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Re-Seeding a Patchy Lawn

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Spot Seeding for a Green and Healthy Lawn

Spring is the most common time to overseed a lawn. After the long winter, the longer days and warmth of Spring triggers a grass growth spurt and often highlights the bare areas in the lawn.

Fall is also a good time to spot seed a patchy lawn. After the long and hot summer, the grasses break their dormancy with a late season growth spurt. The days are still sunny and warm, and the cooler nights encourage new top growth and root development as the grasses prepare for the long winter ahead.

If you have a few patchy lawn areas - and whose lawn doesn't - spread a little grass seed to fill in the bare spots. With a little preparation, you can increase the germination rate of the grass seed and help the little seedlings develop a deep root system for strong growth.

Photos by the Author

Assess Your Grass Seed Needs

As you walk around your yard, take note of the patchy lawn areas and bare spots. Where are they located? In a shady area under trees, or on a sunny slope? In a high traffic area where the ground is compacted as hard as rock? Or maybe where the dog has left little brown spots.

Use these observations to buy a fresh bag of seed that best meets the specific patchy lawn care situations in your yard. For example, a quality grass seed composed primarily of perennial rye and red fescue will perform well in the Northeast.

And only buy grass seed with the highest percentages of perennial seeds rather than the cheaper mixtures with higher percentages of annual grasses.

Buy Fresh Grass Seed

Grass seed has a short shelf life. Fresh grass seed has a much higher germination rate than seed that spent a year in a garage or garden shed. Though quality grass seed is not cheap, spend the few extra dollars to buy a new bag of seed rather than risking all of the time and effort on planting seed that won't germinate properly.

Check the label to ensure that the seed is fresh; the major seed producers include an expiration date on their packaging.

Prepare the Soil

Over-seeding a patchy lawn is much easier than starting a new lawn, but the soil preparation is just as important. If you have a lawn irrigation system, turn on the zone where you intend to plant. A little water will moisten the soil, making it easier to work the surface of the ground with a rake or a hoe. Loosen the soil at least two to three inches deep, but try not to disturb the roots of the established grass surrounding the bare spots.

Now is also the time to work in a little compost or garden soil for inproved lawn care. The extra nutrients will not only help the new seed to grow, but the neighboring grasses will also benefit.

Spread the Seed

After the soil is loose and moist, sprinkle the seed into the bare spots and over the surrounding area.

Since we are just spot seeding, it is easy to cast the seed by hand rather than using a lawn spreader.

And spread more seed per square foot than the package recommends. The higher density of seed fills in the patches better as the grass starts to grow.

Water, and Water Again

Once spread, lightly press the grass seed into the soil to ensure good contact. Depending on the size of the patch, either step gently on to the seed or use the back of a garden spade. If you like to add fertilizer, sprinkle a small amount over the seeded area. Water the gently, taking care not to wash away or displace the seeds.

After the initial watering to hold the grass seed in place, keep the patchy lawn moist and do not let the newly planted seed dry out. Set your irrigation system to water twice daily, first in the early morning and then again in the late afternoon. The grasses will germinate in about a week to ten days, and will grow quickly in the cool spring and autumn weather.

Tips

* Use fresh grass seed for the highest germination rates

* Water consistently, and do not let the seed dry out

* Grass seed germinates best in the fall and spring, when the days are warm and the nights are cool.

* Avoid spreading grass seed during the hot and dry summer months.

Things You Need:

* Fresh Grass Seed

* Steel Garden Rake

* Compost or Garden Soil

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The Lawn Bible

The Lawn Bible: How to Keep It Green, Groomed, and Growing Every Season of the Year

by: David Mellor

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The Organic Lawn Care Manual: A Natural, Low-Maintenance System for a Beautiful, Safe Lawn

by: Paul Tukey

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Grass Seed & Lawn Patch

Lawns: Your Guide to to a Beautiful Yard

by: Scotts, Nick Christians

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MareeT May 21, 2012 @ 5:37 pm | delete

I have some patchy spots in my lawn and I will use your tips. Thanks!!

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jmatts1 Mar 30, 2012 @ 11:51 am | delete

Nice lens, thanks for the info.

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Ladymermaid Mar 8, 2012 @ 7:30 pm | delete

It is very hot in our community in the summer, and the past couple years we have been fighting ants, so our lawn has quite a few patches that need repair. Guess this is the year to get with it and fix up those patches. Rats!

Reply

Tipi Jan 27, 2012 @ 3:00 pm | delete

Returning with fresh angel dust to mix into your grass seed mix for a happy lawn, angel dust has a shelf life..just like grass seed!

Reply

stockysister Nov 17, 2011 @ 10:39 am | delete

Oh wow, thanks for this lens. I was actually wondering about how to fill in grass patches for the first time this weekend when I went to visit a cousin who works at a hardware store. They had a big display of grass seeds lol Now I know!
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Re-Seeding a Patchy Lawn

Spot Seeding for a Green and Healthy Lawn

Assess Your Grass Seed Needs

Buy Fresh Grass Seed

Prepare the Soil

Spread the Seed

Water, and Water Again

Tips

Things You Need:

How do you rate your lawn?

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The Lawn Bible

The Organic Lawn Care Manual

Lawn Care

Grass Seed & Lawn Patch

Lawns: Your Guide to to a Beautiful Yard

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