Are You Having Difficulties Establishing A New Lawn?

Late summer and early fall is a popular time for starting new lawns. The weather is perfect and if you can get a good stable lawn established before winter, then you’ll most likely have a great lawn come spring. One problem that many gardeners face when trying to establish a new lawn is the variable germination rate of grass seed. Wind, rain and too much pressure when watering can result in a lawn that is very thick in some places, and very thin in others.

The solution is not a difficult one to fix, however, you will need to ensure the soil has stabilized a little before taking any corrective action. If the soil is stable, then a lawn seeding tool can be a real aid in helping to thicken any thin or bare patches in your lawn. Use the lawn seeding tool to perforate the surface, then sow more seed.

If hand watering, keep the pressure down to a fine spray, this will settle on the seed rather than pushing the seed away from the area you want to repair. One of the benefits of using a good lawn seeding tool is that the seed will collect in the perforations made, and not be swept to areas that are already showing good growth. This will help to provide a more even cover of germinating grass.

On another note, check to ensure your lawn seed is fresh. If you have had it in your tool shed for a considerable time, you may need to replace it with fresh seed. Stale grass seed can have a very poor germination rate, especially if it has been exposed to humid air. You should also ensure the seed you buy is well suited to your area, and not just a generic all purpose grass seed. Generic seed mixes often contain grass types that won’t grow successfully in your region, and this too can lead to thin areas in your lawn.