As the weather warms up, I’ve been receiving many inquiries about repairing lawns damaged over the winter. Depending on the condition of your yard, there are several ways to restore it.
For minor damage, we can gradually revive the grass through dethatching, aerating, fertilizing, and overseeding. Sometimes, we also apply top-dressing (adding a thin layer of topsoil over existing grass). However, for severely damaged lawns, the best approach is to remove existing debris, moss, and weeds, lay down fresh soil, and start over with either sod or seed.
Recently, I’ve completed several projects focused on establishing new lawns from seed. While seeding requires more initial care and patience than sodding, many homeowners choose this route because it is more cost-effective. Once our work is done, the watering falls to the homeowner, and I always get the same question: “How should I water it?”
Lawn seeds are incredibly small and light. They aren’t “planted” deep in the ground but are spread on the soil surface. To improve the germination rate and speed, we use a starter fertilizer. Some modern seed products even come pre-coated with fertilizer.
For these tiny seeds to germinate, the soil must stay consistently moist. If it’s a typical rainy spring, nature does some of the work for you. However, the critical part is maintaining moisture until the delicate new roots establish themselves in the soil. If the soil dries out right as germination begins, the tiny sprouts will wither and die quickly. When this happens, people often mistakenly think the seeds were old or “bad.”
In the spring, seeds paired with fertilizer typically begin to germinate in about 2 weeks. As the weather gets even warmer, you might see sprouts in as little as a week. The first 1 to 2 weeks after germination are the most critical. By the third week, the roots usually take hold, and you’ll start to see that beautiful green tint across your yard.
Quick Q&A for New Lawns
- Q: How should I water?
- A: Keep the soil surface consistently moist at all times.
- Q: What happens if I don’t water?
- A: Some grass may still grow, but for a lush, successful lawn, consistent watering is essential.
- Q: I forgot to water and now I don’t see any sprouts.
- A: You’ll likely need to re-apply seed and starter fertilizer and start the process again.
- Q: The grass is coming in patchy. What should I do?
- A: Simply add more seed and fertilizer to the bare spots.
To those in the industry, these might seem like simple questions, but for homeowners, it’s a new experience. Once they go through the process once, they become pros—I’ve never had a client ask the same question twice!
Written by Andy Lee
Owner of Andy’s Landscape Inc. – Landscape Contractor in Maple Ridge, BC