How To Patch An Old Lawn For A Better Looking Yard

If your lawn is ragged, weedy, or has bare spots, now is the best time to renovate it.

Often the poor condition of a lawn is due to improper maintenance practices, such as mowing too short, irregular watering and inadequate fertilization. If a correction of these practices isn’t enough, you can improve your lawn by following a good renovation program.

Before attempting to prepare the bare spots and eradicate the weeds, mow your old lawn closely and remove all the clippings. If your soil is extremely low in nutrients, it would be a good idea to have the soil tested. Otherwise, an application of 5-10-5 at the rate of 40 pounds per 1000 square feet would be adequate. If your soil tends to be acid, add lime, also. Rake in the fertilizer and lime on the bare spots.

The simplest and most efficient way to get rid of the crabgrass that may have taken over your lawn is to kill it with a weed killer or pull it all out. Since this material will kill desirable grass as well as weeds and weed seed, it should be applied only where you plan to reseed.

Three weeks after treating the soil the area is ready to be seeded. Rake off the dead grass and weeds, and break any crust that may have formed. You should be careful not to stir the soil deeper than 1/2 inch, because the soil below this depth is not weed-free. Now the bare spots can be reseeded. Your particular conditions determine the best grass to use, but, in general, a grass mixture gives the best results. Scatter the seed, rake it in very lightly and roll the seeded area. If the bed is on a slope, apply a hay mulch.

Keep the soil moist until the seedlings are well established. As soon as the new lawn is high enough you can mow it. but remember that a bluegrass or fescue lawn should never be cut any shorter than 1-1/2 inches.

If this renovation procedure has been followed, you will have a good stand of strong healthy grass. However, all your effort will have been wasted if you give your lawn improper care. Mowing, fertilization and watering are most important. Mow your lawn to the proper height. Apply an adequate amount of fertilizer each spring and fall. Give your lawn a good soaking regularly so it never is allowed to dry out and wilt.