How to Cover Bald Spots In Grass

How to Cover Bald Spots In Grass: Restore Its Lush Green Look

The sight of a beautiful lawn at home is amazing, unfortunately, due to some lawn problems, a beautiful lawn can start to lose its curb appeal, especially when bald spots start appearing. Bald spots are a lawn issue caused by pet damage, heavy foot traffic, disease, pests, or unpredictable damage. However, if you have the right information, you can repair those bald spots and once again have a healthy lawn. In this guide, you will learn how to cover bald spots in grass, get some of the best companion plants to keep the lawn healthy, and get some tips for long term results.

What is the Cause of Bald Spots in the Lawn

To find a solution, you must first understand the problem. Bald spots can be caused by:

• Soil compaction, leading to the roots being unable to get air and other nutrients.

• Over- or under-watering, leading to roots suffocating or drying.

• Pet urine, which has high nitrogen and can burn grass.

• Grubs, chinch bugs, and other pests/diseases.

• Severe shade, poor soil health, or bad mowing.

In order to properly repair your lawn, the first step is identifying the problem. If you are unsure, check the area for grubs and excess thatch; you can even do this by digging lightly. After this, check the sunlight and moisture levels.

Grass Can Get Bald Patches, Here is How to Fix It

Reseeding for Renewed Growth

In many cases, the best and most affordable solution to recovering damaged parts of the lawn is reseeding. The type of grass and variety of seed that you use is important! Different grass and seed types are best for different regions, as well as weather conditions. For example:

Heat and drought conditions are pretty common. If your grass is dying and you are unsure why, it is likely due to drought, high temperatures, or both for a long period of time. If this is the case, consider using a drought resistant and adaptable type of grass such as Tall Fescue. It is a great candidate for a lot of different areas in the US.

Some types of grass are better for different regions. For example, Kentucky Bluegrass is a dense and soft type of grass that grows well in the northern or cooler areas of the US. It also fills in grass defects pretty quickly.

Most grass types are also Perennial. Fixing and growing damaged lawn areas quickly is mainly due to rapidly germinating types of grasses called Perennial Ryegrass. It is the best type of grass to oversee.

How to Reseed Bald Spots:

• Rake away the grass and debris that is dead in the area.

• Loose the soil of the area so that it is easier for the new roots to take hold.

• Evenly spread a good type of grass seed (rap = rested, aggressive plant symptomatic expression equals deadly to weeds, and disease) and lightly cover the area with soil.

• For established seedlings, water the area every day until the area is established and then switch to a regular deep watering schedule.

Extra tip: So that the seeds can grow more efficiently, consider using a starter fertilizer to give the seeds more nutrients. Also, do a light cover of straw across the area to retain moisture.

Sod Installation for Quick Results

With sod, you can get an ‘instant lawn’. Slices of fully grown grass are rolled out, so you can transform any dead areas on your property almost immediately. This option is more expensive but great if you need to make your lawn presentable quickly, like before an outdoor get-together.

Steps for Installing Sod

• Loosen and level the soil under the area.
• Fit sod pieces snugly and stagger seams for a more natural looking lawn.
• Water deeply for the initial weeks to promote rooting.

Topdressing: Improving the Soil Quality and Promoting Grass Growth

Topdressing is a simple method that consists of applying a layer of compost or homemade topsoil over the bald areas. This helps with soil quality, which promotes moisture retention, and provides a great bed for the seeds to germinate.

• Use a ¼ to ½ inch layer of compost or topsoil, and work it gently to the soil of the lawn.
• For the best results, spread grass seed or cover the area with sod.

Aeration and Dethatching

Soil that is compacted leads to root growth limitations. Water that is absorbed won't be lost to the atmosphere, which is important. For the best results, aerate your lawn for the Great Plains during spring or fall with the use of a core aerator. If the surface of the soil has thatch (dry, dead organic), and it is over ½ inch thick, dethatching allows moisture, air, and seeds to get in the soil.

Shade Management and Smart Watering

Certain grass types do not do well in very shady areas. Cut back overhanging tree branches to let in more sunlight. For shaded areas, you may want to use shade-tolerant grass like Fine Fescue or Rough Bluegrass.

Watering should be deep and infrequent, and only do it in the early morning to reduce evaporation and the spread of disease.

