How to Recover Your Lawn Following the 2018 Drought

After the drought of 2018, many lawns, pitches and parks were left damaged, dry and even dead. Here at Barenbrug, we have some top tips on how to revive your turf from our grass seed experts…

THE BASICS

• Repair lawn in spring or autumn
• Reseed bare patches
• If the whole lawn is patchy, it may be advisable to totally re-seed the lawn

Patches in lawns can appear for a number of reasons, and when they do, it is always advisable to repair your lawn. The hot, dry summer of 2018 left many lawns badly scarred and in desperate need of repair. Although it may seem sensible to just turf the area, the problem may reoccur. So, the best method is often to overseed, which is generally the best long-term solution. Professional groundsman use this technique to restore worn areas on sports pitches, turning them back into lush green carpet in just a few weeks. Reseeding, or turfing bare patches will prevent weeds germinating in the patches, and of course, it looks much better.

WHERE

If your lawn is thin and patchy and has brown spots, perhaps from physical damage or wear and tear, it should be repaired. You may just be looking for a green and healthy lawn, the answer is overseeding — a natural way to thicken your lawn and crowd out undesirable weeds. If the lawn is really bad, then total re-laying or re-seeding may be necessary.

WHEN

Ideally in spring or autumn, when the weather is damp and cool, as the lawn is most likely to recover well in these conditions.

HOW…

THE STARTING POINT

Thorough ground preparation is vital for a successful lawn and lawn repair project.

1. Mow the lawn to a short height and rake to remove debris and thatch. If needed, kill off any weeds or moss a week or so before scarifying, to prevent it from spreading to other areas, this will also stop any of the new grass being killed by the weed killers.
2. Use an aerator or a hand fork to open up the soil in your lawn, relieving compaction and waterlogging – one of the number 1 issues in most lawns/gardens.
3. Loosen the top soil down to 6-15 mm (up to ½ inch).

SOWING THE SEED

1. Sow the seed in accordance with the instructions on the packet, either by hand or drop spreader.
2. Lightly rake over.
3. Roll lightly or walk over to press the seed into the soil.

WATERING

1. Water in thoroughly, avoiding washing away any soil or seed.
2. Keep well watered until the grass is established and growing strongly.
3. In hot, dry conditions the soil can become water repellent, which prevents water from reaching the roots of the grass plant. To help the water to reach the roots, spike affected areas with a fork to allow the water to penetrate.

Once established, lightly trim the grass and then follow through with mowing every couple of weeks, reducing the cutting height as appropriate.

Removing a patch

Cut out the damaged area of turf in a square, using a half moon edging iron to cut the square and a spade to lift it. Lightly fork over the soil in the base of the removed square. Sprinkle some crumbly top soil or compost over the base of the removed square. Then seed and water as before.

Remember

• Don’t panic if grass doesn’t appear in 2-3 days.
• Keep the area well watered until the grass is established and growing strongly.
• Water every few days if the weather is dry.
• Germination will typically take 2-3 weeks, depending on temperature and species of grass. For fast germination, choose a mixture containing perennial ryegrass, such as Barenbrug Essential E2 or E3.
• Try not to use the lawn until the grass is well established.
• Don’t forget to deal with perennial weeds as they appear to ensure they don’t deter new grass growth.