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 Repairing
Your Lawn
If your lawn has problem areas due to disease, an accidental fertilizer
spill or just an area where the grass plants are thin, Southern
States has solutions to fit your needs. There are 3 basic ways to
repair problem areas: patching with sod, patching with seed and
overseeding. The method you choose depends of what caused the need
for repair and the season of the year. For small bare areas or those
damaged by disease, sod or seed is best. Patching by overseeding
is best used for larger areas where grass is thin. Repairing your
lawn is best performed in the spring or fall. Timing also depends
on the region you live in and the variety of grass you intend to
use. Your Southern States dealer can help you choose what's right
for you.
Patching with Sod
Keep the sod moist until planting time. Cut the old sod and any
weeds from the area to be repaired with a spade. The bare soil area
should be kept free of weeds and other debris.
Add Statesman Compost and a granular fertilizer such as Statesman
Supreme, Statesman SteadyGro or CarpetMaker to the bare soil and
work it in. You should prepare the soil just as you would for a
new lawn or garden bed.
Using a garden rake, make the soil smooth and level. It's surface
should be about an inch below the surface of the surrounding soil
so that the new sod will be level with the rest of the lawn.
Cut a piece of sod to match the hole. Place it firmly onto the
prepared soil making sure the edges fit snugly.
Walk on the patch to make sure it settles properly. Water well
and often.
Patching with Seed
Prepare the repair site the same way you would for sod.
Sow the seed thickly. Use the same seed variety as the rest of
the lawn if you know what it is. If not, choose a variety containing
a mixture of grasses that will grow in your region.
 Use
a layer of straw or garden fabric over the repair site. This helps
retain soil moisture and discourages birds. It will also help protect
the new sprouts. Keep the site watered well. Good moisture is essential
for the germination of your seed.
Mow the grass when it is 3 inches high to encourage root growth.
Overseeding
Mow the existing grass already there as short as possible without
damaging the crowns of the plants.
Rough up the soil in between the plants with a garden rake.
Using a spreader, sow the seed over the area at the rate recommended
for new lawns. Some seed will land on the existing grass and fail
to germinate, thus the higher rate.
Roll the area lightly to ensure good contact between the seed and
the soil. You may want to topdress the repair site with Statesman
Compost or Statesman Topsoil. Mow the grass when it is 3 inches
tall.. Water the area often to promote germination.
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