how to rehab your grass

1. Get to the Root of the Matter. Start by dethatching your yard. ...
2. Be On the Straight and Level. All those bumps and divots in your yard can make you mad — or even twist an ankle. ...
3. Build Good Chemistry. Want your yard to love you back? You need good chemistry. Test your soil’s PH levels. ...
4. Feed It. Fertilizer does wonders for starving yards. To create a healthy lawn, use a slow-release fertilizer.
5. Keep Your Invisible Friends Happy. Your yard is a living, breathing community filled with billions of microbes and microscopic organisms per handful of soil.
Air it Out. Some yards are so starved for attention and oxygen, you just need to literally poke them to make them feel alive again.
Spread Some Grass Seed. Use your hands or a broadcast spreader to spread grass seed throughout your lawn. Want more power? ...
Show Some Love. Your newly restored yard needs appropriate care. ...

Full Answer

What to do with dead grass after killing it?

Jan 28, 2022 · Step 1: Get to the Root of the Matter Start by dethatching your yard. Thatch is that thick layer of grass clippings and other organic material at the base of your grass. Too much starves your grass of oxygen and nutrients. Shovel out a …

How do I get rid of crabgrass in my lawn?

Jul 02, 2021 · If more than half of your lawn is screaming for help, start from scratch. Spray your existing grass with a non-selective herbicide ($32, The Home Depot ), which will kill all vegetation it touches. Make sure to read and follow all directions on the label to avoid damaging nearby non-target plants or harming wildlife. 3 of 8 Save Pin FB

Can you fix a weedy lawn and get green grass back?

Mow your lawn at the lowest setting, rake it clean, then add the product to your spreader and apply according to the directions on the label. Water daily for about 2 weeks, then resume mowing when your grass is at the right mowing height, which will depend on your grass type. Check out How to Overseed a Thin Lawn for more info. Need a spreader?

How do I get rid of invasive grasses in my lawn?

Jul 07, 2020 · The warmth of the sun will soon dry the grass and lessen the chance of disease. Avoid nighttime watering, which can encourage disease because of prolonged wetness, and watering during the warmest times of the day, when a lot of the water may evaporate before the plants have a chance to absorb it.

How can I bring my grass back to life?

How to revive dead grassTake stock of the situation. Make sure your grass isn't simply dormant. ... Prepare your site. ... Eliminate excess thatch. ... Aerate by tilling the soil. ... Fertilize the soul after testing. ... Plant new sod or seed. ... Roll the sod. ... After-care process.

How do you repair damaged grass?

0:322:15How To Repair A Lawn - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTaking the soil rate I'm using slightly the edges of the saw rake rather than the flat. I'm justMoreTaking the soil rate I'm using slightly the edges of the saw rake rather than the flat. I'm just working the top dressing material with the seed. Into that hole.

How do you refurbish a lawn?

Steps for Restoring a Lawn Go across the lawn in a straight line and turn and repeat. Use a rake to gather all of the debris from the detatching step into piles and recycle or compost it. To fight soil compaction and allow water and nutrients to reach the roots, use the aerator.

How do you rehab dry grass?

Planting New Grass and Reviving a Dead Lawn The first is to lay down seed. Use a high-quality grass seed and spread it evenly over your prepared lawn. For a larger lawn, you can rent seed spreaders from your local garden store. After the seed is laid down, cover it with a thin layer of soil.Oct 8, 2021

What is killing my grass in spots?

Spilled pesticides or broad-spectrum herbicides such as glyphosate (Roundup) will often cause dead spots in the lawn. 4 Even if you have an appropriate weed killer, its concentration may be just a little too high for your lawn and can kill turf grasses.Apr 9, 2021

Will watering dead grass bring it back?

Watering will help dormant grass become green again, while dead grass will remain brown.

When Should I aerate my lawn?

You want to aerate the lawn when your grass is in its peak growing period so it can recover quickly—think early spring or fall for cool-season grasses, and late spring through early summer for warm-season grasses. If you have high-traffic areas or heavy clay soil, you will want to aerate every year.

Can brown grass turn green again?

How to Revive Brown Grass. Naturally, rain will revive a brown lawn. However, if rainfall is insufficient watering the lawn deeply once a week will help your lawn to spring back to green. With Gilmour's Pattern Master Circular sprinkler, you can customize the spray area so you water only the lawn and not the sidewalk.

How do I revive my lawn after winter?

Here are a few helpful tips for reviving your lawn after the beating it likely took this winter:Feed It Well. Spring is the most critical time to give your lawn a boost. ... Water in the Morning. Fertilizer applications need moisture to work best. ... Ease Into Mowing. ... Start Fighting Weeds. ... Seed Thin Spots.Mar 14, 2019

How deep should I dig my grass for water?

Shallow roots cannot reach as many nutrients as can deep ones and cannot reach water for as long after a rainfall. With a sharp, narrow trowel, dig out a “core sample” from your lawn — a grass plug about six inches deep — and look at the root depth.

