start a new lawn from scratch or try and renovate current mess?

by Virginia
(Northeast Ohio)

My lawn has been damaged by leaves that I didn't rake and grubs/moles. It is squishy,lumpy,bare in some areas. I am just not sure what to do. If I should start from scratch or work with what I have...I just don't want to try and repair it to no avail. I live in Northeast Ohio.

Doug says that repair is the fastest, and cheapest alternative. Get out the compost and apply approx 20 pounds (1 big bag of purchased compost) per 1000 square feet of lawn. More is better so don't hesitate to go to 2 bags or 40 pounds per 1000 square feet.

Then apply grass seed. Normally we recommend 2 pounds per 1000 square feet but if the lawn is really damaged and thin, then you can easily go to 4 pounds per 1000 square feet to thicken it up.

Do these 2 things right now (it's the end of April)

Keep the lawn damp by watering once a day and you'll quickly see new grass plants starting. Give it a month and you'll have a thick grass lawn there.

Do not mow until the new grass is at least 4-6 inches tall and well established. Then only cut at the mower highest setting.

Hope that helps you. Fast and easy.

I note that most folks should be doing this kind of thing every fall (at 2 pounds of grass seed per 1000 square feet) to thicken up the lawn anyway. You're just doing it as a repair.