If you have an existing lawn that’s looking a little worse for the wear, ask yourself this: Is my lawn salvageable, or do I need to start all over again?
If more than 50 percent of your lawn is dead or covered in weeds, consider starting over from scratch.
Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/Reed Estabrook
If problem spots in your lawn are small and localized, you’ll probably be able to get away with just reseeding those areas.
Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/Reed Estabrook
You might want to restore rather than replace your entire lawn if somewhere between 20-40 percent of it is dead or has spindly, sparse growth. Even if your lawn looks green, check closely for weeds. If 20-40 percent of your lawn is just broadleaf or grassy weed patches, you may be able to fix those problem areas. You may also be able to get away with just sprucing up the lawn if it’s just overly spongy and filled with thatch (dead grass).
On the other hand, if more than 50 percent of your lawn is completely dead, just bare ground or totally choked out by weeds, starting from scratch may be the best option for you. This holds true if your soil seems to be a problem, too. If the ground is so hard and compacted that a screwdriver can bounce off it, it’s time to rip out the lawn and fix your soil to get any new grass off to a good start!
Whether you decide to restore or replace your turfgrass, try to figure out why your lawn went downhill in the first place. Did you neglect to de-thatch it or forget to aerate, fertilize or water it properly? Now’s the time to get your soil tested, too. This will help you determine if your soil needs any key nutrients and how to amend it properly, so you can correct all of the correctable problems before your new lawn is planted.
Once you’ve assessed your lawn situation and have your laundry list of things you need to do to help it thrive again, step back and figure out whether you want to take on the whole job, part of it or have a lawn-care specialist take care of it entirely. (If you choose the latter, be sure to get several detailed bids for the job before you hire anyone.)
If you opt to install an entirely new lawn, you’ve got even more decisions to make. It may seem like a lot of work, but you can turn this into a great opportunity for your yard, too. After all, you’ve got the power to choose the perfect turfgrass – and you can decide whether or not to change any other parts of your landscape in the process. Perhaps you’ll want to add some new flower beds, pathways, water gardens or just improve your yard’s overall configuration.
Once you’ve made these decisions, consider which type of turfgrass will work best for your family’s needs, as well as how to install it. Should you reseed, lay it out in sod or plant plugs? (Not all types of turfgrass will be available in all installation options.) There are pros and cons for each. For example, reseeding is much cheaper than laying out sod, but sod squelches weeds and gives you an instant lawn. The cost of planting plugs or sprigs lies somewhere in between, but it takes more labor. Consider all these issues before moving forward. Figuring out what works best for you and your budget first will get you that gorgeous lawn you’re hoping for later!
