Now is a good time to take a closer look at your turf and repair a damaged lawn. Whether your region has had a very dry summer or a wet one, your lawn is probably in need of some sort of maintenance. Follow these tips to find the right solution for your situation before the cooler weather sets in.
Repair first
Try to repair your lawn instead of ripping it up. Fix only those areas that need
it, and give your entire lawn a good dose of TLC with some fertilizer and weed
killer. Match the new with the existing so you get a nice, natural blend. For
example, if you live in the north and have a blend of Kentucky bluegrass with a
few dead spots that didn't green-up in spring, plant more Kentucky bluegrass.
Avoid putting in different types of grass that shouldn't be mixed.
Remove & fill in
Remove dead grass with a shovel to expose bare soil. Trim up the sides of the
area being removed so they're straight. Fill in the area with new topsoil, so
the new is level with the old. When planting your seeds, don't bury them in the
ground. Use just enough topsoil to barely cover them. After covering, press down
on the dry soil with the back of a hoe, or use your shoe and lightly tamp it
down.
Lay sod
If you're laying sod, remove enough soil to match the depth of the existing
lawn. Make sure the sod edges fit tightly to each other and the existing lawn.
If you can find sod that matches your lawn, it'll be easy to repair the damaged
areas.
Fertilize
Apply about two pounds of 10-10-10 "starter" fertilizer per 1000 square feet.
Divide the amount of fertilizer proportionally to fit the area that's in need of
repair. Head to The Home Depot and check out our great selection of fertilizers,
including brands such as Vigoro and Scott's.
Water thoroughly
Keep the sod moist but not wet. Water carefully and firm the sod lightly after
laying. Once the seeds germinate, keep the soil evenly moist and increase the
amount of water, but cut back on the number of times you water. It usually takes
about three weeks for sod to root in well. Water daily until the lawn is
established.
Don't mow
Leave for a few weeks and avoid walking on the areas. Don't mow until the seeds
are about 2"- 3" tall, about three weeks after the seeds first germinate. Also
steer clear of using any weed controls on the new grass for a couple of months
until it gets really established. To ensure that you never cut more than
one-third of the grass blade, avoid setting your mower on a low setting.
Source: Home Depot