How (and When) to Revive a Dying Lawn

Go for it. Sure, it's true that late summer and early fall are the ideal times to rejuvenate a patchy or threadbare lawn. Soil temperatures are high, which leads to quick germination of grass seeds, especially tall fescue. The new grass then gets a jump on weeds the following spring, crowding them out before they have a chance to gain a foothold. But even though you missed your chance last year, that doesn't mean you have to put up with a lousy-looking lawn all summer.

First, determine how severe the damage is. It's worth noting that a brown lawn isn't always a dead lawn. Some turfgrasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass, go dormant during a drought. If that's the case, and its root structure is sound, it will green up following a few spring showers. But until then, look among the brown, straw-like grass for any surviving green shoots that signal there's life in your old lawn yet. If you're resigned to the fact that less than half the lawn is salvageable, try to make it as presentable as you can through the summer, and then start over in the fall. The most effective way to reseed is to use a slit seeder. These resemble push mowers and feature circular blades that slice the soil before depositing seed directly into it. Work over the lawn in two passes, making the second application diagonally at 45 degrees over the first.

If half or more of the lawn looks decent, chances are good you can whip it back into shape?but get an early start. Use a rake to remove dead grass and roughen the soil, then apply new seed with a drop or rotary spreader. Be sure to press the seed into the dirt with either a lawn roller or gentle, evenly spaced footsteps. Also, try to keep the area moist, and fertilize it with a high-phosphorus seed-starting fertilizer.

Remember to fertilize responsibly. Sweep or blow excess fertilizer from paved surfaces back onto the lawn and thoroughly water it immediately after applying?but don't overwater and create runoff. Watering the fertilizer into the ground starts the feeding process, and it prevents loose fertilizer from washing into lakes and streams, where it promotes algal blooms that suffocate fish and other species.

For the rest of the summer, follow typical healthy-lawn practices: Raise the mower up to the highest setting, mow with a sharp blade, mulch whenever possible to return nitrogen-rich grass clippings back to the lawn, and provide about 1 inch of water per week to the lawn.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/improvement/lawn-garden/how-and-when-to-revive-a-dying-lawn-15415165?src=rss

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