Our easiest fixes for patchy spots in your lawn – there’s a ‘non-negotiable’ if you want your grass to look lush
A LAWN expert has shared easy fixes to take sparse patches from lacking to lush.
They revealed a step that couldn’t be skipped for healthy green grass.
Lowe’s Ashley Tyler shared gardening solutions for brown patches or bare spots.
Patchy areas may simply not be getting enough sunlight.
“Even the most shade-tolerant grasses need at least three to four hours of direct sunlight a day,” the lawn expert said.
“If the patchy areas are constantly covered in shade, see if there is a tree or bush in your yard you can prune to let in more sunlight.”
If your lawn is healthy and catching plenty of Vitamin D, the root of the problem may be your lawn’s circulation.
Layers of soil and dead grass, or thatch, can prevent water and necessary nutrients from reaching new grass.
“Use a garden rake, or a special thatching rake, to remove the thatch between the healthy grass and the soil,” Ashley suggested.
“Aerating your yard pokes small holes in your soil so water absorbs down to the roots instead of sitting on top of the grass.
“Once a year aeration is sufficient for a yard that gets normal foot traffic.”
For events fast approaching, sod, or grass seed, is a quick and easy solution that can help in patches.
“Grass seed can thicken your entire lawn or handle small patches,” she said.
“Sod takes about two weeks to root itself versus seed taking about two months before it’s long enough to mow.”
Easy gardening tips to save money, maximize space, and repel pests
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- Banana peels, vinegar, and coffee grounds are often recommended as natural fertilizers.
- Dollar Tree sells four packs of seeds for $1.25.
- Try a vertical planter like Amazon’s Mr. Stacky 5 Tier Stackable Planter, $35 to make more use of a small space.
- Use netting like the Garden Netting Pest Barrier, $8, from Amazon to keep away bugs that eat your vegetables.
- Try sacrificial planting to reduce the use of pesticides and keep pests away from your garden. Deliberately growing certain plants to attract agricultural pests can keep them away from the plants you want to protect. Examples include marigolds, lavender, catnip, and chives.
- For pesky weeds in your garden, the Grampa’s Weeder – The Original Stand-Up Weed Puller Tool with Long Handles, $45, from Amazon is a helpful tool you can use without having to bend over.
Once new grass seed and sod are in place, watering is a “non-negotiable” for the seeds’ critical life phase and must be done twice a day for two weeks.
“Preferably in the early morning so the water can reach the roots before evaporating. Then you can switch to daily watering,” Taylor said.
“Set reminders on your phone so you don’t forget. Even one hot day without water is enough to undo all your hard work.”
For bare areas, she recommended seeding the patch on a sunny day to give them more than 12 hours of light.
“Use a spreader to get even distribution. Cover the new patches of grass seed with hay or mulch to protect the seeds from being washed away or eaten by birds,” she said.
“Avoid mowing until the grass is 3.5-4 inches tall.”