How to Fix My Lawn

Yards are the gateway to our homes and can make or break the way people view our house. Lawns are the first thing that people notice when they come for a visit. Curb appeal is an important part of our home maintenance. The worth of your home does not matter: if you have a dead and decaying mess of a yard it will make your whole home look like a disaster. Having a beautiful lawn is not difficult if you take the right steps to get it looking its best.

Things You'll Need

• Weed killer chemicals
• Gloves
• Safety glasses
• Pump sprayer
• Rototiller
• Garden hose
• Water
• Rake
• Grass seeds
• Started fertilizer

Instructions

1. Kill weeds. Weeds can choke out your grass and make your lawn look sickly. Remove weeds by using a concentrated weed killing chemical such as Round-Up. While wearing protective clothing, mix the concentrated chemicals with water according to the directions and pour into a pump sprayer. On a calm day, spray your entire lawn with the weed killing chemicals. Be sure to avoid nearby flower beds and shrubs. After you have sprayed your lawn, wait five to seven days for the weeds to die. If necessary, repeat the above steps to kill any weeds that you may have missed.

2. Till your yard. After you have killed the weeds, rent a rototiller and till the top level of soil. This will prepare the soil for seeding and will turn the dead weeds under. Once you have tilled your lawn, use a rake and smooth the ground out. Even out any dips in your yard making it as level as possible. Once finished, water the soil heavily so that the soil settles.

3. Start with a fertilizer. Adding a starter fertilizer to your soil will help new grass grow thicker and quicker. You can find different brands of starter fertilizer at your local garden centers.

4. Add grass seeds. Evenly spread the grass seeds on top of the soil. Keep the top inch of your soil consistently hydrated until the seeds germinate. Water the seeds one to three times a day keeping the top of the soil is moist. Be sure to keep the seeds hydrated. If they dry out they die.

5. Once your grass reaches a height of around three inches, slowly increase the duration between waterings. After about four to six weeks you should water your lawn heavily once a week.

6. Keep up the maintenance. The best defense is a good offense. Keep you lawn looking great by doing some simple upkeep. Once your grass reaches three and half inches, mow it to about two and half inches. When you notice any weeds starting to grow, pull them before they have a chance to spread.

Tips & Warnings

• Before using any chemicals read all warnings and directions on the container.

• Always wear protective clothing when working with chemicals or other hazardous materials.

References

• Lawn Care Secrets
• All About Lawns
• Lawn Care Guide