Outdoors

[gahnoogm]

Hello,

I live in North Carolina and have started working on my yard last fall.

I aerated the lawn, overseeded, applied Scott's Spring turfbuilder twice in the spring and continue to water the lawn.

Despite all that, I still have barespots where it doesn't seem as if any grass is growing.

It is worse in the front than it is in the back.

Any ideas as to what's causing this and how to fix it so that I can get a nice green blanket in front and back?

I'm using fescue grass (Scott's easy seed to be exact).

Thanks for your help guys!

[Travis_HD_ATL · Accepted solution]

Hi gahnoogm,

I'm Travis from The Home Depot in Atlanta.

Welcome to The Community!!!

I'm glad to hear that some of your lawn is developing nicely. Fescue grass has a one-seed, one-plant type of growth pattern. This often results in a clumpy texture in the lawn until the gaps can be filled in. The fill-in process is accomplished through overseeding the lawn, or sowing new seed over the existing lawn.

The best time of the year to overseed fescue is in the fall. Aerate, then apply seed and fertilizer in September. Fescue will grow and develop roots over the winter months to better survive the hot months of summer. Scott's EZ Seed can be applied precisely where you need it and you will be applying the same seed as before. Fall is always the best time to apply fescue seed.

Increase your odds for success by preparing the soil in the bare areas to better receive the new seed. Aeration will open the soil so that water will settle the seed into place rather than washing it away. Your Home Depot Tool Rental Center can get you the equipment needed for the job.

Applying fescue seed in the summer months is not a good idea, so continue to water the existing grass and mow it every week. Fertilize now for the summer, and apply Starter fertilizer along with the seed in September. This should fill in the gaps with lush fescue next year. 

It's a slow process, but well worth the wait. Any process that gets you closer to your goal is progress.

LawnRanger 

[gahnoogm]

Thanks Travis...I was thinking along the same lines.

I appreciate the input

[Teddy845]

I was an Lowes today...and I also have the same problem. and wondering why my Scott's lawn seeds I purchased to fill in the spots are not germinating.  Good to find out the best time to sow grass seeds is in the fall. However, as I was walking through Lowes garden center. I noticed the Sod pallets outside. I thought and noticed the prices are quite low. about $3.69 for a strip of Sod with dimensions of 3' x 7'. I think this would be a better alternative for those gardeners who want immediate solutions to problem. I know their are various types grasses but to the average eye they all look the same especially when you the spots are spread throughout the main lawn. Correct me if I'm wrong, but eventually the main lawn grass will merge with the new sod and blend in quite well.  

Good Luck...tell me what you think of this idea.  Sorry Home Depot for making reference to Lowes...but I know your company also sells at competitive prices on Sod like them....So please gardners support you local Home Depot Store.

[Travis_HD_ATL]

Thanks Teddy845,

Sod is a great alternative for instant results. It can be like laying carpet in the lawn.

Depending on the type of grass, it may very well blend with existing grass. Fescue is not one of those, however. Warm season grasses, such as Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede and St. Augustine will spread to thicken. Cool loving Bluegrass can also fill in some of its gaps.

Applying fescue and Bluegrass seed in the fall is a great way to successfully establish those grasses economically. Cool season grasses are seeded for production at the sod farms every year. After they become established, those plots are then cut into sod.

The hot months present a major challenge in all aspects of planting. Waiting until the weather moderates will make a tremendous difference in your success.

LawnRanger