The Grass Doctor

Grass???????????????

How can I get grass to grow? I have a couple of patches that are just dirt now... also how can I make my grass greener??

Public Comments

1. you need to turn the soil and add some fertilizer,water it early in the morning before the sun hits it.
2. Healthy grass will grow green when it gets all the nutrients it needs. Wait until the temp cools off then plant grass again. it should grow. Too many chemicals kills grass.
3. Are the dirt patches in the shade? If so, wait until fall and plant cool season grass (fescue, rye). Your grass wil grow much faster with proper watering and fertilization. You can get a fertilizer high in nitrogen for a quick burst of green. It's the first number on the fertilizer (i.e. 10-20-10) Look for a high first number. The best bet is to go to a LOCAL nursery, not wal mart or home depot. Your local nuseries may be high prices, but the staff is trained and usually knowledge about horticulture. They will be able to help you with what is good for your area of the country. I'm only familiar with my zones in the southern part of the US. Hopes this helps!
4. get some manure ;) If you dont wanna do that ask a landscaper :P
5. You need to determine what the problem is first. Is the soil too acidic? A quick pH test from the garden center should tell you that. Add lime and it should correct the pH. Loosen the soil, amend with compost or a good quality topsoil and throw down an appropriate grass seed. Mulch with straw or better yet one of the new pelleted mulches (which often contain a starter fertilizer). Keep it well watered until it establishes. Do not mow it too short and stay away from high nitrogen fertilizers and weed control products until after the fifth mowing. If your soil has compaction or drainage problems consider one of the athletic field conditioning products like turface MVP which are used on golf courses. If you decide to do that bore some holes in the problem areas- something like a bulb auger should work and spread the material over r the area. or if there is no grass at all just rototill it into the soil. Good luck.
6. fetilizer, and seed the dirt patches also very important WATER THE GRASS IN THE MORNING WATERING THEM IN THE NIGHT WILL PRODUCE MOLD WATER THE GRASS IN THE MORNING BUT ONLY ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK TOO MUCH WATER spoils the roots.
7. For your open, dirt areas; go and buy some solid sod (type of grass you have) and place it. Make sure you rough up the soil alittle and water it down. For greener grass. Put down some fertlilizer, maybe some with a weed and feed.