How to Repair Patchy Grass

With a little maintenance, your lawn can be green and healthy all year long.

Bare patches in your grass can be a frustrating eyesore, but they also indicate potential issues with your lawn's overall health. Pet urine, dehydration, pests, disease, pollutants and foot traffic can all contribute to a patchy lawn. Repairing the bare spots is a simple matter of reseeding each area. To give the seeds the best chance at sprouting, you'll need to prepare and maintain the area within each patch. With the proper care, you'll soon have a full, vibrant lawn that will be the envy of your block.

Things You'll Need

• Grass seed
• Rake
• Starter fertilizer

Instructions

1. Prepare the soil in the patch by removing weeds and dead grass. If the patch contains a thick layer of debris, use a thatch rake to clear the area. Locate any places that may collect excess water. Level these spots with existing topsoil.

2. Sow the grass seed over the patch. Scatter the seeds by hand at a rate of approximately 16 per square inch. Spread the seeds evenly by raking the area until the surface is smooth. Apply a starter fertilizer to aid in germination.

3. Keep the seeds moist by watering regularly until the roots develop. Apply a light coating of water once a day until the new grass reaches a height of 2 inches.

Tips & Warnings

• When choosing a type of grass seed to plant in patches, consider the amount of foot traffic and sunlight the area will receive, as well as the climate.

• Protect the sown grass seed from birds by covering the patch with netting.

• Autumn and spring are the best seasons for planting seed, although autumn is preferred as it gives the roots more time to establish before hot weather.

• Read the directions thoroughly before applying seeds or fertilizer.

References

• Home Depot Garden Club: How to Patch and Repair a Damaged Lawn
• Gardeners' World: How to Repair a Lawn Patch
• Greenview Fertilizer: How to Plant Grass Seed