic material from the dead turf needs to be raked using a power rake until only approximately 6-7 mm of thatch is left. Bare soil should comprise 50% of your lawn now. A Power Rake is available at many rental places and at some hardware stores like select Home Depots. Have the staff at the rental place adjust the blades for you. A power rake is required and can not be substituted by manually raking. A dethatcher can sometimes be used instead depending on the size and condition of your lawn. The process of power raking will also aerate your lawn making it more conducive to over seeding. Now that your yard is prepped, spread a thin layer of compost and manually rake it in evenly.

5. Over Seed

Selecting high quality grass seeds that are designed for your soil type and area will help ensure better success. There are all types of seeds and seed-mixes available. Regardless of what you choose, ensure you follow the instructions, to determine the correct amount of seed coverage that you require. Insufficient seeding will result in a thin, poor looking lawn. To uniformly apply the seed, spread half in a north/south direction, then apply the other half in an east/west direction (you'll be less likely to end up with bare spots).

6. Water Well

Properly watering your lawn over the first 7-days is most critical. Ensure the soil is kept moist (not soggy) and never goes dry in the first week. The best time to water your lawn is early morning while there is still dew on the ground, however, you may need to water the lawn several times a day to keep it moist. Water in short 5 minute intervals. Refrain from watering when the sun is out in full force. After a full week has gone by, you may switch to once-a-day watering schedule (15 minute intervals each time). Ensure you do not over water or else your new seeds may be washed away.

7. Feeding Time

Once the new grass is 2.5 cm tall, it’s time to feed the grass with fertilizer. The fertilizer will encourage growth. Compost can also be used as an organic option.
NOTE: Ensure there’s growth as fertilizing too early could burn the roots of the new grass

8. Final Touches

Hopefully your lawn has grown in beautifully. Wait until the grass reaches 7-8 cm before mowing it. Ensure your mower has sharp blades to reduce the likelihood of ripping the seedlings out of the soil. Mow weekly or bi-weekly but ensure that you do not mow your lawn too short. Enjoy your healthy

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If you are considering buying or selling a home and would like advice or more information, please contact me for a no-obligation consultation.

Call Lynne Blott at 416-540-7307 or e-mail at lynne@lynneblott.com