Things You'll Need:
- Bag of topsoil (minimum depending on size of bare area)
- Iron Rake or Landscapers Rake
- Shovel
- Means of watering
- Small bag of grass seed (preferably with some rye grass)
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Step 1
Prepare area by scraping with metal rake, removing any dead grass or loose debris present. You want to insure this area is moist before proceeding (water if necessary).
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Step 2
With shovel, dig into raked area 4"-6" deep so as to "turnover" native soil.
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Step 3
With top soil, spread and mix native soil with top soil. If soil appears sandy you will want to add compost mix as well. Keep a 50/50 ratio of native/topsoil or 50/25/25 topsoil/native/compost mix. Rake evenly, removing any loose debris (rocks, dead grass roots)
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Step 4
Do not tamp soil mix! Spread, by hand, grass seed mix across the top of soil mix. Do not "pile" seed. Excess grass seed in a small area will result in "crowding" - excessively dense grass which die after seedling stage. Spread seed in a manner that 1/3 of soil mix is covered with seed.
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Step 5
Keep area moist by light watering. Try not to disturb grass seed. Since you are watering once a day, you only need to lightly water. Do not flood seeded area!
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Step 6
OPTIONAL: You might want to purchase a landscapers cloth used in reseeding which is usually partially (or entirely) biodegradable to cover area while seed is germinating. This is favorable when reseeding on a sloped area to prevent washout.
Cover area with landscapers cloth and anchor to ground firmly with metal anchors.
Use caution if near underground power lines! -
Step 7
If you used a ryegrass mix and conditions are favorable (warm and moist soil, sunny) you will see ryegrass germination in around 7 days. Rest of mix 10-14 days. Avoid area while mowing for at least 3 weeks.
My success rate with favorable condtions is 75% + coverage in 3 weeks with bare spot filled in a month.
