Grass TLC: Should You Repair Or Renovate?

When your grass is having a difficult time recovering from ​​stress conditions like disease and insects – or just too much sun, it’s time to undertake grass repairs, or even a renovation, depending on the extent of the damage.

Spring and Fall are ideal times of the year for a lawn renovation, as warm soil temperatures, cooler weather, and increased precipitation make for great growing conditions and optimal turf establishment.

To come to a determination as to whether you can repair your lawn, or if it needs a larger renovation effort, we suggest you estimate whether less than a quarter of your lawn is damaged. If this is the case, there’s no need to look into larger renovation projects just yet.

Lawn Repair

If you only have small, isolated areas that are damaged and struggling to recover, small repair jobs like seeding will help you get back on the right track.

For small areas of concern that are no bigger than the size of your fist, hand spot seeding is an effective way to repair bald patches.

For lawns that are thin, weak, or have multiple minor areas of concern, overseeding is an ideal solution. This is best done with a push spreader.

Whether you’re spot seeding or overseeding, timing is important. Seeding projects are best done in the Spring or the Fall when air and soil temperatures are not too warm or too cold, and when natural rainfall is common.

Lawn Renovations

Although seeding is a great way to repair your lawn, sometimes it’s not that simple. Due to issues like poor topsoil, excessive thatch, or heavy infestations of weeds, insects, or disease, a lawn renovation may be required. There’s a range of renovation options to consider, and some of these options can be costly and time consuming, so talk to one of our professional lawn care experts before making any decisions.

Power Raking

In some cases, lawns begin struggling because of too much thatch in the lawn, which prohibits the soil from accessing important nutrients like air, sun, water, and fertilizers. Power Raking is a great way to remove thatch.

Dethatching

Dethatching is a restorative service only recommended for lawns that suffer from an extremely thick thatch layer, more than 3 inches thick. Since dethatching causes a lot of damage, it creates a lawn that is thin, brown, and beat up. Because of this, it is strongly recommended to combine dethatching with Overseeding or Slitseeding, as well as an application of Topdressing.

New Sod Installation

Installing new sod can be an expensive renovation, but if you have a timeframe you want to stick to, it might be your best solution. 

Resodding replaces damaged areas instantly, without having to wait weeks or months for new seed to establish. Soil preparation prior to laying new sod is essential to ensure successful establishment. New sod generally takes 2-3 weeks to fully establish before regular lawn care activities can take place again.

Whether you’re a homeowner who feels they can undertake repairs independently, or a commercial property owner that needs our help to take care of repairs, the certified lawn care experts at Bayscape will be happy to assist you determine your best next steps.

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