how to rehab old lawn

How to apply fertilizer to lawn?

To apply the right amount of fertilizer, measure from the wheel to the edge of the dispersal pattern. Space your passes across the lawn so the coverage overlaps by 6 to 8 inches. Do this test every time you spread a new product. Step 3.

What is the best time to water a lawn?

The timer controls the sprinkler, so you'll be sure the lawn gets the proper amount of water. Pro tip: The best time to water is early morning, when the sun starts to rise.

How to tell if your lawn is compacted?

Here are several indicators of compacted soil: 1 Rain runs off or puddles rather than soaking into lawn. 2 It’s difficult to push a trowel or dandelion weeder into the ground when it’s dry. 3 Grass roots extend less than three inches into top soil. (Check grass plug!) 4 Even a good rainfall doesn’t soak into soil. (Dig to check. Soil should be damp 4 or 6 inches deep.) 5 Topsoil is thin — less than 6 inches deep. 6 Ice remains on lawn after snow has melted elsewhere.

What happens if you don't have a laptop?

If you don’t have a laptop, or a perfect memory, you’ll do a lot of running inside and out unless you pull a sprig (with a bit of root) and take it with you to wherever you’ll be doing the job. Density. If you can see patches of dirt between the clumps of grass in your yard, you have a problem.

How long does it take to repair a lawn?

Rebuilding a damaged lawn takes about two years, so figure on investing a fair amount of energy on planning in the early days. There are three steps to this process: finding out what you’ve got, figuring out what you want, and then planning how to get from the one to the other.

Where can I get a pH test kit?

You can buy kits to measure pH at home, or you can have it tested professionally, either by a university extension office, a county agricultural office, or a local nursery or landscaper . The home kits are relatively easy to use, but be sure to get a good one so that you can trust the results.

Is silt good for gardening?

Wet, it feels slick or even slippery. Loam, at 20% clay, 40% silt, and 40% sand, is generally considered ideal for gardening.

What is Concern Weed Prevention Plus?

An all-natural organic weed and feed for use on lawns. Derived from corn gluten meal, bone meal and potassium sulfate, Concern® Weed Prevention Plus (8-2-4) provides a fast green-up and will not burn. Prevents crabgrass, dandelions and many other common weeds. Each 25 lb bag covers 1500 square feet.

How thick is a sandpaper?

It’s a good thing as long as it’s only about a quarter to half an inch thick, as it helps slow evaporation from the ground, provides organic matter to the soil, protects both soil and roots from summer’s heat, and to some extent slows seed germination, thus providing a minor barrier against weeds.

How long does it take to renovate a lawn?

How long? Plan at least two weeks from start to finish. Regardless, the absolute best time to fully renovate your lawn is the end of summer/early fall. Air temps begin to drop, soil temps stay warm, and most of the pesky weeds have already come and gone.

How long does it take for Kentucky bluegrass to germinate?

Longer germinating grasses like Kentucky Bluegrass (upwards or 3 weeks to germinate) will need to go down a bit sooner than a grass like Perennial Ryegrass (a week or less). Page Contents [ hide] 1 1. Kill the existing lawn. 2 2.

How to get rid of brown grass?

2. Scalp the lawn. Once the lawn has turned brown after one or more applications of non-selective herbicide, it’s time to mow low. This may be a two or three step process but lowering your height of cut (HOC) a couple of times. Bag your clippings.

How to get rid of plugs in lawn?

Removing plugs from your lawn with a core aerator will help allow more air into the soon-to-be root zone, and allow more nutrients, fertilizers and water to sink deeper into the soil. Aeration will also help relieve compaction, which helps roots grow farther downward, versus upwards.

How much weight does peat moss hold in water?

Water retention is key, so opt for a light covering of peat moss. Peat moss hold 25 times its weight in water and is the best options. You can use your hands (wear gloves and be prepared to get very dirty) or a peat moss roller. Again, like the step above, you want just a light layer here.

What does smothering your lawn do?

Smother your lawn. Smothering your lawn will block light and prevent photosynthesis, killing the grass and weeds. The smothering method is not as dependent upon the weather as solarization or herbicides.

How do I replace an old lawn?

Two of the best ways to replace an old lawn with a new one are planting with seeds, or laying down grass that comes in strips of sod. Sodded grass cuts back significantly on the time you have to wait for your new lawn to replace your old. Seeded grass is cheaper and can be more dependable.

Who is Jeremy Yamaguchi?

