Got brown spots showing up in your lawn? Summer’s heat, dry conditions and a number of other things can cause ugly brown patches to show up. Fortunately, there’s something you can do to turn them back to green – a process called overseeding.
Overseeding is the process of applying grass seed directly into existing turf, without tearing up the turf or soil. It’s an easy way to fill in bare spots and improve the density of your grass if it’s thinning or turning brown. It’s less expensive and less labor intensive than putting in new sod, and a good way to spot treat rather than tackling the entire yard.
Before you start the overseeding process, try to figure out what is damaging your grass. Maybe the kids have decided that area is a good shortcut to the pool. Or your neighbor’s dog is staking out his territory. These are issues that can be easily fixed.
If that’s not the problem, you can also check your irrigation system, or look for invasive grubs or insects. If you think it’s garden pests, or something isn’t working right with your irrigation systems, give the Rainscape irrigation and lawn care experts a call.
If you decide to overseed your brown patches, the next thing you’ll want to do is prep the areas. Mow the brown spots using the lowest setting and remove clippings for a clean start. Then thoroughly rake to remove any dead grass, leaves or other debris.
Next, spread grass seeds mixed with fertilizer and soil improver. There are products you can purchase at your local garden center that comes with these three already mixed together. Check with our lawn care experts for the best ones that will work for the unique soil and weather conditions we have here in Visalia and the surrounding area. If your spots are small, you can probably just spread the products with your hand. Larger spots may require the use of a seed spreader. Be sure to read the directions and apply the amount recommended.
Once you’ve applied your seed product to the brown areas, water daily or as needed the first 2 weeks to keep the surface moist. When you mow your lawn, be sure to mow around these areas so they are not disturbed. Once seedlings start to grow, keep watering them until they reach the height of surrounding grass. Then you can mow the area.
Depending on conditions and type of seed, new grass seed will begin to emerge in 5-7 days and can be fully established in eight weeks or less. Patience is crucial for this process, but if you pay attention to keeping the area moist and undisturbed your wait will pay off with greener, lusher lawns that you can be proud of.