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

Related posts:

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

Surprisingly, the easy grass seed that they market in stores, really isn’t that easy and it takes a lot of work to get your lawn looking amazing.  A lot of times, that beautiful lawn can take even more work than your beautiful gardens but the end result is definitely worth the effort.

To have a beautiful lawn, there are a few tips that you should follow.

1. Scarifying:  Okay, this actually sounds like you are going to damage your lawn but in actuality scarifying is a way to reduce the debris that is growing on your lawn.  You know the stuff, the hard dead grass, the horrible moss, and those awful worm casts.  You may not even notice them but they are there and they are not doing your lawn any good.  The frequency that you scarify your lawn really depends on the overall appearance that you are looking for and the quality of the soil.  A well aerated soil won’t need to be scarified as often as one that isn’t.  When you are scarifying your lawn you should use a plastic lawn rake or a spring-tine rake.  Take the rake and carefully rake your lawn in only one direction such as from right to left.  Gather up the moss and other debris as you work so you are not unintentionally spreading it.  Once you have raked the area, rake it again only this time work at a right angle.  Again gather up the debris as you go along.  Repeat this once or twice a month during the summer and before you fertilize your lawn in the fall.
2. Fertilizing:  Since I already mentioned fertilizers, I will just cover it briefly.  You should fertilize your lawn several times per year.  The important fertilizing times are late spring and in the fall.  There are special fertilizers for autumn and it is important that you use those.  In the spring and summer, you can use your regular fertilizer and it is important that you follow the directions on your fertilizer of choice so you have the desired outcome.
3. Watering:  Every garden and lawn needs to be watered so it shouldn’t be a surprise that I mentioned it here.  The amount of watering that you do is completely a personal choice and don’t feel that you need to water your lawn on a daily basis.  In fact, to conserve water, I would only recommend watering your lawn if you absolutely must water it.  Generally, most lawns will bounce back after a rain fall so there is no reason to worry.  If you do water your lawn, try to use a gentle sprinkler since it is soaked up by the ground much easier than water that is sprayed harshly onto it.
4. Weeding:  I hate this most of all, especially when dandelions take over a yard but it is a necessary task to keeping your lawn as beautiful as possible.  If you prefer an organic approach (something that I prefer), I would suggest purchasing a dandelion grubber to remove any of those stubborn weeds. If you use weed killers, make sure you follow directions and warnings.  Also be aware of your city’s bylaws concerning weed killers.  Many cities are banning the use of pesticides and herbicides so it is important to know if your city allows the use of these products before you use them.
5. Aerating:  This is the last tip that I offer for having that perfect lawn.  You will need to aerate your lawn, usually in the fall, and the easiest way to do this is to use a garden fork.  Simply push the tines into the earth and pull back slightly to allow a raise in the turf.  The depth of the holes should be about 3 inches and you should repeat this every 6 inches apart over your entire lawn.  If you prefer, you can purchase tools for aerating your lawn but the fork works perfectly and is fairly inexpensive.

So, hopefully, these tips will lead to a very green lawn.

Sirena Van Schaik

Photo Credit 

Related posts:

1. Repairing Your Pool Ring Lawn
2. Green Landscaping Adds Green Value
3. Feeding Your Lawn With Fertilizer