As a landowner, the last thing you want to see is bare spots in your lawn. Providing your yard with proper care is important to restore its health and beauty. You might be wondering, how to fix bare patches in your lawn.
There are two easy methods for restoring bald patches in your lawn: reseeding and patching with sod.
When to reseed bare spots?
- In northern zones, the cool-season grasses that are most popular grow actively in fall and spring, making this an ideal time for patching with seed. Reseeding in early fall permits the grass seed to establish before winter and take advantage of cooler temperatures. If you missed the fall window, early spring is another suitable time for reseeding. It allows the grass to establish before the heat of summer.
- In warm zones where warm-season grasses prevail, late spring and early summer are considered the best time to sow grass seed. Warm-season grasses enter their active growth phase during this time, making it optimal for reseeding bare spots. Ensure the soil temperature is constantly above 60°F (15°C) for successful seed growth.
First, identify the issue
Take time to identify and correct issues so the repaired spots prosper. Grass can die for multiple reasons and, unless the issue is corrected sooner than later, the problem will return and cause more disruption to your lawn. Common causes include,
- Heavy foot traffic
- Pet urine
- Infestations by grubs
- Poor soil conditions
- Fungal disease
- Cold weather
- Drought
- Extreme fertilizer
- Inadequate watering
- Excessive shade
If a bare patch occurs because of natural foot traffic, no fix will be permanent unless you solve the traffic flow issue.
And if the bald spots are caused by a lawn grub problem, treat the problem and have them removed. Make sure to choose the correct treatment for your lawn.
If shade is the problem, select a shade-tolerant variety of turf.
Lawn repair: patching with seed
A very easy and budget-friendly method of patching bare spots is with seed. Below, the instructions will help you follow this process;
1. Necessary equipment
- Garden rake
- Hand cultivator
- Spade or garden shovel
- Reflective tape
- Garden Knife
- Core aerator tool
2. Use a garden rake
First, use a garden rake to remove any dead grass, debris, or weeds from the bare spots. This will expose the soil and make it easier for new grass to grow. You can wet the soil to make the work easier.
3. Loosen the soil with a hand cultivator
Use a hand cultivator to break up the soil in the bare spots. This will help increase drainage and allow the new seeds to establish roots more effortlessly. You might consider aerating the soil with a core aeration tool if it seems heavily firmed.
4. Add compost or topsoil
If your soil quality is inferior, sprinkle several inches of compost and mix it into the existing soil with the rake. Turn the rake upside down and spread some of the topdressing into the alongside areas. This will provide essential nutrients and improve the soil structure by stimulating healthy grass growth.
5. Apply the seeds
Evenly spread the seeds over the bare spots. Always follow the suggested seeding rate on the seed package for the best results. If the area is small you can spread it by your hand. But, you might want to use a hand spreader or a push spreader for larger areas.
Important tip — [Choose a grass seed variety that is appropriate for your lawn's conditions, such as sun exposure and soil type. Or, you can pick one that matches both the type of grass currently growing in your lawn and the requirements of the area where it will grow.]
6. Adjust the soil
Lightly rake in the seed to distribute it evenly. And cover the seeds with a little amount of topsoil or a layer of straw (which contains starter fertilizer) will help hold moisture and warmth for root establishment.
7. Water adequately
Keep the seeded areas consistently moist by light watering daily for the first 10 days or so, until the seeds germinate and sprout. Continue watering every two days for another month or so, then you can reduce watering to weekly as the new grass becomes mature. Avoid overwatering, as it can lead to fungal diseases.
8. Protect the repaired area
You may need to protect the seeded area from birds who love to eat the seed and new sprouts. Using reflective tape can help deter them. You can also put barriers around the spots to prevent foot traffic and keep pets away from the newly seeded areas until the grass has grown and become established.
9. Mow when ready
Wait for five to six weeks for new grass to grow slightly longer than the rest of your lawn until the color of the repaired area begins to blend in with the rest of your lawn.
Always, follow good lawn care practices. This includes mowing at the proper height, regular watering, fertilizing as needed, and addressing any underlying issues that may have caused the bare spots in the first place.
Lawn repair: patching with sod
A faster method than seeding is to fill the bare spot with a patch cut from a roll of grass sod. Within a couple of weeks, you'll have a standard patch that has blended in with the surrounding grass.
- First, prepare the bare spot by digging out all weeds, debris, or dead grass. Just use the garden rake or shovel to loosen the topsoil so that the roots of the sod patch can quickly grow down and anchor in the soil.
- Then use a sharp garden knife to cut a patch of sod grass roll slightly bigger than your lawn's bare area.
- Carefully place the portion of sod onto the prepared bare spot. Ensure it fits cozily with the existing grass.
- By using a hand cultivator, remove a layer of soil below the grass. The objective is to dig down slightly so that the sod patch will sit down at the same level as the rest of your lawn.
- Water immediately, enough to soak the sod and the soil beneath it. Repeat watering two or three times a day for the first few weeks until the sod patch is bonded with the soil and is beginning to grow actively.
- Avoid walking on the newly patched sod for at least two to three weeks to allow it to root properly. Place temporary markers or barriers to prevent people and pets from walking in the area.
- Before mowing, make sure the new sod has knitted into the soil by gently tugging on it. You'll need to wait for at least 20 days.