Dealing with Pests and Diseases

Grubs, chinch bugs, and some fungi are very devastating and may destroy some of your lawn. For this, use grub control to mitigate the damage or overseed those areas to more pest-resistant grass types. If you really need to use fungicides or insecticides, be sure to use them safely and only where absolutely needed.

Beyond Grass: Alternative Plants for Bare Spots

If some spots become bald and the grass cover does not grow back well, you might consider other types of ground covering plants. Many are even available at TN Nursery. You could go with:

• Creeping Thyme: Covers the ground with a very fragrant, thick mat. It can tolerate some walking and very easily thrives with minimal attention.
• Mosses and Moss Sheets: Great for shaded spots that are also moist. These add a nice touch of green any season, and do not need any mowing.
• Clover: A very pest resistant and heat tolerant ground cover, white clover also stays green when it gets hot and can add some nitrogen to the soil.

If you have sunny spots, the more decorative low-growing Sedum or Creeping Jenny can be great to add color, reduce weed growth, and hold the soil in place.

How to Keep Bare Spots from Happening

Fixing is always harder than preventing! Keep your lawn healthy and thick by:

• Mowing your lawn once per week in the summer at the recommended height (make sure to not cut more than one-third of the grass at a time!)
• Feeding the lawn consistently with a balanced fertilizer.
• Watering the lawn deeply but not too frequently with average watering.
• Aerating and dethatching the lawn each year.
• Putting down paving stones or mulch in areas that get a lot of foot traffic.

Spotlight: Tall Fescue

Tall Fescue clearly stands out when it comes to the re-seeding of bald areas of the lawn. Its root system is very deep meaning it will always have access to water, and it is adaptable to all different sunlight situations. Tall Fescue is thick, hardy, disease resistant, and very tolerant to animals and bad weathers. If you have a new patch of lawn you want to seed or overseed a lawn, it is a very good choice.

Other Helpful Lawn and Garden Plants

You Old grass with:

• Perennial Ryegrass to help the lawn fill in fast.
• Buffalo Grass if you are in a southern area with very little water.
• Hydrangea, Daylilies, and Coreopsis to decorate the garden.
• Blue Fescue from Ornamental Grass to fill in rough areas.

Mixing all of these together with your lawn will provide a hardy lawn with a striking landscape, and a ton of color and texture.

Give Your Lawn a Fresh Start—Visit TN Nursery Today!

Looking for a perfect lawn and winning battle on bare places forever? Visit TN Nursery, where you can find the best grass seeds, ground covers and a curated selection of shurbs, perennials and alternative plants. Get moderate business and handmade goods delivered to your door. Bring new beauty and health to your backyard--Visit TN Nursery and Let Your Land Thrive!

FAQs

Can I just put topsoil over grass and reseed?

Yes, but if you want your lawn to look its best, it is wise to remove any dead grass and loosen the moisture-retaining soil beforehand. Light top-dressing with soil and soil contact can ensure seeds germinate.

How to fix bald spots in your grass?

Clean up any existing debris from the site and loosen soil to make it easier for the grass to grow. Reseeding into that area works well with grass that matches the surrounding lawn or by laying down new sod for instant grass. Other than keeping the grass area in your yard moist, make sure to keep people and animals away from the new grass area and new sod until it is established.

Will grass eventually fill in bare spots?

Some grass, like Kentucky bluegrass, can and will spread on its own, but most other types of grass utilized in lawns will need to be reseeded or repaired to fully recover. Maintaining the grass and completing lawn care tasks will speed the process up along with keeping the grass thick and green.

How to overseed bare patches in lawn?

For bare patches, you can take a rake, sprinkle a grass seed you find suitable, and then lightly place some soil or compost on top of it. New plant shoots can be seen if you water daily until the shoots appear. To fix thin areas and improve lawn strength, overseeding every fall is good.

Is October too late to put down grass seed?

In many areas, October can still be appropriate, especially for cool season grass. Check your soil temperature before seeding the soil to make sure the soil temperature is warm enough and that frost is a rare occurrence in your area. In some areas of the country seed can germinate before too much winter weather comes into your area.

Should you add topsoil in the fall?

Definitely topdress your lawn with new topsoil in the fall. The cooler, moist conditions in fall will help the new grass and roots grow together quicker and will help the lawn grow thicker and healthier for the spring.