Jeremy Yamaguchi is a Lawn Care Specialist and the Founder/CEO of Lawn Love, a digital marketplace for lawn care and gardening services. Jeremy provides instant satellite quotes and can coordinate service from a smartphone or web browser.

How do I remove old grass from my lawn?

Use solarization to remove your old lawn. Solarization uses the sun’s heat to kill the old grass by cooking it. Weeds, seeds and pathogens are also removed.You’ll need to cover the entire lawn with clear plastic. Keep the lawn covered for about 7 weeks. Cloudy days slow things down.

Who is the founder of Lawn Love?

This article was co-authored by Jeremy Yamaguchi. Jeremy Yamaguchi is a Lawn Care Specialist and the Founder/CEO of Lawn Love, a digital marketplace for lawn care and gardening services. Jeremy provides instant satellite quotes and can coordinate service from a smartphone or web browser. The company has raised funding from notable investors like Y Combinator, Joe Montana, Alexis Ohanian, Barbara Corcoran and others. This article has been viewed 308,455 times.

How to get rid of weeds in a garden?

Add just a few drops of dishwashing liquid soap or another surfactant to help the herbicide stick to vegetation. Apply the herbicide on a sunny day (60 degrees or above) so that the herbicide will dry quickly. Choose a day with little to no wind to avoid drifting.

How long does it take to solarize a lawn?

Exactly! In order to solarize a lawn, you need to have a lot of sunny days over a period of several weeks. In order to use herbicide, you need a sunny day with low wind. But smothering, though it takes a long time, can be used regardless of weather conditions. Read on for another quiz question.

How to keep grass from growing?

Different types of grasses require different mowing heights to keep them performing at their best. Check your lawn mower height setting. The last thing you want to do is mow the grass too short as it opens the grass up to problems with pests and diseases. You could even kill it by scalping into the roots. Keeping the grass mowed on a regular basis cuts down on weed problems and leads to a thicker lawn. Don’t bag your grass clippings: It’s better to let them mulch the lawn. Depending on local weather conditions, you will probably have to mow weekly, especially during the growing seasons of spring through summer.

How to get rid of weeds in lawn?

Spray a nonselective herbicide like glyphosate over areas of the lawn containing weeds or grass. Be sure to cover all areas of the vegetation with the herbicide and keep children and pets off the area until the product dries, which generally takes a couple of hours.

What causes dead grass?

Below are the major causes of dead grass: 1 Poor preparation and installation: Properly preparing the area and installing new grass is much more than spreading seed or laying sod over the area and if done incorrectly, seed and sod won’t properly grow and can eventually die. 2 Cultural Practices: Keeping your lawn green and happy involves properly watering, feeding and mowing at the proper height for the particular grass you are growing. In the turfgrass industry, these are called “cultural practices.” When not correctly carried out, any of them can lead to your turf’s demise. 3 Grass Type: Make sure the grass you are growing is hardy in your particular climate and grows in the light conditions present in your yard. Planting grass that prefers a sunny location in the shade, or using grass not hardy in your area of the country leads to its eventual death. 4 Pests and Diseases: Various pests and diseases affect turfgrass, leading to a weakened state and possible death. You can take a sample of the affected turf to your local garden store for diagnosis or contact your local county Extension Office. It’s imperative to treat the pest or disease problem before installing new grass in the area.

Why is my lawn dying?

There are several reasons your lawn might bite the dust, including pests, disease, poor preparation and installation techniques, improper watering and feeding, or the wrong type of grass for the environment. Of course, figuring out what caused your grass to die is the first and most important step in reviving a dead lawn ...

What causes turfgrass to die?

Pests and Diseases: Various pests and diseases affect turfgrass, leading to a weakened state and possible death. You can take a sample of the affected turf to your local garden store for diagnosis or contact your local county Extension Office.

When do grasses go dormant?

Northern, cool-season grasses can go dormant in midsummer, particularly under drought conditions, going from a green color to brown grass. Closely inspect the crowns of your grass plants — the whitish area at the base of the plant, from which individual grass blades emerge.

Who is Joyce Starr?

Joyce Starr has been writing on horticultural and landscaping topics for over 15 years. In addition, for the past 20 years she’s owned and operated a landscaping and design business. She shares her experience and passion for all things green through her writing.

How can I get rid of grass in my yard?

Give Your Lawn a Fresh Start. spray lawn with herbicide. Credit: Adam Albright. If more than half of your lawn is screaming for help, start from scratch. Spray your existing grass with a non-selective herbicide, which will kill all vegetation it touches.

How to fix dead grass?

