How to Revive a Dead Lawn

General

How to Revive a Dead Lawn in Georgia 

Noticing some patchy, brown, brittle grass in your lawn? Before you call a time of death, try these methods to breathe some new life back into your turfgrass.

Before we get into our expert tips, though, a word of warning: a truly dead lawn cannot be resuscitated. However, some grasses can go dormant, which is essentially the grass’s version of playing possum. If that’s your grass, the good news is you can still take steps to bring it back to the green, lush lawn you remember. We’ll explain how, but first, what’s behind all that brown, dry grass in your yard? 

Common Causes of Dead Grass in Georgia

For our purposes here, when we say, “dead grass,” we really mean that the grass appears dead, but is — as noted above — actually dormant. Proceed with caution, though. If you don’t treat the problem, the damaged and dormant grass could soon end up actually dead. So, what causes formerly healthy grass to go dormant?

  • An excessively thick layer of thatch
  • Poor soil drainage
  • Soil compaction
  • Excessive watering
  • Fungus or disease
  • Dry weather conditions

Lawn disease is fairly common, and yard neglect is the biggest culprit. An untended lawn is susceptible to many diseases, including zoysia patch fungus and many others. 

How to Diagnose the Problem 

If your grass appears dead, the first step is figuring out what type of grass you have, so you know its typical dormant season. For example, if your cool-season fescue is looking brown at the height of summer, it’s just going through its normal dormant period, and there isn’t anything to worry about. But if it doesn’t start to green up when the weather cools, there may be an issue. Conversely, warm-season grasses will go dormant through the winter, but will start growing again in the spring. If you notice the grass going dormant during a typical growing season, more investigation is required.

Another way to diagnose a problem with your turfgrass is simply to go outside and give it a tug. If it pulls up easily with no resistance, it may already be dead. If you feel some resistance when you pull, it’s likely just dormant, and even if it’s the wrong season, there’s still hope.

Steps to Revive a Dead Lawn

Once you know your grass is simply dormant and not dead, how do you begin to revitalize it? In Georgia, you can start by addressing common lawn care concerns like weeds, patchy growth, and pest problems. These are the next steps you should take:

1. Assess the Damage

You’ve already determined that your grass isn’t dead but is dormant during a season in which it should be growing. Now you need to get to the root of the problem. Check your grass for thatch issues, compacted soil, pests, or fungus. Some problems will be obvious, while others will take more work to identify. 

2. Remove Dead Grass and Debris

Use a rake to clear any debris, like fallen leaves or dead grass. This will give you a clearer picture of the problem, and will also help you remove any excess thatch that might be keeping your grass from thriving.

3. Soil Preparation

Compacted soil can prevent nutrients from reaching your grass roots, so it’s important to check for compaction whenever you start to see brown patches appear. If your soil is compacted, you may want to look into core aeration. This type of aeration removes small cores of soil, allowing more oxygen, water, and nutrients to reach the roots. It also paves the way for more successful overseeding.

4. Reseeding or Sodding

If you’ve taken all the measures possible to nurture your struggling lawn, but you’re not seeing any changes, it might be time to look into other options. Overseeding and reseeding can fill in dead patches with new grass. As long as you can be patient while it takes root, it can resolve your turf problems and give you a lush, healthy, and green lawn.

5. Watering and Fertilizing

Finding the right balance with your watering schedule is key to reversing any grass damage and coaxing your grass out of dormancy. Too much water is just as damaging as too little water, so try not to overdo it. If you’re reseeding, you’ll need to water more frequently — two or three times a day — until you see new growth. Once grass is established, you should aim for one inch of water a week, or around two or three watering sessions over the course of seven days. Reduce those sessions if the weather is rainy, and remember to water in the morning to prevent evaporation.

You might also consider testing your soil with a test kit from your local home improvement store (or through a trusted lawn care partner). This can reveal the type of soil you have and whether you may have been fertilizing it incorrectly, leading to the damage. If so, you can then determine what will be a healthy blend of fertilizer that will invigorate your soil and promote new growth.

6. Pest and Weed Control

Weeds are often unsightly, but they can cause even deeper issues by competing for the nutrients, water, and oxygen your grass needs. For minor weeds, you may find that manually pulling them is effective. But if you have a larger infestation, you may want to consider using a pre-emergent or post-emergent herbicide.

Pests typically require support from a professional. Grubs, mosquitoes, fire ants, and other insects can cause major stress and damage to your lawn, while other pests are problematic for plants, animals, and humans. Talk to your lawn care professional to discuss a course of action.

Best Practices for Lawn Maintenance

Once you get your grass growing again, you want to keep it in good shape. Prevent it from entering dormancy by following these yard maintenance tips:

Mowing the Right Way

Mowing tactics are extremely important to lawn health. Keep these details in mind when planning a mowing strategy:

  • Only mow in the morning or evening when the temperature is cooler to reduce stress on your lawn.
  • Never mow when the grass is wet.
  • Mow in a different direction or pattern for each mowing session.
  • Don’t mow too frequently — once a week is usually sufficient.
  • Avoid scalping the lawn by mowing too low. Keep the mower set to 3-3.5 inches.
  • Let grass clippings stay on the lawn to mulch it and provide extra nutrients.

Regular Soil Testing

Continue your soil testing so you understand how your soil makeup and Ph changes over time. This will help you anticipate any looming issues and find a fertilizer that will keep your lawn green and healthy.

Seasonal Care

Plan for simple, year-round care. Talk to a lawn care professional about planning for pre-emergent herbicides in the spring, fresh fertilizer, and post-emergent treatment of weeds in the summer. 

How All Turf Lawn Care Can Help Revive Your Grass

Seeing brown grass can be disheartening, but it doesn’t mean you have to throw in the towel. As long as there’s still some life below the surface, you can revive your grass and get back the healthy lawn you remember. But it’s tough to do it alone. That’s why the pros at All Turf Lawn Care are here. Take a look at our comprehensive list of lawn care services, and schedule your free quote today!

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