How to Have a Healthy Lawn

Turf grass is almost an obsession in the United States. I’m honestly not a huge fan. I’ve been reducing the amount of turf in my garden a little each season to make things easier to maintain. But I still want the turf to look good.

In this article, I’m sharing my tips and tricks showing you how you can keep a healthy lawn by repairing bare patches with grass seed. There’s no need to buy sod. Just buy a high quality grass seed and you can keep your lawn looking good.

The quality of your lawn depends on how well you establish your lawn. It is worth taking the time to properly prepare the site for seed. If you want to fix bare spots in your lawn with seed, follow these 4 easy steps.

  • Properly prepare the soil
  • Use a high quality grass seed
  • Cover the seed with weed-free straw to retain moisture
  • Once seed germinates, don’t let it dry out.

I have been systematically reducing the amount of turf in my garden by replacing it with gardens. But I still want to have a healthy lawn during the growing season.

Video | How Keep a Healthy Lawn by Repairing Bare Patches with Grass Seed

Common Causes for Unhealthy Lawns

  • Poor quality grass seed
  • Poor selection of turf grass for the site conditions
  • Poor irrigation practices when the turf is established

Lessons I Learned Seeding My Lawn that Can Help You Grow a Healthy Lawn

Cut Your Lawn on the Highest Setting

The most important thing you can do to maintain healthy turf is to cut your lawn on the highest setting your lawn mower has and try to keep the lawn cut so you aren’t removing more than 1/3 of the height of the grass at a time.

This is the single easiest way to encourage a healthy lawn. Cutting your lawn short is the worst thing you can do for your lawn. If you have a lawn service, ask them to cut the lawn on a high setting.

Cutting high promotes healthy growth. Michigan State University ran a study proving cutting high reduces the stress on your lawn and encourages a larger root system. The result is a healthier lawn that is more weed and grub resistant.

Use High Quality Grass Seed

I use a blend from Scotts that has a protective coating that helps retain moisture. The great thing about a Scotts seed blend is that is contains a blend of seed cultivars best suited for the growing conditions. Read the label to understand if the seed if for a sunny location or shady location.

Pick Seed Blends Suitable to Where They Will Grow

If you see words on the seed label like “tough” or “high traffic areas”, that indicates the seed blend contains a tall fescue. A grass that is drought-tolerant and deep rooted. Perfect for a healthy lawn.

Start Seed at the Right Time

The best time to establish a lawn is late summer or early Fall in my Zone 6 area. That means mid August through mid September. That is when the temperatures are cooler and there is a better chance for rain.

You can also start grass seed in early Spring before the temperatures start to rise. That is typically when I start grass seed to repair patches damaged during Winter.

Keep Your Grass Seed Watered

The number 1 reason grass seed doesn’t thrive is irrigation. Be sure to water the seed as much as needed to keep the surface moist for at least 30 days after seeding. Follow these simple steps and you’ll have a healthy lawn in no time.

Helpful Tips from Turf Grass Professionals

If you are looking for the ultimate resource on how to have a healthy lawn, check out the Michigan State University Turf Grass Management resources. These professionals know everything there is to know about growing a healthy lawn.

Information on How to Read a Grass Seed Label

Check out this infographic to see helpful hints on how to read a grass seed label to make certain you are buying quality grass seed. Starting your project with the right seed is the key to success.

I hope you found these tips about maintaining a healthy lawn helpful. If you are interested in getting more helpful hints, you can sign up for my newsletter.

Similar Posts