Lawn restoration after a long, hot summer
Lawn restoration after a long, hot summer
In the dog days of August, gardening enthusiasts begin champing at the bit to restore lawns that have taken a hit in our tropical summer. Patience, lawn lovers: August is the time to trim bushes and trees that are past flowering.
But soon it will be fall with the right balance of cooler temperatures and moisture needed for lawn renovation. We at the Morano Group will be undertaking this task – stripping and then layering the lawn like a natural lasagna – for our many clients. But for the DIY-ers out there, here is the step-by-step process:
Sample of summer burn out in lawn
Go as low as you can go -- That is, mow the lawn down to less than an inch in height so the seed will have some place to grow.
Aerate the lawn, with lots of tiny holes in the soil – You can rent a machine for this or use a garden fork. Rake the cones you’ve turned up. Perfect Lawn Care https://www.perfectlawncare.co.uk/news/lawn-renovation-before-and-after/ says that you can also let a week or two elapse before the next step to let the cones break down naturally.
Scarify the lawn – In this step, you will loosen the old grass, moss, thatch (and, yes, any leftover cones). You can do this with a rake or rent a machine.
Remove the debris and scarify again – Make sure you scarify in two directions so you have a clean field.
Spread the seed – Here more is more. Use a seed that will match your current grass, working in two directions. Follow the directions on the seed bag, but err on the side of spreading the seed thickly, accounting for hungry birds.
Finish with a top soil of a dry mix – Work this into the ground with a garden roller or the back of a rake.
Stay vigilant – If there’s no rain, water your handiwork. If temps dip, cover it. Keep leaves – and your feet – off the grass.
Once it grows back, mow lightly. With a little care and attention, your fall lawn will be reminding you of the fresh, baby grass of spring.