Your grass can really get a workout over the years as it is subjected to foot traffic, weather, pests and diseases, among other factors. Patches may start to appear and the lawn doesn’t look as healthy as it once did. As we approach fall, it is a great time to consider doing a lawn renovation as needed.
What Is a Lawn Renovation?
There are basically two different kinds of lawn renovations that your landscape may need. If the damage is not too extensive, you may be able to simply overseed and fill in the bare spots. You could also use this opportunity to add in different kinds of grasses to improve the quality of your lawn.
However, there are times where you may need to remove some or all of the existing lawn and start over. This is more work, of course, but can ultimately mean that your landscape will be whole again. This process is known as a lawn renovation.
Basic Overview of Doing Lawn Renovations
As with many garden planting projects, a good first step is to have a soil test done. You want to make sure that the proper pH and nutrient levels are present or your new grass will struggle also. You can get tests at a garden center or home improvement store. More extensive testing can be obtained by sending samples to a soil laboratory.
Once you know the state of your soil, you can start working on the removal of your existing lawn. You want to get a general herbicide like glyphosate that targets all plants. Be very careful if you are only doing part of your lawn since this could kill the grass that you want to keep. It will take a few days for the herbicide to work through the plant and kill it.
Next would be removing thatch, especially if thick, and tilling up the yard. Thick thatch layers do not allow nutrients and water to reach grass roots and would make it more difficult for the new grass to thrive. You may also want to add soil to help even out the ground, especially if some areas are sunken or raised.
Once your area is cleaned and prepared, you are ready to add your new grass. You can use seed, sod or plugs depending on your budget and type of grass that you would like to grow. Early fall is an optimal time to install new grass since the cooler temperatures mean less stress and there are usually less problems with weeds.
If you are thinking about doing a lawn renovation, we are here to help. We can help you decide the best course of action to bring your lawn back into tip-top shape.
Image by TownePost Network under a Flickr Creative Commons Attribution License
