Menu
In the course of a year, fallen branches and clumps of leaves or cut grass can leave brown patches in a lawn. Not only are they unsightly, but they also provide a potential home for weeds and crabgrass if grass is not filled in first. In order to maintain a healthy green lawn, patches should periodically be reseeded.
All that is really necessary to grow grass is seed, but carefully preparing and nurturing the soil will help the grass grow in faster and thicker. The following is a list of items that will help grow lush grass in under a week:
The bottom line for growing grass, is warm weather and lots of water. Depending on the geographic region, the growing season may be longer or shorter. In general the best times to grow grass are in the spring or late summer/early fall when the days are still warm and there is a decent amount of rain.
Grass can be grown in the dog days of summer, but special care will be needed so that the grass is neither scorched nor dried out. In frost free zones grass can even be sown in the winter. In the spring, the grass will grow well, but it will also be in fierce competition with weeds.
The easiest time to grow grass is a few days before a low pressure system dumps a few days of rain. This gives the seeds a couple days to take root with gentle hand watering and then the natural rain will give the baby grass the boost it needs to grown in thick and green.
Read more: How To Fill Low Spots In The Lawn
Grass likes to grow in loose moist soil. If a patch of dead grass exists, remove it as well as any rocks or pebbles. Rake the soil, loosening the top couple of inches. Then, add some nourishing topsoil, compost, or manure to provide the necessary nutrients for the grass to grow. It is better to slightly mound the loose soil, since it will compact down flat when the grass has grown in and the patch is walked on.
Grass that is sown too densely will lack the space and the nutrients to flourish, where as grass that is sown too thinly will grow in sparse and take a while to fill in. In order to get the proper ratio, a hand spreader is the best tool for seeding small patches of grass. Hand spreaders cost around $11 US dollars are available in most home improvement stores. They can be set following the directions found on grass seed bags.
Using the correct setting, sow the seeds on the loose topsoil. Then using the backside of a rake, gently mix the seeds in with the top half inch of soil. Burying the seeds slightly will help prevent them from blowing or washing away, and will give them a head start taking root. Care should be taken not to disturb the distribution of the seeds, which will be perfect using the spreader.
If grass is being grown in the springtime, the rich soil should be protected from weeds. Laying down a thin layer of mulch or straw, about a quarter inch, over the seeds will prevent other seeds from landing on the soil. This gives the grass a head start to fill in before competitors can take hold.
Immediately after sowing the seeds gently douse the ground with a misty spray from a hose. The first day, the seeds will grow best with two light waterings. By the second or third day, they can take a heavier watering. In cooler weather, it may take up to two weeks of daily watering for the grass to start shooting up. In warmer weather and with lots of rain, the grass may grow in within four or five days.
Since grass grows best in moist, loose soil, it is best to avoid stepping on the patches until the grass has grown at least a couple of inches. The baby grass will first appear as a green glow that upon close inspection shows the first, sparse inches of grass. Mature grass will quickly fill in the patches, providing the satisfaction of a beautiful healthy solidly green lawn.
