Fixing Bare Spots in Your Yard - step-by-step instructions in the description
List of Materials and Tools Needed
Good quality Grass Seed
Starter Fertilizer
VertiCutter (rental)
Spreader
Rake
Garden Hose
STEP 1
Choosing a Good Quality Seed. You’ll be amazed at the variety of seed available at your nursery or discount super store… The surest bet is to get good advice for your specific application in your specific climate. The main thing is to spend a little extra dough for the best seed you can get…in the case of Grass Seed, you truly get what you pay for.
STEP 2
Spreading the Seed. Follow the instructions on the Seed bag for spreading amounts. Or ask the guy at the nursery, he’ll be able to tell you how much to use for your particular job. Spread the seed on the bare spot in a back and forth application. Change directions and go over the area again. By doing so, you’ll eliminate “Striping.”
STEP3
Choosing and then Spreading your Starter Fertilizer. Fertilizer strength is designated by a series of three numbers. For example; 12-24-24. A good way to remember what this means is “Shoots, Roots, and Fruits” This means the first number stimulates the shoots or stalk of the plant, the second the root system and the third the fruits or seeds of the plant. In our case we want a starter fertilizer with a high second number which means it will stimulate a healthy root system which is vital when patching a bare spot. Load your spreader and make one pass over the area making sure it’s even.
STEP 4
Using the VertiCutter. Basically a Verticutter is a very powerful rake. You could do this job with a hand rake, but to really get the seed down in the ground as opposed to on it, spend the extra cash and go rent a Verticutter. Besides, it’s fun! This powerful machine is armed with fixed, heavy-duty knife blades that spin on a shaft at a high rate of speed. It’s great for breaking up the soil without breaking a sweat. Make sure you change directions, like with the spreader, to avoid striping.
STEP 5
Watering the Seeded Area. Your seed will require frequent, light watering to stimulate germination. After your seed has sprouted, water less frequently but more heavily to stimulate the roots.