Thursday, 10 November 2022
How to rejuvenate a lawn
How often should I mow my grass? Is aeration necessary or useful? What kind of fertilizer should I use? Should I water my lawn or let nature take its course? These are just a few of the questions that garden owners ask themselves. Regular maintenance keeps your lawn looking great and helps prevent problems from occurring. However, if you have a lawn, you are bound to see dead patches of grass at some point. This can be due to different factors such as heavy foot traffic, nutrient deficiency, etc. In this article, we explain what causes grass to die and share tips to rejuvenate a dying lawn.
How to tell if your lawn is actually dead
Many people confuse dormant grass for dead grass, and take rejuvenation steps too early. This is why it’s important to be able to differentiate between dead and dormant grass. The strongest sign of a dormant lawn is the sudden, unannounced appearance of multiple problems.
This is often the result of extreme weather, as a result of which, the grass goes into defense mode and becomes dormant. If this is the case, it shouldn't be a long-term problem, and you don’t really need to worry about it. On the other hand, if your grass is dead, you need to take action right away. The best way to distinguish between dead and dormant grass is through what is known as the tug test.
All you need to do is pull up a patch of your brown lawn. If it comes away from the ground easily with no resistance, it is dead. This is because the grass blades have nothing left to hold on to, meaning the plant has died from the roots. If this happens, you need to start putting in the work required to bring it back to life.
What causes grass to die?
There are a lot of factors that can cause your grass to die such as:
- Nutrient deficiency
- Extreme weather
- Lawn diseases
- Dog urine
- Lawn pests
- Weeds
- Etc.
While some of these, such as with animal urine, will only cause localized dead grass, others, such as lawn disease, will affect your entire lawn.
5 steps to rejuvenate a dying lawn
1. Identify the problem
The first step towards rejuvenating a dying lawn is the identification of the problem. This will dictate the course of action. For example, the problem could be heavy foot traffic, animal urine, a lawn disease.
2. Get rid of weeds
Even if weeds are not the cause of your problem, they will not help the situation. You should get rid of them before working on the grass itself. Most weeds plant their roots a few inches deep. Therefore, you need to ensure that you get rid of the entire weed, including the roots. If you don’t, they will spread and cause you more problems in the future.
3. De-thatch your lawn
You might have heard of the positive benefits of thatching on your lawn. However, this is only true in moderation. A thatch layer can help your grass grow, but only when your grass is healthy. Excess thatch is detrimental to your grass. Thatch is, after all, an accumulation of dead materials, and too much of it will suffocate your grass roots.
4. Prepare the soil
The next step towards bringing back your beautiful yard is to prepare the soil. The soil is an important component of your rejuvenation efforts. The first thing you need to do to prep your soil is to turn it over. This can be done with a garden fork. This process prevents soil compaction, and the change in soil structure ensures that your grass seeds can be properly embedded. You also need to ensure that you keep your soil moist. You should therefore add water during the turning process. Finally, while turning, you can also add organic material such as fertilizer, or compost. This will encourage the absorption of nutrients.
5. Plant your seeds
The final step towards the rejuvenation of your lawn is the sowing of seeds. Before you begin, you should know the type of grass that is best suited to the conditions of your lawn, as this will increase your chances of successfully growing a beautiful lawn. There are both cool-season and warm-season grasses. Once you have determined which grass variety is best, spread your seeds across the soil surface, and continue to water. You should begin to see a thick lawn growing within a couple of weeks.
Tips to keep your lawn healthy
Although there is always the option to revive your lawn, it is best to maintain a healthy lawn, so you don’t have to go through the stress and trouble of having to bring it back to life. Below are some expert tips to keep your lawn healthy.
Mow regularly
Mowing your lawn on a regular basis is essential. How often you mow depends on the seasons. If you stick to a regular schedule of mowing, you will be sure to encourage thicker blades and a healthier lawn.
Fertilize regularly
Do not get rid of those egg shells and banana peels that you accumulate every week. Instead, put them in compost and create your own lawn fertilizer. For your grass to stay green and healthy, it needs to receive an abundance of nutrients and, while it will get a lot of these naturally, it doesn't hurt to add some of your own. Although homemade compost is the most eco-friendly and cost-effective method of fertilizing your grass, you can also buy fertilizer in a garden store.
Aerate your soil
Soil aeration is a maintenance tip that most people overlook. When your lawn becomes too compact, it prevents nutrients from reaching their roots. You therefore need to generate little pockets of air in the soil in order to create space and pathways for the nutrients to reach their destinations. You can do this with a roller or with aeration shoes. All you need to do is walk around your lawn, ensuring that no area is missed.
Lawn care services
Eagleyard is dedicated to ensuring that your garden thrives all year round. Specializing in lawn treatment since its humble beginnings in 1987, over the years, Eagleyard has become the industry leader, while remaining 100% Canada-owned. We offer different lawn care packages to meet your needs.
The services we offer include:
- Landscaping
- Hydroseeding
- Top dressing
- Lawn weed control
- Calcium treatments
- Application of fertilizer
- Application of biostimulants
- Weed-shock treatment
- Chinch bug treatment
- Soil aeration