Now that you have taken steps to seed or sod your lawn, you will have to watch it carefully for the first few weeks. Since the soil is not that same pH level throughout, you may notice thinner patches of grass or bald spots. If these spots do not fill in on their own, you may need to practice some corrective measures.
Overseeding
One way you can repair bald patches is to overseed the area. This is a very easy process that should be completed in the following way:
Since new seeds will be competing for sunlight and food from grass that is already there, you should cut the grass around the area shorter than normal. This will give the seeds a chance.
After mowing the area, look around to see if the soil is compacted or if there is thatch present. You may need to aerate the area before planting new seeds.
You should rake the soil and pull out rocks or weeds. Make the area as clean as possible before planting. Throw down some fertilizer or compost.
Use a seed spreader and plant the seeds. Then rake over the area carefully.
Water the area each day, but do not flood the area as the seeds will be washed away.
You should continue to monitor the area until the grass comes in. If you have cooler season grass, you may notice this problem in the summertime due to the sun’s rays which will overheat cooler grasses.
While you may experience the same problems with warmer season grasses in the fall, you will not see as much damage.
You should try to plant cooler season grass in shady areas so that it will thrive and will not over heat. But since many grasses are mixed, this could be a challenge.
Try to buy grass that is suited for your region. This will help reduce the need to overseed. Overseeding should help your problem and allow your lawn to look great all year long.
If overseeding does not work, then you should have another sample of your soil taken in these areas to see if the problem can be corrected by changing the ph of the soil.
You have a few options when it comes to adding nutrients to your lawn. You can:
Apply lawn fertilizers
Apply mulch
Apply compost
Leave lawn clippings on the lawn after mowing
Watering the lawn often
These are all great ways to help keep your lawn healthy. When applying lawn fertilizers, you should find one that is suitable for your grass type and also one that has ‘slow release’ nutrients. These fertilizers will release nutrients slowly so that you do not have to use them as often. This should reduce your weed problems and keep your grass looking its best.
When applying fertilizer, use a seed spreader so that you will give the lawn an even coat of fertilizer. After fertilizing the lawn, water it to allow the fertilizer to saturate the soil.
Mulch and compost are also great ways to fertilize your lawn in between using fertilizer. You can spread mulch and compost as often as you see necessary since it will decompose quickly.
If you do not mind lawn clippings on your lawn, use a bagless lawn mower and let the clippings decompose on the lawn. This will also keep your grass looking healthy.
In order for fertilizers to work their magic, you will have to:
Weed often
Remove thatch as soon as possible
Water the lawn often
Do not mow the lawn too often
Make sure the drainage system is working
Nutrients that come in the form or fertilizer, mulch, or compost will feed your lawn all year long. Even in the winter time, you will have to feed your lawn. Use fertilizers that are foe the right seasons and types of grass that you have. Read the instructions carefully and only apply the correct amount.
Over fertilizing the lawn can cause the grass to die, so be careful.
Terry Blackburn. Internet Marketing Consultant, living in South Shields in the North-East of England. Author and Producer of blog http://www.lawnsurgeon.blogspot.com. Author of "Your Perfect Lawn," a 90 Page eBook devoted to Lawn Preparation, Lawn Care and Maintenance. Find it at http://www.lawnsurgeon.com
I would be very interested to have your comments on this Article.
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