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.

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 to sketch a yard?

Start by mapping your current yard. Distances don’t need to be precise, so “sketch” might be a better term, except that there’s no need here for artistry. Note what plants are located where, and sketch in existing structures, trees, shrubs and grass. Also, figure out how much sun different sections of your yard gets.

What does it mean when you see dirt in your yard?

If you can see patches of dirt between the clumps of grass in your yard, you have a problem. Those patches are weed-magnets, and if you don’t fill them with grass, then nature will fill them for you — and probably not with grass. Thatch.

Can earthworms dig in dry soil?

(When the dirt is hard, the digging is harder.) Second, earthworms require moisture, so you won’t find any in dry earth. They’ll have moved out to more appealing quarters, deeper down or under a tree.

Can you roll out a sausage in sandy soil?

Sandy soils will feel gritty and fall apart even when they’re damp, and you cannot roll out a sausage or ribbon of them, or even squeeze them into a coherent lump in your fist. Silt will feel powdery when dry, and will hold together somewhat if you squeeze a lump or roll it out.

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 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 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 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.

Can you water a newly renovated lawn?

Too much could result in flooding or a washout. How often you water all depends on your weather/climate, the amount of sun /shade your new ly renovated lawn gets. You will also benefit from the morning dew.

Can you roll peat moss in a rainstorm?

In the event of a heavy rainstorm, the grass seed can wash away, and these two options will help limit your losses. Covering the grass seed not only keeps the seed and soil moist, but will help prevent birds from eating too much. Get yourself a lawn roller for an added bonus here. You can roll the peat moss.

How do I remove sod from a lawn?

NOTE: The ground should be damp when you undertake this. Removing sod when the top-soil is dry lets the grass-roots dry out very quickly, and the grass can die. If you get interrupted before you have a chance to return the grass to the ground, you can do several things to keep it alive: 1 Make sure it’s in the shade. 2 Cover it at night with a sheet, row-cover, or part of the tarp. 3 By day, keep it covered with a row-cover or old light-colored sheet — something that lets light through. 4 Water it if necessary.

What to do if you have weeds under evergreens?

If your weed patch is under evergreens in an obscure corner of your garden, you have built-in landscaping: pine- needles. Rake away a heavy layer before putting down the newspapers or weed cloth, then rake the needles back without disturbing the weed cover.

What is thatch in soil?

Thatch is a layer of stems, roots and other dead organic matter that accumulates near the soil surface. A thick layer of thatch suggests overuse of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, since these tend to kill off the micro-organisms that help organic matter to decompose.

Why do people rake clippings?

Clippings often get blamed for thatch, and people rake clippings because they don’t want to contribute to thatch build-up, but this is a false problem with a non-solution. Clippings only contribute to thatch if they are excessively long, or if the thatch layer is so deep that it keeps clippings from decomposing.

How to get rid of thatch?

For everyday thatch of less than half an inch in depth, use a rake or a tool designed for removing the matted material. Top-dressing (adding a thin layer of soil or compost) can also be helpful, as the soil dressing contains microorganisms which will help the thatch to decay.

What to do with black plastic in garden?

The simplest option is lay down wood chips, pebbles, or bark, but it’s also possible to plant in the midst of the covered weed patch, or to establish a small garden on top of it.

When should I aerate my lawn?

Aerating may be the single best, long-term thing you can do for your lawn, but you should only do it if the season is just beginning or almost over. Aerating your lawn involves using a special tool to dig little plugs of dirt out of your lawn so that air and water can reach roots. (Yes, it does look like hundreds of tiny turds all over the grass.) Do this in early spring or in fall, and the grass will be stimulated (see Healthy Turf – Aerate the Lawn! ). Do it in mid-summer when the grass is in a quiet, retiring mode, and you can damage rather than improve it, because you are cutting roots which the plants need to get water and nutrients.

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.

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 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 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, ...

Can you dig up weeds in your lawn?

If you only have a few pesky weeds punctuating your lawn, you may be able to dig them up by hand—paying careful attention to make sure you get them roots and all. But if your lawn is overrun with weeds, you may need to start from scratch. Here’s our how-to guide on restoring a lawn full of weeds.

Can herbicides kill grass?

Keep in mind that herbicides can kill whatever plant life they come into contact with—even if the label says otherwise—so handle with care. If your aim is to re-establish your lawn, as we recommend, killing your existing, thinning grass isn’t a big deal, since you will need to start fresh anyway.

Can you use a rake to dethatch grass?

Your raking and tilling from the previous step can help with dethatching, but you can also use a dethatching rake if the layer is too excessive. Aeration improves your grassroots’ access to air, nutrients, and water.

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 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 do I keep my lawn moist after planting?

Water Your New Lawn Well. Once everything's planted, you'll need to keep your renovated lawn moist. For the first week or so after planting, be sure the soil doesn't go dry. After the grass is up and growing, keep the area just moist (not soggy or dry).

