If you have a cool season lawn, summer is bound to stress it out. While the high temps are great for us, lawns tend to end up looking thin, bare and brown in spots. Think of it as lawn sunburn. The good news is that there’s an easy fix that will have your lawn green, full and fluffy again. And it doesn’t involve gooey lotions and saying “Ow!” a lot. Rather than start from scratch, revive your lawn by reseeding it.

Receding Summer = Reseeding Lawn Time

Fall is the time to do lawn revival. Warm soil, cooler air, and fewer weeds as competition all add up to the perfect time to show your lawn some love. Not only that, but the diseases that usually attack grass seedlings are much less active in the fall. Due to the usual fall leaf shedding, your seedlings will have the extra sunlight they need to grow strong. If you fail the fall, spring is the next best time to reseed your lawn.

Mow Down Low

In preparation for reseeding, you need to mow your lawn a little lower (shorter) than usual. Make sure you remove all the clippings, too; this allows the new seed application to get to the soil more easily.

Can I Get an Amen-ded Soil?

Amending your soil is simply adding a thin layer of fertilizer-enriched soil to what’s already there. Rake in less than a quarter of an inch; more may kill your lawn. Kellogg® Topper is perfect for this purpose. The enriched soil gives your new seed more of a chance to grow and thrive.

As You Sow… Put Down the Right Seed

This requires a little diagnostic work on your part. Of course, the experts at your local Grangetto’s are glad to help, too! You need to pick the right seed for where you live (shady vs. sunny) and also for the problem that’s stressing your lawn in the first place (lots of foot-traffic, animals). If your lawn is shaded, you need a shade-tolerant seed; likewise, if your place is the hub of your neighborhood’s social activity, a seed that stands up to high foot traffic is just what the doctor ordered. You mostly like have a Dwarf or a Tall Fescue and may already know this. Grangetto’s has excellent quality grass seed that won’t break the bank. We also carry Marathon® Tall and Dwarf Fescue, which is a premium seed.

Spread the Lawn Love Around

Everything is ready: You’ve mowed down low, cleaned up your clippings and amended your soil. Now, it’s time to spread the new seed! Fill up your seed spreader and go, go, go! Make sure you follow the instructions on the seed bag, too. After you’re done, gently rake the new seed into the soil.

Feed Me, Seymour!

Hopefully, your new lawn doesn’t require that much food, but it does need some nourishment. You’ve supplied the fertilizer-enriched soil when you chose Kellogg® Topper, now you need to water your lawn; do this as you normally would. Make sure to keep the soil moist for 7-14 days or until the seedlings are 2 inches tall.

If you did not use a soil enriched with starter fertilizer; before you water spread some Dr. Earth® Natural and Organic Lawn Fertilizer on top according to the package directions. Now water.

All that’s left is to sit back and enjoy the fall, all the while knowing your distressed lawn is now de-stressed.