Depending
on what part of the country you live in, your lawn may or may not be
covered by snow. If it isn't and the weather has turned warmer, such as
it does on the west coast of North America, it's time to get outside and
assess your lawn's condition.
After a long winter, especially if you had a lot of snow, your lawn can be prone to many diseases. One of the most common found in spring is snow mold.
Snow mold is a type of fungus and a turf disease that damages or kills grass after snow melts, typically in late winter.
Its damage is usually concentrated in circles three to twelve inches in diameter, although yards may have many of these circles, sometimes to the point at which it becomes hard to differentiate between different circles.
The good news is that your lawn can be repaired so that it looks good all summer long. Here is what you have to do to restore your lawn to the lush green that it was last summer.
1. When the lawn is dry, and no more snow is present, use a iron rake and gently remove all dead thatch from your lawn. Don't worry if your lawn looks bare after doing this. It is perfectly normal.
2. Once all the dead grass or thatch has been removed, add a good quality starter fertilizer to your lawn. Use a hand spreader or push type lawn broadcast spreader to apply the starter fertilizer.
3. Now, add a good layer of grass seed to your lawn using the same lawn spreader you used to apply fertilizer. Be sure to get the right type of grass seed for your lawn. So, if your yard/lawn is in shade most of the day, get a full shade mix. If it is in full sun most of the day, use a full sun mix. And, finally, if your lawn is partly in sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon or vice versa, use a sun/shade mix. When applying your grass seed, be really generous with the seed and cover all your bare spots or better yet, your entire lawn if necessary.
4. Now apply a lot of compost over top of the lawn seed. Using a shovel or spade, flick the compost with your hand onto the lawn. Be sure to cover all of the seed and don't allow any of the seed to be exposed. Another good option, if you can't find or get compost, is to use lawn soil. Both compost and lawn soil can be purchased at any good garden center. Depending on how large your lawn is, you may need to use several bags. In any case, just as you did with the grass seed, be generous with the compost or lawn soil.
5. Once you followed the above steps, keep your newly renovated lawn moist every day for at least two weeks. A light misting with your garden hose is all you need. Don't water too much or your seed and soil will wash away. You just want to get the seed damp to the point where your compost or lawn soil turns a dark brown. Depending on your climate in your particular area, you may need to keep your lawn moist once or several times per day. Usually early morning and early evening are sufficient. However, if you live in a hot dry climate, and your spouse is usually home most of the day, a light misting several times a day may be necessary. In any case, don't allow the seed to dry out.
By following the above steps, your lawn in two to three weeks will once again be thick, green and healthy and ready for cutting. With good watering all summer long, your lawn will be the envy of the neighborhood.
After a long winter, especially if you had a lot of snow, your lawn can be prone to many diseases. One of the most common found in spring is snow mold.
Snow mold is a type of fungus and a turf disease that damages or kills grass after snow melts, typically in late winter.
Its damage is usually concentrated in circles three to twelve inches in diameter, although yards may have many of these circles, sometimes to the point at which it becomes hard to differentiate between different circles.
The good news is that your lawn can be repaired so that it looks good all summer long. Here is what you have to do to restore your lawn to the lush green that it was last summer.
1. When the lawn is dry, and no more snow is present, use a iron rake and gently remove all dead thatch from your lawn. Don't worry if your lawn looks bare after doing this. It is perfectly normal.
2. Once all the dead grass or thatch has been removed, add a good quality starter fertilizer to your lawn. Use a hand spreader or push type lawn broadcast spreader to apply the starter fertilizer.
3. Now, add a good layer of grass seed to your lawn using the same lawn spreader you used to apply fertilizer. Be sure to get the right type of grass seed for your lawn. So, if your yard/lawn is in shade most of the day, get a full shade mix. If it is in full sun most of the day, use a full sun mix. And, finally, if your lawn is partly in sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon or vice versa, use a sun/shade mix. When applying your grass seed, be really generous with the seed and cover all your bare spots or better yet, your entire lawn if necessary.
4. Now apply a lot of compost over top of the lawn seed. Using a shovel or spade, flick the compost with your hand onto the lawn. Be sure to cover all of the seed and don't allow any of the seed to be exposed. Another good option, if you can't find or get compost, is to use lawn soil. Both compost and lawn soil can be purchased at any good garden center. Depending on how large your lawn is, you may need to use several bags. In any case, just as you did with the grass seed, be generous with the compost or lawn soil.
5. Once you followed the above steps, keep your newly renovated lawn moist every day for at least two weeks. A light misting with your garden hose is all you need. Don't water too much or your seed and soil will wash away. You just want to get the seed damp to the point where your compost or lawn soil turns a dark brown. Depending on your climate in your particular area, you may need to keep your lawn moist once or several times per day. Usually early morning and early evening are sufficient. However, if you live in a hot dry climate, and your spouse is usually home most of the day, a light misting several times a day may be necessary. In any case, don't allow the seed to dry out.
By following the above steps, your lawn in two to three weeks will once again be thick, green and healthy and ready for cutting. With good watering all summer long, your lawn will be the envy of the neighborhood.
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