Patching Bad Spots in Your Lawn

Written by April Reinhardt (last updated June 20, 2022)

1

Last summer's record heat in my area wreaked havoc with the lawns in our neighborhood, creating scorched, barren spots of Earth. While mowing my lawn the other day, I noticed that the grass has not grown back. Instead, the bald spots are now growing mold in some areas, while other bald spots are cracked and dry. Next door, Debbie wisely repaired the bald spots of her lawn in early spring, and while her lawn still looks patchy, the bald spots now have new grass growth. I should have followed her lead and patched the bad spots in our yard in early spring.

If you find that you have the same dilemma of bad or bald spots in your lawn, it is never too late to try to correct the problem. Here are some steps I am going to take to correct my lawn problems. You can try them, too, to make your lawn look great:

  • Weeds have a knack of growing where nothing else can, so remove all of the weeds from the bald spot, as well as dead grass, rocks, and all other debris.
  • Thoroughly water the spot, and then till the dirt to at least six inches.
  • Work a thick layer of compost into the soil.
  • Make sure that the grass seed you use is the same type of grass as the rest of your lawn. Seed the spot and then tamp the seeds into the soil with the heel of your shoe or the back of a hoe blade.
  • Cover the entire spot with straw and water very lightly. When you see new grass growth, resume your normal watering schedule.

Some landscapers advise to lay a board across the patched lawn to ensure that the new grass is level with the rest of the lawn. Leveling the spot is a good idea, since you don't want the ground to dip where the new grass grows, creating a pocket to hold water. You can also sod bald spots, firmly tamping the sod to make firm contact with the soil below. If you've tiny bald patches in your yard, you can plug them with plugs of sod, using a bulb planter. Keep the sod watered thoroughly and watch for new growth to signal that the grass has rooted.

Author Bio

April Reinhardt

An admin­istrator for a mutual fund man­age­ment firm, April deals with the writ­ten word daily. She loves to write and plans to author a memoir in the near future. April attend­ed More­head State Uni­ver­sity to pursue a BA degree in Ele­men­tary Edu­ca­tion. ...

MORE FROM APRIL

Birth Control Pills

Finding the correct hormonal balance is the key to a successful birth control pill plan. The best birth control pill will ...

Discover More

Treating Male-Pattern Baldness

Success treatment of male-pattern baldness greatly depends upon early intervention. Begin treatment with an FDA approved ...

Discover More

Is Age-Defying Makeup Different?

Before buying expensive anti-aging creams and age-defying makeup, perform a little research and determine if the product ...

Discover More
More Gardening Tips

Lawn Care along Fence Lines

Taking care of the lawn around the fence can be difficult. Trim the grass down with a line trimmer, and be careful not to ...

Discover More

How to Choose Patio Furniture

Patio furniture can have just as big of an impact on the exterior of your home, as the furniture inside you house has on ...

Discover More

Protecting a Newly Seeded Lawn

One of the more frustrating aspects of planting a new lawn is ensuring that your grass seed actually stays in place. ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Receive an e-mail several times each week with a featured gardening tip. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is one less than 9?

2012-09-04 09:55:45

Jerry Gonzales

Where would we buy the St. Augustine grass seeds in ZC 78232? Thanks!


Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Receive an e-mail several times each week with a featured gardening tip. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)