Having a freshly kept uniformly even green lawn is on just about every home owner’s task list, as it’s what brings that additional curb side appeal to neighbourhood. Even a freshly laid turf will at some point require basic upkeep. You’ll be amazed at what a few basic lawn repairs can do to the aesthetic appeal of your property, and you can make major headway in a short amount of time. Aside from affecting the general appearance, the condition of your lawn can also be a significant factor in determining the resale value of your home if you are thinking about putting it on the market sometime soon.
The most important part of growing new grass is patience. You’ll need a little of that as Mother Nature does her work, however the actual time you put into physical labour will be minimal. In this article we cover some of the basic steps to repair that less than perfect lawn and get you up to par.
Steps to Repair your Lawn
- Prepare Tools – You’ll need the following lawn supplies to get going:
- Rake
- Straw
- Trowel
- Grass Seed
- Top Soil
- Hand Shovel
- Clear out the weeds
The initial step to take is to remove anything that shouldn’t be there. This means weeds such as dandelions, thistles, and random clusters of unknown sprouts. The best way to do this is with a small hand shovel. You can also use a small flat headed screw driver for smaller roots. Be sure to not tear the weeds off at the surface level. That is not effectively removing the plant, as it will just grow back. Remove the entire plant including the roots out from the ground, and then place them right into garbage or a lawn refuse bag. Note…you should never just leave them lying around on the ground to be chopped up by the lawn mower. This can actually help spread the seeds of the weed, making it more of pest to remove later.
- Prep for Seeds
Once all of the weeds are out of the ground, you need to tend to the bare spots. Before you plant new grass seed, make sure the soil on these spots is ready and able to grow things. If the ground is very rocky or hard, the seeds will likely wash away before they have a chance to take root. If the ground isn’t ready for seed, buy some topsoil to spread over these areas.
- Apply a grass seed Pad
There are several options available to you when you are ready to seed the repaired areas. The traditional way is to buy a bag of grass seed and spread it by hand. Then, spread straw over the seeded areas. There are several reasons for doing this. First, the straw keeps the newly sewn seed from washing away when it rains and when you water it. Second, it helps hide your new grass seed from the birds, who will view your lawn patches as a free lunch. Third, the straw keeps the soil and seed moist, for good seed germination.
- Water and Maintain
Proper follow up is the most critical aspect of your yard improvement project. Make sure that your new grass gets plenty of water and that you don’t get to anxious about cutting it. Mowing your new grass too soon can uproot the tender new shoots. If the grass is in direct sunlight, cutting it to soon can also cause the grass to burn. After your new grass has had the time to grow and become a viable part of your yard, begin a lawn maintenance program
Not enough time to repair existing grass?
Sometimes you may not have time to spare and need a new lawn immediately. In situations where you are hosting a backyard party or if your house is going up for sale unexpectedly, you may not have the time to nurture a yard back to health the old-fashioned way. In these cases, laying a new turf is your best option. Rolls of turf can be purchased at any turf supplies shop in your area. This is a really quick way to solve your lawn problems that can be a lot more efficient than plating your own grass. However it is also fairly expensive, so you’ll want to make sure that you take care of your investment.
