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Best Time To Repair Your Lawn: The Ultimate Guide

A lawn with a bald patch and a hand with seeds spreading some into the patch.

The embodiment of a beautiful landscape is a rich green lawn. Over time due to many adverse conditions, a lawn tends to lose its initial beauty and needs to be repaired.

Early fall is the best time to repair lawn issues due to the fading of the annual weed pressure and the warmth of soil temperatures for the germination of new seeds. These warm fall temperatures will also give your lawn enough time to thrive before the cold weather prevails.

Should you opt to repair your lawn at the wrong time of the year, it could mean a waste of time and money. Let’s explore some of the causes of lawn damage and the different approaches to repair it, including what the best time of year would be to repair your lawn, depending on its condition.

Why Wait For The Best Season To Repair Your Lawn?

The most significant fatality in lawn repair is the enthusiasm of avid gardeners to get out their garden tools and start mending their lawns as soon as the need arises.

There are some factors that demand that you attend to the lawn immediately. However, the majority will require some patience, and more importantly, repairing it in the right season.

Early fall is the most suitable time to mend your lawn because it will have enough time to thrive before the start of winter. You will find that the annual weed pressure has started to fade during this time, and the soil temperatures are also warm enough for the rapid germination of new seeds.

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What Is The Best Month To Overseed Your Lawn?

Overseeding your lawn with newer turfgrass (seed sold on Amazon) is ideal for thickening and restoring its health and appearance. It’s a perfect option if your lawn has been affected by:

  • drought stress
  • thin or sparse patches of grass
  • insects
  • diseases
  • lack of color

Newer turfgrass varieties are known to better resist damage from:

  • drought
  • diseases
  • insects

A huge determining factor in overseeding is your area’s climatic conditions. Consider late summer to early fall as the best time to overseed your lawn if you live in northern climates with cooler weather.

You will find that overseeding is best during fall because the soil is still warm enough to support germination. Soil moisture required for germination is also more favorable during this period. The temperatures are also much more conducive to the growth of new grass.

The winter cold has already taken its toll, and spring is finally here. With it comes the joys of:

  • warmer weather
  • blooming flowers
  • green grass
  • brown patches that are starting to spread

As the days grow longer and the weather gets nicer, this might be the best time to repair your lawn. If you want your lawn to be in its best shape, then knowing when to repair it is key.

It may depend on several factors that range from the type of grass you have to the severity of the damage to the area. No matter what, make sure to take care of your lawn so that it will be able to bounce back quickly and be healthy for the rest of the season.

In doing this, there are a few things to keep in mind to be sure you are giving your lawn the best chance to recover. It is crucial to know those things before you start repairing your property so that you can be as successful as possible.

For a better understanding of when should you repair a lawn, take a look at this guide to lawn repair.

Things To Consider Before Making a Decision to Repair Your Lawn

Like any other project, there are a few things to consider before deciding to repair your lawn. By having this step in your planning process, you will be able to make a more informed decision and in the long run, save some:

  • time
  • money
  • headache

Here are some things to take into consideration before starting a lawn repair project:

#1: Current State of the Lawn

Assess how bad the damage to your lawn is, and if it is something that can be easily fixed with some TLC or if it needs a more extensive repair.

Grass with a small dead patch.
The fix may be simple if there is not much damage

If you have a small patch of dead grass, some reseeding and fertilizing may do the trick. However, if you have large areas of dead grass or other significant damage, you may need to consult with a professional landscaper to get your lawn back in tip-top shape.

#2: Kinds of Grass You Have

Different types of grasses have different needs for:

  • watering
  • fertilizing
  • mowing

Be sure to research the type of grass you have so that you can give it the care it needs to thrive. In doing this research, you may also find that your property would benefit from a change in grass type, and this could be something to talk to a professional about.

#3: The Climate You Live In 

Your location will also play a role in how often you need to water and fertilize your lawn. If you live in an area with high humidity, your lawn will require more watering than someone who lives in a drier climate. Likewise, if you live in an area with heavy rains, you may not need to water as frequently.

Be sure to consider your local environment when planning your lawn repair project.

#4: The Cost of Restoration

Of course, you will need to factor in the cost of lawn repair when making your decision. Like any home improvement project, there are a variety of factors that will affect the price, such as:

  • size of lawn
  • severity of damage
  • if professional help is hired

This is something you will need to research and budget for accordingly.

Steps in Repairing Your Lawn

When it comes to repairing your lawn, there are a few key steps you need to take, and timing is everything. To ensure that you will have an excellent and lasting result, it is crucial to follow the necessary pace and do each step at the right time.

