Susan is also blogging at GardenRant.Patching Bare Spots in Your Lawn
Bare spots happen, they're unsightly and discouraging, but fixable.
Best time? Early September, just like for starting a new lawn or overseeding an old one. The second best time is in the spring.
Here are the basic steps but for more detail, see instructions for planting a new lawn.
- Remove plant debris with garden rake (or cultivator for a small spot — photo right).
- Especially If your soil is clay, it's helpful to spread some compost over the area.
- Smooth with a rake or smaller tool, like your hand.
- Sprinkle a fairly thick layer of premium grass seed over the spot.
- Tamp it down with your hands.
- Apply a thin (1/4 inch) layer of straw, sifted compost, soil-less growing medium or Canadian spaghnum peat moss as mulch.
- Water at least daily to keep the seeds constantly moist for 3 weeks, as you would for a new lawn.
Patching with sod instead
Sod can be purchased at the local garden center or big-box hardware store for — and here online sources vary considerably — 15 to 50 cents per square foot.
- Remove soil to one inch or so below the level of the surrounding soil, so the sod will be at the same level as the existing lawn.
- Cut sod to fit the spot with a snug fit against the surrounding turf.
- Follow watering instructions that come with the sod — carefully.
Dog damage
We love our dogs but they can be terrible on lawns, especially the females, and if you have one you already know that. They leave telltale dead spots with green growth around the edges.
Always flush the area with water immediately after a dog has peed on it, if possible. Also remove feces as soon as possible to keep it from smothering and killing the grass. If damage has already been done, follow the instructions above for repairing spots.
More Good Information Online
- Jeff Ball is the Yardener, and a big thank-you to Jeff for his help in compiling the information on this page.
- I'm a big fan of Paul Tukey and the gang at SafeLawns.org for spreading the word about organic lawn care. There are videos and more on that link. Here's an article I wrote about their kick-off event at the U.S. Capitol.
- The National Coalition for Pesticide-Free Lawns is a great cause.
- Here's a list of publications from the Univ. of Maryland — scroll down to lawn.
- Here's an article from Cornell about how to have a green lawn (and it's not from adding fertilizer.)
- Here's some videos from Cornell about new lawns and maintenance of existing ones.
More Information in Print
- Organic Lawn Care
by Paul Tukey, founder of the important SafeLawns campaign. - Down to Earth Natural Lawn Care
by Raymond - Food not Lawn
by Flores is making quite a splash in the "green" world. - Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Lawn
by Steinberg is not a how-to book but a great read.