When it was time to take the pool down, we were left with that horrible brown spot in the middle of our lawn (okay, not quite the middle because I had it off to the side). Still, the lawn looks awful and there is very little that I can do to fix it now.

Next year, however, I can ensure that my lawn comes back as green as the rest by just following a few simple steps.

1. Find a grass seed that is similar to the grass in your yard. It doesn’t have to be the same seed, something that can be hard to find if you didn’t lay the original sod, but there are many varieties that will blend in.
2. Before you apply the grass seed, get the space ready. Just like when you are aerating the yard, prick the soil with a rake or a fork. Don’t go too deep since this is just a brick and not a full aeration.
3. As you work, remove any weeds, no sense leaving them there to choke the seeds you are putting down.
4. Take a steel head rake and level the surface that is bald or brown. The rake will create a small furrows for your grass seed.
5. Apply a thin layer of compost (about an inch) if you are not working with a bald space. You can also use a starter soil. Use the rake to create the small furrows.
6. Add the grass seed across the space. Make sure it covers well.
7. Take the rake and lightly draw it across the area in right angles. This will cover the furrows with a thin layer of the soil or compost.
8. Finish off by stretching black cotton thread over the area and tying the thread down with some stakes. This will keep the birds from eating all the seeds.
9. Finally, water and continue to water.

One final point to mention about repairing your lawn is to repair in October or early November at the latest. If it is too hot or dry, your grass seeds are not going to have a chance to grow and you will have wasted both the time and money it took to apply the seed.

All the best and goodluck with that green lawn.

Sirena Van Schaik

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1. The Green Lawn
2. Lawn Care Basics
3. Feeding Your Lawn With Fertilizer

Sure, maybe I just expect perfection but it often seems that people either forget the edging or the edging is so wide that they need a bridge just to step across it. (Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit but just the other week, I almost sprained my ankle when I slipped into someone’s attempt at edging.)

Making a neat edge, doesn’t have to be that hard. In fact it is rather simple and all it takes is the right tools.

For any type of edging, you will want to have a pair of sheers. You can use regular sheers but considering the size of some lawns, it is better to have a long handled pair of sheers or a mechanical edge trimmer.

Many people believe that for a neat edge, there has to be an actual gap of an inch or two between the flagstone (or sidewalk) and the lawn. This isn’t necessary at all and can actually lead to soil erosion, something you do not want to deal with. Instead of digging out an edge, simply run your sheers or edge trimmer along the grass where it meets the pavement. This will clip the grass back and you won’t have any creeping out of the lawn. The edge is neat and the soil erosion is nil.

If you are dealing with edging along a planter, then chances are you will need to have a spade or an edging tool. This is where you can dig out an edge but keep the dig about a half inch to an inch wide. Any deeper and you are building channels not edges. Remember that this type of edging does cause soil erosion so there will be times when you need to build up the soil again.

Lastly, if you don’t want to deal with edging tools and spades, simply plan your flower beds around flagstone by having the flagstone work as a divider between the flower beds and the lawn. This way, all you will ever need is your sheers and your lawn will always have a neat edge.

Sirena Van Schaik

Photo Credit

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Before you select your grass, however, it is important to decide were you will put it. Practical consideration of how to efficiently water the lawn and care for it is part of the determination as to whether or not your turf will survive. It is not a particularly sound practice to seed or lay sod in long, narrow strips of landscape. Grass is much better in larger square areas. Odd shaped areas of grass may not receive the water they need (it can be going other places, like onto the driveway or in the lower garden, especially with sprinkler irrigation), while large blocky areas are easier to water and easier to mow. Take this into account even before you select the grass for your landscape.

When it is time for you to select your grass, think about the requirements that the region in which you live and that your soil will impose upon your grass. Make sure that you have a soil analysis to determine the characteristics of your soil. You want to choose a grass that will thrive in that soil. If the s is especially bad, you can usually add some sort of amendment to help the soil do better. However, you can increase your chances by choosing sod or seed that will be compatible with your area and with the condition of your soil.

You should also select grasses that fit with your climate. If you live in a hot climate, Bermuda grass and St. Augustine grass may be a good choice. Many people like Kentucky blue grass, but fail to realize that this type of grass does not do especially well in times of drought. If you live in a semi-arid region, then zoysia grass, buffalo grass and centipede grass are very promising choices. These types of grass do not need as much water, and are hardy and great ways to increase the efficiency of a xeriscape by conserving water.

Choosing ornamental grasses can also be important for your landscape. Ornamental grasses are not grasses that are meant to be used as a lawn. These grasses usually grow taller and have distinctive looks. When selecting ornamental grasses to add beauty to the yard, you should take into consideration things like the location of the grasses in your landscape, the colors and textures of the grasses you are using, and whether or not they are compatible with the growing conditions and climate in your area. The advantages of using ornamental grasses in your landscape include the facts that they are low maintenance and that they often conserve water.

In addition to thinking of location (some grasses do well in drier soils in full sun while others require moist soil) and climate when selecting your ornamental grasses, it is also important to approach your choice with a sense of scale. Know how big the grasses will grow. Willows and other large grasses would not do in a small area. And, if you have a large area, you might consider planting fewer different types of grass plants, but more of the types you do use. The attraction of ornamental grasses planted in large groups is that the grasses grow up to be large patches of color or texture, and can contrast nicely with other portions of the landscape.

Grasses are very important parts of the landscape. Whether you are using sod or seed to plant a beautiful lawn, or whether you are looking for ornamental grasses to be part of your landscape (or both!), you need to consider your grass selections beforehand. When you take into account what has the most chance of success in your landscape, and what would look the best as part of your design, then you end up with a superior looking yard.

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