To achieve a healthy and beautiful lawn all season long, here is the guide to repairing a lawn:

Step #1: Remove All Pebble

This can be done during any season as it is the first step in lawn repair. Pebble stones can build up over time, preventing the roots of your grass from getting sufficient:

  • water
  • air
  • nutrients
A person raking pebbles out of their lawn.
Use a rake to remove all pebbles from the lawn

As a result, the grass will be more likely to die. All you need to do is rake up any pebble stones that may have found their way into your lawn. If you need a rake, this one sold on Amazon is great value.

Step #2: Use Soil Activators

Soil activators like this one on Amazon, are a great way to improve the quality of lawn soil. They help to break down organic matter and release nutrients that benefit grass. The best time to use soil activators is in the spring, as this will give them plenty of time to work their magic after the winter months.

TOP TIP: For a buyer’s guide to the best lawn boosters, check out this article too!

Step #3: Apply the Fertilizer

Just like people, grass needs food to grow strong and healthy. The best time to fertilize your lawn is in the springtime, as this will give your grass the nutrients it needs to grow during the warmer months.

HOT TIP: Be sure to read the label on your fertilizer carefully, as you don’t want to apply too much – this can burn your grass.

Step #4: Watering Your Lawn

Of course, no lawn can grow without water. The best time to water your lawn is in the early morning hours, as this will give the grass time to absorb the water before the heat of the day sets in. Watering in the evening can do more harm than good, as it can encourage fungi and other diseases to set in.

How To Fix A Terrible Lawn?

A lush green lawn provides curb appeal, but when the quality of the lawn deteriorates over time due to unforeseen circumstances, try to salvage what is left of it without having to tear out the entire lawn.

The first step would be to identify what you are dealing with and fix it accordingly. Here are some of the lawn issues that you may be faced with.

#1: Aeration

If you notice a hard, lumpy yard, it is probably because the soil beneath the lawn contains a lot of clay which has caused the lawn to become compacted. This is due to the soil nutrients not being adequately absorbed by the grass when the lawn is compacted.

Pushing a pitchfork into the ground will help aerate the soil and reduce compaction.

If you use a larger aeration machine like this one from Amazon, you will be able to roll over the soil in less time and effort to focus on covering the entire yard.

#2: Brown Grass

One of the most prevalent problems is the appearance of brown grass. Often despite heavy rains, you might still notice that grass appears brown. Taller grass retains moisture better and appears healthier than short grass.

Perhaps you want to ensure healthier-looking grass, and it is advisable to leave the grass blades relatively tall. To achieve this, adjust the cutting deck of the lawnmower.

The appearance of brown grass in conditions other than drought could signal a lack of nitrogen in the lawn. Adding weed clover to your lawn will help improve the lawn’s nitrogen level.

#3: Dethatching

The layer of plant matter incorporated between the top of the soil and the grass blades is thatch. Too much thatch can choke out:

  • nutrients
  • sunlight
  • water

If this is the problem, you will have to initiate dethatching by using a garden rake to comb through the grass, removing some of the thatch. The dethatching process is best attempted in the fall or when the grass is dormant.

NOTE: It is crucial that you not try this process during the appearance of young grass shoots, which can ultimately damage young blades.

#4: Mixing Variations Of Grass Seed

The appearance of bald spots on the lawn may result in panic buying of incorrect lawn seeds to cover the spots which will result in grass variations.

Hence, it is advisable to take a few blades of grass to the garden center to ensure that you find the perfect match.

Patchy grass, some is green, some is brown, and some spots are bald.
Patchy lawns should be repaired during the fall

When Should I Fix My Patchy Lawn?

Bare soil with patches of dead or dying grass is reason enough to be tempted to find a quick solution to mend your lawn. Although a patchy lawn can be a frustrating sight, repairing it in the wrong season could lead to lawn stress.

If the patches are caused by poor soil management or diseases, introducing new grass seedlings in the summer heat could be hazardous. Early fall is the best time to schedule the repair of a patchy lawn to enjoy lush turf just in time for spring.

Conclusion

There you have it; knowing what time of year is best to repair your lawn will give you insights on when to start working on your yard. By following the tips given in this article, you can achieve a well-maintained and beautiful lawn all year long.

Brown, bare patches of thatched lawn are reason enough for you to want to step into a pair of wellingtons with gardening gear in hand and try to remedy the situation. Repairing a damaged lawn is no quick fix. More importantly, it requires the right season with the most suitable climatic conditions.

Fall is undoubtedly the best time of year to repair your lawn, and in spring give your grass a little extra care. By following the tips above, your yard will be looking its best in no time and will be perfect for outdoor summer activities.

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