It is awfully discouraging to see your green, luscious lawn turn brown and dead. You must be feeling terrible, especially after you’ve tried hard to maintain its beauty. But don’t be too disheartened because there are ways on how to revive a dead lawn. It starts with finding out the cause of the grass dying.
There are several reasons why your lawn died. It can be because of poor preparation, disease, pests, improper feeding and watering, or simply because it’s not suitable grass. Knowing the cause of your dead lawn will help you fix what was wrong. It helps you not only to revive dead lawn but make sure your new lawn will last.
7 Steps for Reviving Your Lawn
First, you want to know if the grass is actually dead or just dormant. Some grasses can go dormant during midsummer when it is drought season, turning into brown grass. Before performing the steps below, check if the grass’s crowns are indeed dried and discolored. If they are, then they really won’t be green again.
1. Prepare the lawn
The next step is to prepare the lawn, which is to spray non-selective herbicide to kill any leftover grass and weeds. Since herbicides usually take at least two hours to dry, make sure to do it during a dry, sunny day. Windy days aren’t ideal as well, or you might unintentionally spread the herbicide where you don’t want it. Then, continue with the next step after a whole week of letting the herbicide do its work.
2. Dethatch the site
A bit of thatch is good for the lawn as it insulates the soil, helping maintain its moisture. However, too much of it can restrict the movement of water, air, and nutrients. Thick thatch also limits the roots’ development, opening up the grass to disease and insects. Thus, the next step on how to revive dead lawn is to dethatch the area.
3. Till the land
Now that you’ve killed off the remaining vegetation, you can begin tilling the soil. Turn it over to about five to six inches, ensuring you have incorporated all the existing organic material. You may also start adding organic materials such as organic compost, manure, or humus to loosen compacted or clayey soil. These organic materials should also help improve sandy soil’s water retention and add beneficial microorganisms.
4. Test the soil then fertilize
It is essential to test the soil first before you add new grass seed or sod. Doing so helps you find out the soil’s nutrient levels and adjust as necessary. It will help make sure that your lawn will be ideal for new grass. You can do the testing yourself, but it is best to take a sample and bring it to a trusted commercial soil laboratory.
You can also send the samples to Cooperative Extension Service (CSREES). Compared to an at-home test, the results from CSREES are much more reliable, and they also provide fertilizing recommendations. Once you know the soil condition, you can now find the right fertilizer for your lawn to apply.
5. Plant new grass or sod
There are two ways to plant new grass to revive a dead lawn. The first is to lay down grass seed, spreading it evenly on the lawn you prepared. The use of a seed spreader is recommended if you have a larger yard. Once you have laid down the seed, you’ll need to cover it with soil but only a thin layer.
The second way is to use sod, which is grass already growing. Lay the sod down the prepared lawn by simply placing it over the soil. Remember to ensure that you set each roll or square of sod tightly to the next one. This is to make sure that your lawn doesn’t have empty patches.
6. Roll the lawn
A critical step on how to revive a dead lawn that is often overlooked is rolling it after planting. Rolling the sod or the seeds is essential to ensure good contact, particularly if you used sod. By rolling the area, you also help the sod establish into the soil and make the lawn firm.
7. Perform immediate aftercare
After you’re done with the steps above, don’t forget to perform immediate aftercare. First, you want to water the soil, keeping it moist but not soggy. It is a crucial step after planting the sod or seed as it boosts the development of roots. You also want to aerate your lawn properly and use the right weed killers to avoid it from dying again.
Conclusion
Growing a lawn isn’t as easy as it seems. Although you may follow the steps correctly and take care of your yard properly, it can still die. However, it can also be dormant grass, which is relatively easier to revive. But even if your lawn is indeed dead, there are still ways to save it.
How to revive a dead lawn will take some effort, but it is doable. It might not work the first time, in which case, you will have to repeat the process. When you start over, keep in mind that you can use either fresh seed or sod. Whichever method you pick, it is essential to ensure the grass is ideal for your area and climate.