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

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

Related posts:

1. Repairing Your Pool Ring Lawn
2. Get the edge on fuss-free landscaping
3. A Quick Trip To Your Local Lawn And Garden Supply Store Will Make Your Yard The Envy Of The Neighborhood