How to Repair a Damaged Lawn

A healthy lawn is an asset to any garden, but a damaged lawn can look awful. A lawn won’t just get better on its own – it needs care and attention, and some work. There are a variety of problems which can reduce your lawn to an unsightly patch of ground, but they are all fixable.

Diagnosing Lawn Problems

Understanding the condition of your lawn is the first step in restoring it to health. Start by taking a close look at the entire lawn, noting areas where grass is thin, discoloured, or overtaken by weeds and moss. These issues can indicate underlying problems such as poor soil quality, inadequate drainage, or a lack of essential nutrients.

One of the most telling signs that your lawn is in trouble is the presence of weeds and moss. If these unwanted plants cover more than 60% of your lawn, this is also a sign that the soil is compacted or too acidic, which can make it difficult for grass to thrive.

In these instances, re-turfing might be the best option, as it allows you to start fresh with a new layer of healthy grass. However, if the problem areas are less extensive, targeted interventions like aerating the soil, adjusting pH levels, and applying the right fertilisers could be enough to revive your lawn.

Besides weeds and moss, other common lawn issues include bare patches, yellowing grass, and uneven growth.

Bare patches can be caused by foot traffic, pests, or disease, while yellowing grass often indicates a nutrient deficiency or overwatering. Uneven growth may point to inconsistent sunlight or watering patterns.

By identifying these problems early, you can take the necessary steps to correct them, whether that means re-seeding bare spots, adjusting your watering routine, or applying a balanced fertiliser to promote even, healthy growth.

When is the Best Time to Repair a Lawn?

Timing is crucial when it comes to repairing a lawn. The best time to tackle lawn repairs is during the cooler months of early spring or early autumn.

During these times, the weather is mild, and the soil remains moist, providing the perfect conditions for grass seed to germinate and establish strong roots.

On the opposite side to this, the hot summer months can stress new grass and make it difficult for seeds to take hold, while in the colder months of winter, the cold is the major factor and as with all plant life, will inhibit any growth.

While spring and autumn are ideal, it’s important to assess your lawn’s individual needs. For example, if your lawn suffers from severe issues like extensive bare spots or significant weed invasion, addressing these problems first, even outside these peak periods, can prevent further damage.

What’s the Best Seed to Use?

There are literally hundreds of different types of grass seed and choosing the right seed is essential for achieving a lush, healthy lawn. The best seed for your lawn depends on several factors:

• Climate
• Soil type
• Your specific garden area (north facing, shaded etc.)

The type of grass that’s suited to your particular lawn will really depend on where you are. Here in the UK, we generally tend to favour mixes of grass seeds, rather than just one specific type.

Generally the most common types of mix are categorised as follows:

• Hard Wearing: As the name suggests, produces a tough, hard-wearing lawn. Generally consists of perennial rye and strong fescue.
• Fine Mix: Ideal for creating beautiful lawns with a wow factor. Produces a very fine finish of great quality, but not ideal for heavy footfall.
• Fast Growing: Great solution for any UK lawn, they grow fast and produce a luscious grass surface.
• Shaded: Ideal solution for shaded garden areas and areas of the UK with low light. Features deep-running roots that help to create a thick and full-bodied covering.

Ultimately, the best seed for your lawn will depend on your local climate, the amount of sunlight your lawn receives, and how you intend to use your lawn area.

When selecting a seed, consider consulting with a local garden centre or lawn care expert to ensure you’re choosing a variety that will thrive in your specific environment. Additionally, be sure to buy high-quality seed from a reputable source to ensure better germination rates and a healthier lawn.

More information on types of grass seed and what they should be used for can be seen here on the Relentless Gardener Website.

How Long Will it Take to Repair a Lawn?

Repairing a lawn is a process that requires patience and careful planning, as the time it takes can vary depending on the extent of the damage and the methods of repair that you use. On average, you can expect lawn repairs to take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, with most visible improvements appearing within four to eight weeks.

Minor Repairs

For minor repairs, such as patching small bare spots or reseeding thin areas, you may start to see new grass growth within 7 to 14 days after planting, provided the conditions are right. This includes proper watering, good soil quality, and optimal temperatures.

Typically, these minor repairs can be fully established within four to six weeks. However, full integration of the new grass with the existing lawn may take a bit longer.

Extensive Repairs

For larger, more extensive repairs, such as dealing with widespread weed invasion, large bare patches, or severe thatch build-up, the timeline can be significantly longer.

If you’re reseeding large areas or laying new turf, the process could take several months.

Newly seeded areas usually take around two to three weeks to germinate, and another four to eight weeks to fully establish.

Turf, on the other hand, provides an instant green lawn but takes about two to three weeks to root properly, during which time it requires careful watering and maintenance to ensure is takes.

Time of Year

Keep in mind that the time of year plays a significant role in this timeline.

Lawn repairs done in the early autumn or spring generally establish more quickly due to the more ideal growing conditions.

On the other hand, repairs done in extreme weather conditions, either too hot or too cold, can delay growth and extend the time needed for full recovery.

Tools and Products Needed for Repairing a Lawn

In order to correctly repair a damaged lawn, you will need the following tools and products:

• Desired correct grass seed for your needs
• Decent rake
• Scarifier (ideally, but rake will do without one)
• Spreader – ideally for even coverage
• Hose and sprinkler or decent watering can and rose
• Lawnmower
• Good quality fertiliser
• Lawn lime
• Quality top soil

How to Repair a Lawn

Depending on what type of repair is required to your lawn will very much depend on how you undertake the repair.

