Reviving a Dead Lawn

Reviving a dead lawn is a simple process. A visual inspection should help to decide if it needs reviving, replacing or planting. Once you’ve decided to revive your lawn, decide whether to sod or seed. Sod is a faster remedy but more expensive than seeding. 

If you have the time to seed, you will need the following tools and equipment: 

• Seeds
• An aerator machine or manual aerator
• A dethatching machine
• A drop spreader or hand cranked broadcast spreader
• A turfgrass starter fertilizer
• Water
• Gloves, work boots and dust mask

 Aerating

An aerator machine has a T-bar and four hollow pipes that plunge into a lawn and remove cores of soil. If your lawn is large, try a mechanical core aerator instead. Be sure to follow instructions on how to operate them safely and effectively.

The process works best if the lawn is watered at least one day before aerating.

Walk across the lawn in a regulated pattern to make sure that you have covered each area and leave the cores on the ground for the next phase

Fill the Holes

Crush the soil cores and add peat moss if necessary to make sure there is enough soil to fill in the holes. Use a garden rake to fill in the holes and level.

Dethatching

The dethatching machine will loosen dead grass and any other growth between the grass and soil and bring it to the surface. Run the machine in three or four different directions so that the entire lawn is covered. This will promote an even appearance and help with the growing process.

Dethatching can be carried out with a hand rake or a mechanical dethatching machine.

Seeding

4 lbs. of seed will cover 1,000 square feet. Check with your local lawn and garden store to see the specifics on the amount and type of seed needed.

Using your drop spreader or hand cranked broadcast spreader, drop the seeds in two different directions taking care to spread the seed evenly. Consider using mulch on bare areas to keep the seed in place.

Fertilizing

 Be sure to use a lawn fertilizer that is made for your particular type of grass.

Use fertilizers that have more than one ingredient and contain nitrogen. Water-soluble lawn food doesn’t last long so you will need to reapply it regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Watering

New areas that have been seeded need to be moist especially when the seeds begin to germinate. You may want to use straw mulch to help retain moisture. Two bales for every 1000 feet should be ample.

Watering will need to take place over several weeks. Seeds need to be watered using a fine spray to avoid overloading the seed. The soil should be kept evenly moist which may require watering several times a day depending on the weather conditions.

Keep the top inch of the seedbed moist until the seed germinates. Allowing seeds to dry out will kill them so continue watering regularly to achieve a great-looking lawn.