Winters can be harsh on your lawn, making it tough for plants to survive through the snow and frost.
The damage caused can be extensive. But it remains covered under a white blanket throughout the season.
Now, I’ve been invested in maintaining my beautiful backyard for decades. Hence, both my lawn and I have gone through several such winters together. The most common issue? Dead patches of grass!
After one such winter, my sister (an ardent gardener like me) called me up asking for help. The harsh cold temperatures and ice led to a similar issue. And no matter how much she tried, the grass wouldn’t regrow.
It was then that it dawned upon me - most garden enthusiasts face the after-effects of winters, but are unaware of the steps involved in the revival of their dead lawn.
Hi! I’m Stacy Smith, a fellow gardener, and friend. And today, I’m here with this guide to help you learn how to regrow grass. So, without further ado, let’s get going!
Steps Involved In Regrowing Grass
From experience, I know for a fact that no matter how hard we try, cold and harsh winters can adversely affect, even the most well-maintained lawns. With snow and ice, the greenery of nature not only gets covered but also takes a beating. And by the end of it, spring begins with torn-up turf and dead patches.
It’s truly heartbreaking! But somehow, this is the reality of nature and the ever-changing seasons. All we can do is wait for the cold winter to get over in order to welcome a new beginning.
So, are you ready to make your lawn look the best once again? Well, then let’s get started. Here I’ve explained some of the essential steps and techniques you need to follow in order to regrow grass.
1. Removing Debris
This is the first and probably the simplest step that is equally important. Snowstorms often result in scattered tree branches, twigs, leaves, and other debris across your lawn. Now, these remain covered under snow throughout the season. Therefore, they are basically invisible.
But once the snow melts, it leaves the area looking like a mess. So, that’s your cue to begin the evaluation of the damage, followed by the cleaning process. Along with removing the debris, take a close look at your plants and shrubs, and remove the ones that did not survive.
2. Getting Rid Of Dead Grass
Once you’ve cleared your lawn, you’ll be able to see the patches of grass that didn’t make it through the winter. Simply start pulling them out with your hands. This is easy to do as dead grass doesn’t have roots anchored to the soil. You may also use a rake for this purpose.
3. Aeration
The step involves poking the soil of your lawn to help the grassroots get the nutrients required for growth. You can also use a plug aerator to improve the condition of the topsoil.
4. Eliminating Weed
Allow the soil to breathe once it is cleared and aerated. After a few days, you’ll notice growth. That being said, pull out the weeds from the ground as soon as you see them growing. In fact, you can spray natural or home-made weed killers across the entire area to prevent their growth.
Why is this important? Well, it’s crucial to eliminate weeds before you start watering and fertilizing the area in order to prevent them from going out of control.
5. Seeding
You can now begin the process of reseeding your lawn. Just make sure it is aerated and clear of weeds and debris. Other than this, it is also crucial to ensure that the soil temperatures are high enough, ranging between 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once all the right boxes are ticked, start scattering seeds evenly using your hand. You may also consider using a mechanical seeder, especially if you have an extensive lawn area to cover.
I’ll suggest layering the soil with compost and then raking it in. This allows you to make sure that the seeds aren’t just sitting on the top layer. Furthermore, water your lawn daily until newly grown grass starts filling in. Usually, it takes 5 to 6 weeks for the grass to regrow.
6. Fertilization
For those who don’t know, fertilization is key when it comes to lawn maintenance. It helps in restoring the nutrients of the soil for better growth, yield, and quality.
Now, animal waste is probably the safest option that will help your lawn reach its full potential within no time. However, you can also test your soil in order to determine the ideal fertilizer to help accelerate the regrowth of grass.
7. Maintenance
Your job doesn’t end at fertilization. Yes, there’s more to it! Regular up-keep for your lawn is essential if you wish to maintain its luscious greenery.
Avoid fertilizing the soil frequently as it leads to pest infestation and rampant growth of weed. Also, make sure you mow your lawn at regular intervals in order to keep the grass growth in check.
That’s not all. It is crucial to maintain your lawn even through the winter to save it from dying again. For this, you can use a snowblower to remove excess snow from the required areas.
Summing It Up
As your friendly lawn care expert, I’m always happy to share whatever knowledge and experience I’ve gained in keeping a pristine lawn over the years. And with dead grass being a common concern among most gardeners and homeowners, I found it imperative to bring you this informative guide.
The steps explained in this article will definitely help you regrow grass after harsh winters. But that doesn’t mean you’ll give up on its up-keep throughout the cold season. Always make it a point to maintain and monitor the growth of grass regularly. To keep your lawn tidy, buy a lawn mower from the many we have on this product review guide.
On that note, I’ll take your leave. Till next time!