Once the herbicide has had a few days to work, mow the dead turf as short as you can. It may seem counter-intuitive to totally scalp your lawn to repair it, but this low mowing will keep the dead plants from shading your new lawn too much, while leaving the remains of their roots intact to prevent erosion until fresh grass can grow.

How often should I water my lawn after planting?

This may mean watering a couple of times a day early on (for short, five-minute applications). Over time, you can go to a once-a-day watering for 10 or 15 minutes.

How tall should I mowing my lawn?

When the grass is about three inches tall, give it its first mowing. This will discourage weeds and encourage the spread of your new grass. This simple step makes a huge difference in the success of the project!

What is reseeding a lawn?

Introduction. Reseeding is a job you can do in a weekend if you have an average-sized lawn. You’ll have to wrestle home a couple of engine-powered rental machines. And once your work is done, be prepared to keep the soil damp with daily watering for the first month or so. It’s the key to a successful reseeding job.

How do I get rid of weeds in my lawn?

Kill the Weeds. Use a hose-end sprayer to spray the lawn with a broadleaf weed killer at least three weeks before you plant the new grass seed. Wear eye protection, gloves, a long-sleeve shirt, long pants and waterproof shoes.

Why use a broadcast spreader?

In most cases, a broadcast spreader is the best choice because it evenly distributes seed or fertilizer for thorough coverage. If you have a large yard bordered by flower beds or vegetable gardens, use a drop spreader to spread the seed near them before doing the majority of the yard with a broadcast spreader.

What is the best way to kill weeds in a lawn?

A hose-end sprayer with concentrated weed killer is the fastest and easiest application method (photo with Step 1). But if your lawn is hopelessly bare or completely covered with weeds, it’s best to go “scorched earth” and kill all the vegetation with a nonselective herbicide and start over.

How do aerators work?

Aerators pull small plugs from the soil and deposit them on the surface. That loosens the soil, making it easier for roots to grow deep into the soil. The plugs will be pulverized in the next step — power raking — to form loose soil for the seeds to germinate in.

Can a thunderstorm wash away seed?

A big thunderstorm could wash your seed away, so pay attention to long-range forecasts and plan accordingly. That’s especially true if your yard is sloped enough that it doesn’t take much water to wash away seed. Before you start the soil prep, set your mower to its lowest setting and give your yard a buzz cut. Step 2.

How do I scarify my lawn?

Power rakes spin metal tines at high speed to scarify and loosen the soil as well as break up the aerator plugs. They also lift thatch from your lawn. Go over the whole lawn from two directions. Rake up and remove dead debris if it completely covers the ground and might prevent seed from contacting the soil. Step 5.

What happens if your lawn is patchy?

If your lawn is patchy and full of weeds, it will never be the envy of the neighborhood. What you’re after is a lush, green lawn with even grass and no dandelions poking their way through. That may sound hard to achieve, but it isn’t too difficult if you follow these steps. If you only have a few pesky weeds punctuating your lawn, ...

Why is my lawn full of weeds?

3 Reasons Your Lawn Is Full of Weeds. Starting out, you probably want to know just why weeds have overtaken your grass, so you can prevent it from happening again. Poor grass growth: Weeds thrive in thinning grass. The best way to keep weeds out is to have thick, tall, dense grass all over your lawn.

What happens if you cut grass too short?

If your grass is cut too short, it’s more susceptible to a full-on weed invasion. Setting your mower to the highest setting can help with this. Not enough water: Weeds tend to have robust root systems, and can easily compete with your grass for moisture.

Why use a broadcast spreader?

For the majority of the work, you should use a broadcast spreader because they distribute seed evenly, allowing for thorough coverage. But you’ll want to use a drop spreader around the edges of garden beds to make sure you don’t inadvertently drop seed into them.

What is the difference between a pre-emergence and a post-emergence herbicide?

Next, it’s time to select the proper weed treatment based on both weed classification and the stage in their life cycle. Pre-emergent herbicides tackle weed issues before they spring up. Post-emergent herbicides target established weeds.

Can you use phosphorus in fertilizer?

However, due to concerns about water pollution, many states prohibit the use of phosphorus in fertilizers. Some states may allow phosphorus in fertilizers for establishing new lawns. If so, you’ll find fertilizers labeled “new lawn” or “starter fertilizer.”.

What happens if you don't water your grass?

If you are not watering your grass enough, the weeds can absorb what water there is, taking it away from your grassroots. Compacted soil: If your soil becomes too compacted, whether from excessive foot traffic or poor soil composition, your grassroots won’t have access to the nutrients, water, or air they need.