I’ve been trying to grow grass and fix the patches in the back yard for the past few summers but it never seems to grow so I must be missing something.
In: Biology
You can buy rye grass seed, but it’s only a temporary fix.
Almost all new lawns originate from sod, not seed.
Spread the seed then top with 1/4″ of dirt. Keep the dirt fairly moist until the seeds are germinated.
Constant moisture for 7-10 days to aid in germination. Put down a type of turf mulch or peat moss on seed to help keep it down and keep it moist. Should also have 6+ hours of sun. Soil conditions will affect quality of the grass long term but shouldn’t affect TOO much in how well you can get the seed to germinate. Use a balanced fertilizer like 16-16-16 at time of seeding too to aid in root growth.
If they are bald patches it’s likely that the soil is compacted and has lost some of it organics (becoming mineral soil). If that’s the case you really have to loosen the soil and mix in fertilizer in the top couple inches. Rake in the seed, cover with hay or grass clippings. Water every single day, (a good soaking, but don’t wash away the seeds) until it’s tall enough to mow.
Grass requires full sun to grow. Some grass varieties grow best from sod like zoysia and Bermuda. Fescue grows well from seeds but it usually requires yearly over seeding. Check with the county extension in your area, assuming you are in the US, for recommendations.
It could be the soil quality, try using chicken manure, use a fork to punch loads of holes in the bald patches before sprinkling it, then sprinkle the grass seed. Worked a treat for me when I had the same problem.
Also check the pH level of your soil, test kits are not that expensive. The pH should be between 6.2 – 7.
We’ll need a bit more information about the site. Could you tell us about the area in question? What area of the country are you in? What’s the lighting situation? Do you have a dog? What kind of soil do you have (color, texture etc). Growing grass can be quite sore-specific even with today’s modern varieties and seed bag blends.
The solution will be extremely localized. Soil types and weather will change the answer. Go to your local garden center and talk to them.
Usually i’d say, go talk to your neighbord with a nice well maintain grass, these people are usually so proud of their lawn and so flattered that you acknowledge it. That guy is usually going to give you a lot of great tips that apply for you because, as people mentionned, it changes from an area to another.
With the current Covid19 situation, make sure to keep your social distancing, and respect your local rules if you decide to go ahead with this tip.
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