2torial #0834:
Learn2 Reseed a Lawn

It's not easy being green

Brown spots got the best of your lawn? Or worse, is it entirely brown or mostly dirt? It's time to diagnose what went wrong and then reseed the area.

Reseeding is the easiest and least expensive way to revitalize your lawn. Doing so takes a while--about 3 weeks for the grass to grow--but you'll ultimately have the same result as you'd get with the more expensive and laborious methods, like installing sod, setting sprigs, or planting with grass plugs. With proper care, you'll be the envy of your neighbors, or, at the very least, you'll feel proud of your new, plush lawn.

The best conditions for reseeding occur during fall and spring. And of these two, fall is superior because warm soil aids quick germination, there's less competition from summer weeds, and seedlings have a longer time to mature before summer's heat and dryness hit. You can successfully reseed a lawn in summer, but it takes extra effort to keep the germinating grass moist.

Before even touching the ground, decide which grass to grow. Take a trip to your local nursery, where the staff should be familiar with your climate and can help you choose between cool-season and warm-season grasses, as well as steer you toward grasses with high shade or drought tolerance. Make sure you describe your lawn area clearly.