To get your lawn back to tip top condition, work through the steps below:

Step 1 – Mowing, Feeding, and Scarifying

To prepare your lawn for treatment, start by ensuring it’s in the best possible health. Begin by mowing the grass to about 10mm in height. If the lawn is overgrown, gradually reduce the height over several mows to avoid stress on the grass.

After mowing, apply a lawn fertiliser to rejuvenate the grass. Wait a few days for the fertiliser to take effect, then use a scarifier to remove moss, dead grass, and thatch from the lawn. This process helps the soil breathe, allows nutrients to reach the roots, and creates space for new grass seed to establish.

After scarifying, gently rake the lawn to clear away the debris. This step is crucial for improving air circulation and ensuring healthy growth. Allow the lawn to recover for about a week, then mow it again, this time in a different direction than the scarifying to keep the grass upright and healthy.

Step 2 – Treating Weeds in Your Lawn

Three days after mowing, it’s time to tackle the weeds. For small lawns with just a few weeds, hand-pulling can be effective. However, if your lawn has larger areas of weeds like buttercups, daisies, moss, or dandelions, using a selective weed killer is your best option.

Apply the weed killer evenly across the lawn using a watering can or garden sprayer. Choose a dry day for this task, but avoid the hottest part of the day to prevent scorching the grass. Stubborn weeds may require multiple treatments, so follow the product instructions carefully for repeat applications.

Step 3 – Sow New Seed

Once scarified, your lawn will now be looking pretty patchy and bare so the next step is to lay down some fresh grass seed.

Depending on the seed that you are using and the the conditions that need covering, will depend on the coverage required.

For this, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions included with the seed.

Lay the seed to the coverage suggested, preferably using a specific grass spreader to get the coverage as accurate as possible.

Step 4 – Fertilise!

For new seed and to guarantee a luscious thick lawn, this is an absolutely necessary step, as aside from water and oxygen, your new grass is going to need plenty of nutrients in order for it to grow big and strong.

Use only good quality fertiliser from a reputable quality brand to ensure that it provides any and all nutrients needed.

Spread it over your whole lawn and any seeded areas as suggested by the manufacturer.

Step 5 – Thoroughly Water

Once fed and treated with all the nutrients required, the next job is to water it immediately after as some very strong fertilisers can cause significant damage to the seed and also any existing grass.

When it comes to watering, there are sme rules to follow:

• Do not over water!
• Don’t water to the point puddles form.
• As soon as the water stops soaking into the soil right away, stop watering!
• Use gentle water methods such as a fine sprinkler or watering can with rose

Watering to the point that puddles form can cause the seed to bunch up in one place, which then causes patchy growth, which you don’t want!

Step 6 – Spread Lime (if required)

It’s always a good idea to test the pH of your soil to know exactly what type of soil you have and whether it’s lacking any type of nutrients that are essential to the success of your grass.

If you know that your soil has a low pH level it’s well worth spreading some lawn lime over it as this will improve the overall condition of the soil and help get the very best out of your seed.

Spread the lime to the manufacturers specifications and also ensure you wear the appropriate PPE gear for dealing with lime – gloves, goggles, mask, old clothes etc.

Step 7 – Give it a Trim

After the seed has well and truly established itself and reached a good healthy height of 10cm, it’s time for its first trim to help encourage further and fuller growth.

In terms of how to cut it, use a good mower with a sharp blade and only trim around a third of it’s total length, never any more as this may risk damaging the fledgeling blades.

If you want to go lower in length, once you’ve done the first cut, leave it a few days or a week or so and then you can trim it down a little further.

Other Types of Lawn Damage

Other than the fairly straightforward repair that we have run through above, there are many other types of damage that can occur to your lawn that you may want to repair.

In the below section we look at the most common of these and how they can be rectified.

Damaged Patches In Your Lawn

To fix brown or dead patches caused by animal urine or weed killer, you’ll need to remove the damaged turf and fill the area.

Use an edging tool or sharp spade to cut out the affected section. If possible, replace it with a piece of healthy turf from an inconspicuous area of your lawn. If that’s not an option, you can purchase turf or use grass seed.

If using turf, cut it to fit the patch, place it in the hole, and ensure it’s level with the surrounding ground. Firm it down and add fine topsoil or compost along the edges. Water thoroughly and continue watering until the roots establish.

If opting for grass seed, fill the hole with fine topsoil to level it with the surrounding area. Water the area, then apply the seed. Cover the patch with tarpaulin or plastic overnight and in the early morning to retain warmth for better germination and to protect the seeds from birds.

Repairing Damaged Lawn Edges

Neat lawn edges can dramatically improve the overall appearance of your lawn.

Each spring, use an edging tool to re-cut the edges for a clean finish. If an edge is damaged, cut out a rectangle around the affected area, lift the turf, and rotate it so the damaged section faces inward.

Fill the gap with compost, sprinkle grass seed over it, and water thoroughly.

Fixing Dips and Bumps in Your Lawn

To smooth out minor lumps and bumps in your lawn, apply a top dressing of sharp sand. Spread a thin layer of sand over the lawn using a shovel, then brush it into level the surface, ensuring the grass isn’t smothered. You can repeat this process over several weeks, gradually adding more sand as the grass adjusts.

For larger dips or bumps, top dressing alone won’t suffice. Cut an H-shaped incision around the problem area with an edging tool or sharp spade, peel back the turf flaps, and add or remove soil to level the area. Fold the turf back down and fill any gaps with fine soil or compost.

Cultivating a luscious green and full-bodied lawn is no mean feat and takes a huge amount of work and care as does maintaining it, however with time and care it’s certainly something that can be achieved by anyone.