A patchy and weedy lawn is not good.Luckily, you can get rid of the weeds and replant grass seed to have a lush lawn.Before you start, it's important that you purchase the right type of seed for your environment and test your lawn so you know which amendments and compost to use.If your lawn is spotty and full of weeds, you should kill all of the weeds and grass and start over.If you only have a few weeds, you can reseed.
Step 1: Take samples of the lawn's soil.
You can use a spade to dig into the ground on your lawn.Take the dirt from the rocks and grass and put it in a container.
Step 2: Send samples of your soil to the extension office.
Ask your local garden center or extension office if they can test your soil for deficiencies.After talking with them, send the soil to them for an analysis of what you should use.You can purchase a pH test at a gardening store, but it won't be as comprehensive as sending in your soil for a professional evaluation.Any issues with your lawn can be identified by the garden center or extension office.
Step 3: Purchase the grass seeds.
Cool-season grass seed such as bentgrass, bluegrass, and tall fescue can be purchased if it gets cold in the fall and winter.If you live in an area that has a warm climate year-round, you will want to get warm-season grasses such as Bermuda, centipede, and zoysia.A mixture of seed can be purchased to repair damaged lawns.Cool-season seeds do better in the shade and cold than warm- season seeds.
Step 4: It's a good idea to reseed your lawn at the right time.
You want to plant cool-season grass in the fall or spring.The air is cool during these times and the soil is warm.The best time to plant warm-season grass is late-spring or summer.
Step 5: You can dig up the roots with a spade.
The spade or deweeding tool should be held 1 inch away from the base of the weed.To avoid severing the roots, angle your tool downward towards the center of the weed.Push down on the handle of the tool.
Step 6: The remaining weed roots need to be removed.
New weeds will grow if the roots are severely damaged.If you see any weeds, dig them up and discard them in a garbage bag.
Step 7: Put moist compost over the spot that you pulled.
To promote the growth of new grass, use a soil-based compost that is high in organic material.The compost should be laid down 1–2 inches.
Step 8: Grass seeds can be found in the compost.
Put a few seeds over the compost.The seeds should cover the area.The seeds shouldn't pile up.You don't need to water the seeds if the compost was moist.
Step 9: Use fleece to cover the compost.
There are gardening stores that sell fleece or nets.Squirrels and birds will not be able to eat the grass seed before it has time to grow.The area was laid with compost and grass seed.
Step 10: Wrap the fleece around the wooden stakes.
The fleece should be secured in all 4 corners using small wooden stakes, nails, or branches.The grass seed should be covered.
Step 11: The fleece should be removed after a week.
Grass can take up to 24 days to grow.It takes under 2 weeks for cool-season grass to grow.You can remove the fleece once the grass starts to grow.It may take several weeks for the spot to be filled.
Step 12: After the grass has grown 2–3 inches, it's time to weed the lawn.
There are still weeds around the area.You should watch for new weeds once the grass has grown a little.They need to be weeded to stop their growth.
Step 13: If you want to start over from scratch, you should kill the existing grass.
To start over, kill the grass.The grass underneath will be killed if you apply black poly film over the entire lawn.You could place wet newspaper or cardboard over the grass.Compost can be put on top of this layer.It can take up to three weeks for the grass and weeds to die.After the weeds and grass have died, remove the film or paper from the yard.
Step 14: It is 1.5 inches long.
Put a collection bag on the back of the lawnmower to collect clippings and cut weeds.Go over your entire lawn with the mower and cut it the same length.If you don't use a collection bag, weed seeds can be spread onto your lawn.
Step 15: Rake up grass and weeds.
Pick up the grass and weeds with a rake.Excess weeds and grass should be put into garbage bags.Before moving onto the next step, you need to remove excess weeds and grass from the lawn.
Step 16: Put a layer of compost over your lawn.
The compost should be spread over the surface of the lawn by wearing a pair of gloves.To level out the compost on your lawn, use a rake.If your lawn has been tested, you can use a compost that contains the right amount of the lawn's essential vitamins and minerals.
Step 17: There is a broadcast spreader that you can use to spreadfertilizer over your lawn.
The broadcast spreader needs to be filled with a balanced fertilizer.For every 1,000 square feet, lay down 1 pound offertilizer.A broadcast spreader can be rented or purchased from a store.The growth of your grass seed will be encouraged by this fertilization.Nine parts nitrogen, three parts phosphorus, and four parts potassium make up 9-3-4.
Step 18: Grass seed is spread across the lawn.
Use a broadcast spreader to lay 7 pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet of lawn.The spreader needs to be filled with the right amount of grass seed.The spreader should be run across the lawn.If you had a 1,500 square feet (150 m) lawn, you would need to distribute 10 pounds of seed over it.
Step 19: Spread the grass seed using the backside of the rake.
The seeds should be distributed evenly with the back of the rake.The seeds become embedded in the compost when Rake around it so that it mixes in with the seeds.
Step 20: Water the lawn at least twice a day.
You don't want to wash the seeds off the lawn.When the sun goes down, water the lawn once in the morning.Continue watering the lawn 2 times a day until the grass starts to grow.You can maintain your lawn from there.