How to keep grass at the height you want it?

Be sure the mower blade is sharp the first time you mow; a dull blade could rip the seedlings right out of the ground. Then mow as you normally would to keep the grass at the height you want it. For the health of your turf, don't cut off more than a third of the leaf length during any one mowing.

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!

How often should I water my lawn?

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.

Can you replace sun loving grass with shade?

But if your lawn is suffering because there's too much shade in parts of your yard, you'd be better off replacing sun-loving grass in those areas with low-maintenance ground covers that thrive in shade instead.

How does grass use up nutrients?

As grass (or any plant) grows, it uses up nutrients in the soil. When you mow and bag up clippings, over time all the soil nutrients will get used up so you'll need to add fertilizer. If you let clippings decompose back into the soil instead, that will help a little, but you may still need to replenish available nutrients once in a while. A soil test every year will show you how much you may need to add. When you feed your lawn is important, too.

When is the best time to feed grass?

Augustine, late spring and summer are the prime growing times. In addition, cool-season grasses benefit from feeding in late fall (October or November), when growth has slowed but the grass is still green.

Can you aerate and mow your lawn?

You can aerate, weed, water, and mow in the correct way and still have a lawn that's struggling. Whether you rely on do-it-yourself lawn treatments or hire professionals, it's important that your grass gets what it needs to thrive during the optimal time frame.

Do you need to water your lawn during dry spells?

No matter where you live or what type of grass you have, your lawn will probably need at least some irrigation to keep it green during extended summer dry spells.

Can you water your lawn if it is wet?

If the grass isn't wet, you'll be wasting your time and money. Warm temperatures often help liquid treatments work faster, too. However, if you've been having a hot but dry summer, you'll want to water your lawn first. applying weed treatment to yard. Credit: Scott Little.

Do weed preventers germinate before germination?

Why timing matters: Weed preventers are not effective against weeds that have already begun to grow, so you must apply them before germination to gain any benefit. Crabgrass, the primary target of lawn weed preventers, normally germinates just after forsythia blooms, so take your cue from Mother Nature.

How to help grass grow in drought?

Giving the grass a good long soak is another way to encourage roots to grow deeply into the soil, which strengthens the lawn and helps it survive during times of drought. When the grass has started to look a little grayish and the blades don’t bounce back when you walk on them, it’s time to water.

How to keep grubs from growing in lawn?

To keep grubs from growing in your lawn for up to 4 months, apply Scotts® GrubEx® as directed from spring to early summer. Bonus: Grubs are a food source for moles, which are a close second to grubs when it comes to lawn destruction. Take away the grubs and the moles will have less reason to hang out in your yard.

How to discourage weeds from sprouting?

By letting the grass grow to its optimum height, you ’ll encourage it to establish a deeper root system while shading the soil to help discourage weed seeds from sprouting. It’s also important to mow frequently enough that you’re never removing more than 1/3 of the grass blade height at a time.

Can lawn pros do anything?

After all, lawn pros don’t do anything to your grass that you can’t do yourself—they just know precisely what to use on your lawn, plus how and when to use it. While they may not want to share their secrets, we’re happy to do just that. Read on to discover the 6 things you can do to create a gorgeous lawn that will have your neighbors clamoring ...

Why does my grass grow so fast?

Nitrogen aids in the necessary growth of your roots and grass leaves, but too much of it can also cause thatch to grow too quickly. As your grass breaks down , it adds to the thatch layer, growing it faster than it can deteriorate.

What are the layers of grass that are cut out?

If you were to cut out a thin cross-section of your lawn, you’d spot three distinct layers—the roots and soil, the thatch layer, and the grass leaves. Thatch is a naturally occurring collection of dead and living organic material that plays a part in protecting your turf’s long-term health.

What is a dethatching rake?

Dethatching rake. Vertical mower. Special attachment to your mower. Dethatching is a bit like the process of aeration—a task that removes small cores of soil, roots, thatch, and grass to welcome air and water back into the deeper layers of the earth.

What is a cavex rake?

Thatching Rake (Cavex Rake) For simpler jobs or for a quick pass at the beginning of the season, a thatching rake will do the job just fine. The tool looks a lot like a traditional rake, but its teeth are much sharper and shaped to cut into the ground and pull up the thatch beneath your grass.

Why does my soil take off my thatch?

Your thatch needs a collection of microorganisms to break down the thatch naturally. If your soil becomes too acidic , it can no longer support these organisms, causing your thatch to take off. Measure your soil pH with an at-home test or speak with your local landscape professional.

Can power dethatchers be used on large lawns?

Power dethatchers, however, are always best for large lawns, especially if you want to save yourself some time and energy. Lawns in need of a serious dethatching require professional care. Your local TruGreen team will have the tools and experience to remove thick thatch without damaging your existing turf.

When to use vertical mower?

Only use vertical mowers during a high growing season when you know your turf is ready to heal quickly.