Lawn rescue

Renovating and repairing a Lawn
 
Our GardenAdvice.co.uk lawn experts show you how to renovate and repair lawns in record time.
 
The first stage is to decide if your lawn is worth saving or whether it would be quicker and cheaper to start from scratch.
 
This decision is mainly influenced by the amount of grass left in the lawn as against moss and weeds.  If there is over 60% moss and weeds you would be better off killing the existing lawn and turfing or seeding a new lawn.
 
If you have decided to save the existing lawn however, then you should follow the steps outlined in the step by step guide.
 
1.  First cut the lawn to a height of 10 mm.  This might mean allowing the lawn to grow and raising the cut on your lawn mower.  If however the lawn is longer before you start, you cut the grass over a number of cuts over a number of weeks to gradually lower the grass length.    

        
2.  Next feed the grass with growmore fertiliser available at most garden centres.  This can be done by hand, applying approximately two grams per square metre.  If the weather is dry you need to water in after applied.


3.  Then after a few days, rent a scarifier from your local hire shop and run it over the grass allowing it to comb the existing grass but without causing any bare patches – this might be difficult if the lawn is uneven.  This operation should be carried out in two directions for maximum effect.  The scarifying will produce a lot of matter which can be mown up using a mower with a grass collector.  Before you scarify the grass you must make sure that the lawn is not too dry – it is often a good idea to water it the day before.


4.  Allow the grass to recover for a week and then cut it again.  Leave for three days and then apply a lawn weed killer with a watering can.  For good results you need to apply the weed killer on a warm day when the weeds will be growing at their maximum rate.  (Very hot days should be avoided as the salts in the weed killer can scourge the grass.)


5.  By this stage the grass should be improving.  If it does not show improvement you should request a free soil analysis from gardenadvice.co.uk soil test service.  The next stage is to top dress the lawn with a sharp type sand which is available from a builder’s merchant, normally called a grit sand or plasterer’s sand.  The general purpose of the top dressing is to level the surface.  You should spread the sand with a shovel and brush it into the surface making sure that you do not smother the grass in order that it can recover.  Over several applications, over a number ! of weeks, this should help to level the surface.


6.  The final stage is to over seed in the autumn (October) and then top dress again with a 50% peat and 50% sand mixture.  Once you have seeded the lawn, leave it for approximately 14 days to allow the seed to germinate.  If the weather turns dry, give the lawn a light watering.

“Get our free guide on lawn patch repair produced by the GardenAdvice. team

It take you through every stage”.

Click here ( pdf format)