How to Patch a Smothered Lawn

Steps:

1. Use the rototiller on the smothered soil to loosen it up.
2. Rake the soil to smooth it out.
3. Spread the compost over the soil with a rake.
4. Use the rototiller to incorporate the compost with the existing soil. Rake it out smooth again.
5. Load the seed into the broadcast spreader and apply it generously to the soil.
6. Use the back of the rake to gently push the seed into the soil.
7. Load the starter fertilizer into the spreader and apply it to the soil. If you’re doing this work in the spring, select a fertilizer that also includes Tupersan to prevent weed seeds from germinating.
8. Apply a topdressing of compost to the rest of the lawn.
9. Add seed to the topdressing for the rest of the lawn a little less generously than before. Use the back of the rake to push the seed into the soil.
10. Add more starter fertilizer to the rest of the lawn.
11. Give the lawn a good watering, roughly twice a day, for a few weeks until the grass gets to about 3″ tall.

Resources:

Roger recommends using a rototiller to loosen the soil, which can be rented from a home center or tool rental shop.

He then adds compost to boost soil nutrition. In the Northeast, Roger recommends using a seed blend made up of rye, fescue, and bluegrass. When planting a lawn in springtime, Roger uses a starter fertilizer that also contains Tupersan to prevent weed seeds from germinating.

All of the supplies and materials for this project can be found at home centers and landscape supply stores.

Tools: