How to Replant Lawn Grass

Is your lawn dead, dry, damaged and barely hanging on? Think a little food and water might revive it to its former glory?
Perhaps.

Regular feeding and infrequent, deep waterings are excellent for maintaining relatively healthy lawns. Unfortunately, lawns past the point of no return simply won't benefit from extra food and water.

Lawns on life support and in need of a do-over are lawns that show significant damage - brown grass, large bare spots, and lots of weeds. If, your lawn is past the point of no return, it's in need of something drastic. Sometimes it's just easier to start over from scratch.

While laying down sod can provide quick results aesthetically, it can be costly to install and is highly susceptible to drying out. Near-constant watering and care are required, without guaranteed results. Still, if you live in the south and want a St. Augustine grass lawn, you must sod, as there simply isn't a reliable St. Augustine seed available today.

For those who prefer seeding to sod, seeding is a less expensive option that gives good, albeit slower, results. Here's how to properly replant a lawn:

1. Kill all weeds and poor-looking turf with a non-selective herbicide about 2 weeks before you want to seed your lawn. After the weeds and remaining turf are completely dead, rake them up and remove them.



2. Prepare the soil by tilling and adding organic matter like that found in Scotts® Turf Builder® LawnSoil™. As the first step in seeding success, Scotts® LawnSoil™ is specifically formulated to help grass seed germinate better. Plus it's proven to promote more efficient water use, helping protect new seedlings from the stress of hot, dry conditions.

3. Feed young grass seedlings to help accelerate growth by applying Scotts® Turf Builder® Starter® Lawn Food for New Grass. Scotts® Starter® gives developing grass seedlings much-needed nutrients so the brand-new small roots can grow deeper, faster.



4. Water frequently for the first month while seedlings are young and not yet fully developed. This means keeping the seeds and top 1 inch of soil consistently moist, but not soggy wet. You should mist your seedlings once or twice a day (more if the weather is hot and dry). After your new grass is established, filled in, and has been mowed at least once, begin to cut back watering intervals to twice a week, applying about ½ inch at each watering.