The Easiest Way To Fix Bald Spots In Your Lawn.
There’s only one thing worse than thinking there’s an extra step on the stairs and not realising there isn’t until you’ve already fallen-slash-stumbled-slash-tripped over the air and that’s seeing bald patches in your otherwise lush, healthy lawn. That’s just the worst.
But whether these unsightly patches of bare soil have been caused by your dog peeing wherever it wants. Too much foot traffic landing on the same spots. An insect infestation or a combination of the above. The easiest way to patch these bald areas is by reseeding.
Of course, no matter how many times you reseed your lawn, these bald patches will keep popping up unless you get to the root of the issue and find a way to fix it. Let’s say the problem is too much foot traffic, in which case the only thing you can do is solve the traffic flow issue. That could even mean laying a few paving slabs down. If the bare spots are caused by an insect problem, however, you’ll need to find a solution to this issue. Or expect more bald patches will just keep showing up.
Once you’ve found the culprit, though, the easiest way to turn those bare bits of your lawn back into thick, lush patches of healthy grass is through reseeding.
How To Reseed The Bare Patches In Your Lawn
There are three reasons this option beats patching up your lawn with turf sod and they are:
a) it’s so quick and easy
b) it’s pretty inexpensive
c) it’s so quick and easy, like 20 minutes and you’re done.
That said, there is some upkeep to keep in mind until you’ve mowed it a couple of times. But this stuff is easy too. It’s just a matter of watering it appropriately, not walking across it and being aware of any unnecessary stress, such as a heatwave or drought. Oh and, just a heads up, it can take a few weeks for the new patch of grass to fully blend into the rest of your lawn. But with all that cleared up, here’s how to recessed any bare patches in your lawn:
Start by raking:
If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times, “Rakes before mates!” And we mean it. So grab your favourite rake and start by removing any unwanted debris or dead grass from each of your bare spots. Once you’ve done this, take a close look at the area to see if there are any obvious signs of insect damage. The easiest way to test this is to try pulling up the lawn near it. If it comes up easily, almost like a rug being lifted up while you vacuum the house, there’s a pretty good chance you have a grub problem and that will need addressing.
Loosen the soil a bit:
It’s time to swap your gentle leaf rake for your more hardcore, hard-toothed rake so that you can break up the soil more easily. If this is done without breaking a sweat, great. If not, you’re probably dealing with some heavy soil compaction, which is best dealt with using a core aeration tool. Translation: it’s time to call in the Joe’s lawn care team.
Spruce up your soil:
Using your hardcore, hard-toothed rake, try adding a generous layer of compost or loamy soil to your existing soil. Once done, flip the rake over and use the flat edge to even out the surface, spreading the soil mix into the lawn around it.
Sprinkle your seeds:
The trick to reseeding your lawn is to spread your seeds evenly across the area. Thick enough to cover the bare surface but not so thick that the seeds are piled up on top of each other like some sort of organic pyramid. As for the best seeds to use, that all depends on what soil and climate you have. However, adding perennial ryegrass to the blend is almost-always a must because of how quickly it germinates.
Spread your seeds:
Once you’ve finished sprinkling, it’s time to spread your seeds. Grab your rake again and use it to spread your seeds evenly. By doing this, you’ll also cover the bottom layer of seeds with soil, which will help prevent them from blowing away in the wind.
Protect your seeds:
While you wait for the seeds to germinate, you might want to protect them from hungry birds. The exposed seeds will be an easy dinner. To do this, hang a CD above each bare patch, or put a reflective pinwheel in place. That should be enough to scare the birds off.
Watering is essential:
When you water your lawn, the trick is to water deeply less often. But when you’re watering your seeds, make sure you’re light on the water, keeping them moist – not wet – throughout the day. If you’re doing this through the hot summer months, we recommend watering your seedlings and then covering them with a layer of burlap, which will provide them with enough shade to keep them from drying out.
Ready, set, mow:
We always recommend giving your new grass seeds a chance to grow a little longer than the rest of your lawn, normally until the colour of your patched-up areas have almost blended in with the rest of your lawn. Of course, this might mean pulling out your best mowing skills as you mow around your patches for the next 2-3 weeks, maybe longer depending on the seeds.
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