No lawn is perfect. Along with weeds, the most common issue in lawns is bare spots and thin areas. Often, fixing bare spots and thin areas is simply a matter of adjusting the watering and feeding schedule. If the lawn only has a few bare spots, then a few simple repairs will patch it up.
There's always a reason for bare or thin spots. The trouble is, it's not always obvious. You may need to do a little detective work. Does the soil drain well in the bare spot? Do dogs leave their calling cards there? Maybe you have an insect problem, lawn disease, or too much shade. Is the grass you're planting suited to your conditions? Your lawnmower could be "scalping" your lawn with a low setting. Bare spots could be the result of any of these, but the first thing to check is how you feed and water your lawn.
Fortunately, it's easy to fix most bare spots. Spread a little soil, such as Scotts® Turf Builder Seeding Soil® over the area. Then apply quality grass seed, such as >>Scotts® Turf Builder® Grass Seed with Water Smart™ Technology, and feed with Scotts® Starter® Fertilizer. Keep the area moist until the grass matures, then you're set. Just resume regular watering.
If a patch of your lawn only grows weeds or unsightly grass, you may want to start over from scratch. Spray the area with RoundUp® Weed & Grass Killer. After 7 days, rake out the dead plants and add an inch of Scotts® Turf Builder® Seeding Soil evenly over the area. Level out any low and high spots. Next, spread top-quality seed, such as Scotts® Turf Builder® Grass Seed, and give them a head start with Scotts® Starter® Fertilizer. If you keep your patch moist until the seeds grow into mature grass, your bare spot should disappear.
It happens: your nice, green lawn looks a little threadbare all over. Take a look to see what's causing the problem. If your lawn has more than half an inch of thatch, you may need to rent a de-thatching machine. Going over your lawn with one of those gives new seeds a chance to take root, and it helps the grass you have get more water and nutrients. You also may need to add a thin layer of topsoil where your soil looks thin under your trees and shrubs. Using a drop spreader or a rotary spreader, apply a layer of quality seed, such as Scotts® Turf Builder® Grass Seed, then follow up with an application of Scotts® Starter® Fertilizer. Now, all you have to do is keep the lawn moist, and it will look a lot better in a few short weeks.
Giving grass the nutrients it needs helps it grow thick and full. Deep watering once a week (or more when it's really hot) allows for deeper root growth. If you make these two steps a habit, your lawn will look great, with fewer bare and thin spots.
