Grass Back from the Dead...

After a strange winter in our area, many lawns may have ended up with some random dead spots through the yard. According to this website: http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/wronglawn.html some of those problems can be due to spring frost damage to new growth, molding after a snow meltoff, salt damage from de-icing your walks and driveways, etc. A good spring cleanup and re-seeding of your dead patches may be all that is needed to solve the problems you're seeing.

Spring cleaning of your lawn should probably include the following: dethatching, aeration, and fertilization that will promote growth of the new seeds. After you've prepared your lawn and cleaned it up, now it time to spread your seeds. According to: http://www.homeandgardenideas.com/outdoor-living/lawn-care/seeding/tips-reseeding-lawn "Sow at a rate of about 6 seeds per square inch of soil... Then, water the entire reseeded area with a fine mist, just enough to get the soil moist. Water twice a day until the seeds sprout, which should be in 2 weeks. Water a couple of times a week (depending in your climate) until the grass is about 3 inches tall." As you can see- the key to this growth and bringing your grass back from the dead is making sure you water regularly and give way for new little grass roots to get the nutrients and air needed.

After you've got a great lawn, sometimes through the summer you will notice that your lawn will begin to look like it is dying again. This in turn may make you lose hope in restoring your lawn and feel there is no point. However, "In hot, dry weather, grass often goes into a semi-dormant state, appearing as "dead grass," but will come back when weather conditions improve." (See http://www.moneypit.com/question-and-answer/restoring-dead-grass). You can help keep your lawn green by keeping a consistent watering schedule. "It's best to water in early morning, very early, like 5 a.m. [It's] much better to water early only a couple of times a week than to water lightly more often. Deep soaking encourages deep root growth, whereas light watering encourages the roots to stay close to the surface of the soil, making your lawn more susceptible to heat and drought." (See http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/14262213/ns/today-today_home_and_garden/t/keep-it-green-tips-save-your-summer-lawn/).

I hope this info was helpful. If you have other questions or would like to see what I can do for you personally in maintaining your yard's lush green in the Nine Mile, Suncrest, and North Spokane County areas please get in touch. It's also that time of year for the spring cleaning activities- and I offer professional dethatching, aerating, and fertilizing services to promote a good start to your season and help your grass come back from the dead.

Look forward to hearing from you!

James, Owner and Operator of Green Jeans Lawn Service