Patching Your Pacific Northwest Lawn Before Summer
Spring is the perfect time to get your lawn back in tip top shape. Last year’s dry summer lead to a lot of dead spots in lawns all over the Pacific Northwest. For many homeowners, this is a big deal especially for those who take a great deal of pride in having a beautiful, lush lawn that makes you want to kick off your shoes and feel the grass between your toes. You can find what you need to take care of those dead spots at Greenwood Hardware.
Some of the problems you may run into with your lawn are listed below along with fixes to make them disappear.
Moss
If moss is present, apply lime. Moss is an indicator species of acid in the soil which is throwing off the pH a bit. Lawns will often recover naturally once the pH is corrected. One of the best cures for moss is prevention, which can be done by maintaining the right pH in the soil. Test your soil regularly to stop a problem before it happens.
Weedy Spots/Excessive Dandelions
For extremely weedy lawns either manually remove with a puller and/or use an iron chelate spray (FeHEDTA) to kill any broadleaf weeds or moss. This is a non-toxic grass-friendly weed killer. If spraying, apply the weed killer about a week before seeding. This allows the weeds to die down and makes room for the new grass.
Bare Spots
For thin areas mix grass seed with 1ft³ bag of compost for every 25 (for compacted or uneven soil) to 50 ft² of lawn you are seeding or reseeding. Cedar Grove is most commonly recommended for this because of its fine texture. Put shovelfuls of the mixture around the area you’re treating and rake out with a leaf rake. It will fall naturally between clumps of grasses and into the holes any weeds might have been occupying.
Using Compost in the Lawn
Compost adds organic material and some nutrients to the soil that will help your lawn be nice and healthy. It also helps fill low spots in the lawn. Compost hides the tiny grass seeds from birds who will often eat the seed before it has a chance to sprout. It also helps prevent germinated seeds from drying out, so you don’t have to water as often. We do not recommend peat moss as it acidifies soils and is not generally taken from renewable sources.
Don’t be embarrassed by dead spots in your lawn. Head into Greenwood Hardware and pick up the tools you need to get ready for another summer. Come on in, or contact us today.