Did you know that even lawns get old and worn out? The options offer a spectrum of things you can do to liven up a tired lawn, ranging from minimal with short-term benefit to a lot of work with long-term results.
How Do Lawns Age?
Lawns have a lifespan and the average lawn ideally lives about 15 to 20 years. But, as with a human (or weasel) life, many variables affect that number and how healthy the lawn is. A lawn with regular care and attention to maintaining healthy soil can last a long time.
Grass that grows naturally reseeds (refreshes) itself each year to stay healthy and thrive. The well-maintained, manicured lawns we keep never allow this process to take place as we cut our lawns before they have a chance to seed. This process alone weakens the grass making it vulnerable to weeds.
If your lawn has been around awhile and it is not looking good no matter what you try, it may simply be that it has surpassed its optimal lifespan, or conditions have expedited its age. Thin, yellow colored blades, yellow patches, lackluster color, weeds and bare spots can indicate problems. It is important to discern whether a disease or pest is affecting a lawn, versus the ravages of time.
The best defense against all the enemies of a beautiful lawn is thick, healthy grass. As opposed to the right fertilizer, it is in the soil that you will find all the secrets to that goal.
How To Begin? Start With Soil.
The first thing you need to do is have the soil tested to see if it needs amending. For an item as large and significant as your lawn, take the sample to your local extension service for testing. Check out our informative post about
soil testing for more details.
The Spectrum of Options to Help Your Tired Lawn
Minimal Effort/Short-Term Fixes
Green Spray Paint – You could take the approach of some Christmas tree farms and just color your lawn…this would definitely make your lawn greener, but it might not be a very healthy, long-lasting or environmentally friendly choice…
Seriously, Other Superficial Solutions – If you’re just looking to spruce up the look of your lawn for the weekend, you can try several things: mow grass longer with a sharp blade (longer grass makes it look thicker), change your pattern (cross-crossing the grass can lift it), use an edger to edge the grass (having a straight edge will make it look better), spot weed (this can improve the look of the lawn immediately) and spot seed (scrape up a bare spot, sprinkle on some peat moss and seed, and water generously).
Top Seed - A quick and fairly easy way to turn a thin or old lawn into a thick, beautiful lawn is to top seed. That process begins with
core aeration (the process of creating small holes for seeds to grow in). A core aerator can be rented and is easy to handle. After aerating, apply a
soil conditioner like humate, which adds good organic matter to the soil. Humate increases seed germination by as much as 25 percent so more seeds grow. Some lawn experts recommend adding a
water retention polymer such as Rainmaker for the next step to provide added support to the water process that is so important in the early part of the germination process. The product absorbs water and slowly releases it as the soil around it dries out. Finally,
apply the new grass seed. Kentucky Blue Grass is very common across the country, but make sure to do a little research and purchase the best seed for your area. When you apply the seed, vary the application rate based on how thin or bare the area is.
Watering properly for the first 4-6 weeks is essential.
Lots of Work/Long-Term Remedies
Burning is Becoming Passé – Because it used to be a common practice, and still is in some rural areas, it is worth mentioning. This is one of nature’s ways, but it is now illegal in most cities and the cons outweigh the pros. The benefits – possibly reducing weeds and thatch, quickening greening - do not compare to the dangers – risk of property damage, personal injury. If the soil is not moist enough, burning can actually damage the grass and inhibit regrowth.
Start Over – If your lawn is more than 50 percent dead, it is easiest to remove the grass and completely start over with new seeds. This is incredibly labor and cost intensive, but it is the best solution for the long term.
Use your soil test to determine what amendments need to be made. Figure out those quantities and make the purchase. The next step is to remove the old grass, and there are several methods to choose from:
solarization (cover in plastic and overheat the lawn),
over mulch (this takes 2 month),
cut the sod (with a hoe or sod cutter so can pull up grass easily), or
herbicides (choose one that degrades quickly such as glyphosate (Roundup) or an organic product.
You’ll then need a rotary tiller to loosen the soil and mix in the amendments. Lastly, use a spreader to apply fresh seed. Again, be sure to research the best seed for your area. Consider an “eco-lawn” seed that are often a blend of fine fescue grasses and are low maintenance and drought-resistant grass. Water daily in the early morning until seeds germinate. By the end of spring, you’ll have a new and enlivened lawn. Some experts recommend replacing your lawn every 6-7 years.
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