A quick quiz: Which one of these things will happen on its own, with no help from you: A. Your kids will clean their rooms Answer: Sorry, none of the above. Life can be cruel. Technically, Kentucky bluegrass, which is common in grass seed blends used in Wisconsin and Minnesota, can spread on its own. But it can take years. Much like waiting for your kids to clean their rooms. So what’s your best plan for filling in lawn bare spots? Here’s a look. It depends on the type of grass. Kentucky bluegrass has runners that help it spread on its own. But many northern grasses are bunch-type grasses which don’t spread, so seeding is needed to fill in bare spots. Perennial ryegrass and fescue are among the non-spreaders. Most grass seed used here in Wisconsin and Minnesota is a blend of Kentucky bluegrass, rye and fescue. The thing is, it’s not in a hurry. You, on the other hand, probably are in a hurry to fill in your lawn’s unsightly bare spots. Especially if those spots involve ugly lawn disease, dog urine spots, or a lawn mower gas or oil spill. And you know what does spread on its own, with frustrating speed? Weeds! They love filling in lawn bare spots. So why wait? Follow these tips for filling in lawn bare spots: If you’re trying to fill in lawn bare spots in the shade, you can spread grass seed all you want and still be waiting for grass to fill in. Most turf grasses need at least four hours of direct sun to survive. You might have to thin your trees or branches to let more sunlight through to your turf before seeding those bare spots. Fall is the best time to plant seed to fill in lawn bare spots. The season brings a great mix of warm soil, cool air, rainy days, and time for new grass roots to develop before winter sets in. Also, there aren’t as many weed seeds blowing around in the air in the fall, looking for a cozy place to settle in. Shoot for mid-May through late September. We’re not going to ruin your good mood by saying crabgrass (oops, too late) but if you’re using pre-emergent to prevent it, hold off on planting grass seed to fill in lawn bare spots. That great pre-emergent that prevents crabgrass also prevents grass seed from germinating. So you can’t seed and prevent crabgrass at the same time. There is some good news here: If you live near Eau Claire, WI or the Minneapolis area you can partner with RainMaster to do your lawn care, and get a pro-level product that will kill weeds without harming your new grass. This is a big one. Skip the cheap seed, please. First off, that inexpensive grass seed piled up in bags in the home improvement store may actually contain weed seeds and undesirable grass seed. Also, be sure the seed you’re planting to fill in lawn bare spots is the same variety as the rest of your lawn. Pay the extra to get high quality grass seed that will blend with your lawn. You can’t just stroll around your yard scattering grass seed like a wedding flower girl tossing rose petals. Scratch the seed in, please, to make sure it snuggles right in with the soil so it can germinate. (More seeding tips in a minute.) Give that tender baby grass a chance to take hold and fill in lawn bare spots. No backyard soccer games, marching band practice, or limbo contests with the neighbors. If bare spots are a continuing problem, your soil might be compacted. If that’s the case, seed alone won’t fix the problem. When your soil becomes compacted, your lawn can't breathe. Its roots can't take in water or nutrients, which weakens your turf and opens the door for disease and weeds. After aeration, seed away! Those holes created by aeration are perfect new homes for the grass seed. Follow these steps: Rake out any dead, matted turf. Your grass seed will germinate and root best if It can snuggle up to bare soil. Dig and loosen the soil a bit to prepare it for the seed. Add some fertilizer designed for new grass to get it off to a good start. Keep it watered. When your grass is new, it needs more frequent light watering in smaller amounts. This usually means watering your lawn two or three times a day for 15-20 minutes. Filling in lawn bare spots is just the beginning. Your lawn needs you to be in this for the long haul. Invest in a complete, proactive lawn care program to continuously improve and protect your lawn. Consider it a team effort. Let’s create a custom nutrition plan for your Eau Claire, WI or Minneapolis area lawn, so the roots will be nourished, the soil packed with nutrients, and your grass thick and healthy, so it resists the troublemakers that cause bare spots in your lawn. Choose from three different levels of lawn care programs, based on the results you’d like, how fast you want to see results, and your budget. Spare yourself the drama of lawn bare spots and get to the bottom of your lawn problems. Request a quote today! We’ll review your lawn care options together so you can make a great choice. Then, you can finally enjoy your lawn and stop worrying about it.
B. Dinner will appear on the table (fast food bags don’t count.)
C. Grass will spread to fill in your lawn’s bare spotsDoes Grass Spread on Its Own?
-1.jpg?width=1200&name=bare%20spots%20in%20lawn%201%20(1)-1.jpg "Will Your Grass Spread to Cover Bare Spots on Its Own? (1)")
Kentucky Bluegrass actually does spread on its own. You might even see it creeping into your rock garden or starting to cover your irrigation system valve box. 1. Be Sure the Environment is Right
2. Plant Seed at the Right Time of Year
But don’t plant grass seed to fill in bare spots too late in the season— or too early. You don’t want your baby seedlings zapped by frost or freezing temperatures.3. Don’t Let Pre-emergent Spoil the Fun
4. Choose the Right Seed to Fill in Bare Spots
If you have dark green grass and buy the wrong type of seed, you might fill in those bare spots with bright green grass that doesn’t match. Do you really want to give the neighbors another thing to whisper about? 5. Be Sure the Seed Has Soil Contact
6. Limit Foot Traffic as Your Seed Sprouts
7. Consider Aeration to Help Fill in Lawn Bare Spots
Lawn aeration uses a machine to pull out plugs of soil, creating spaces so that air and water can penetrate, which leads to healthier roots.New to This Whole Planting Grass Thing?
Scatter grass seed over the loosened soil. Scratch it in a bit and tamp it down so you know there’s good contact.Filling in Bare Spots in Your Lawn? Trust it to RainMaster
FAQs
Will Your Grass Spread to Cover Bare Spots on Its Own? ›
No, most grass will not fill in bare spots on its own. While a few types of grass will spread via their underground root systems, most patches on grass need to be seeded.
Will existing grass spread to bare spots? ›It depends on the type of grass. Kentucky bluegrass has runners that help it spread on its own. But many northern grasses are bunch-type grasses which don't spread, so seeding is needed to fill in bare spots. Perennial ryegrass and fescue are among the non-spreaders.
What type of grass spreads on its own? ›These are either Rhizome grasses or Stolon grasses. Rhizome grasses grow with spreading root systems underneath the soil. These grass types tend to grow aggressively and might even be considered invasive species. Kentucky bluegrass is an example of a Rhizome grass.
Will grass reseed itself? ›Unfortunately, your grass will eventually go to seed and the long blades won't just be tough on your mower; they'll also be tough on the entirety of your yard. Letting your lawn go to seed won't be the same as planting new grass seed that creates a brand new lush lawn.
Will grass thicken on its own? ›Thick grass crowds out weeds, stands up better to pests and disease, and looks way better hanging out in your front yard. Will grass thicken on its own? Nice try, but no.
Can I just throw grass seed on bare spots? ›Can I Just Throw Grass Seed on Bare Spots? Throwing grass seed onto bare spots will result in little-to-no germination and will not help to repair lawn spots. If you want to fix patches on grass, you need to properly prepare the bare spots before laying down the seed.
Does putting grass clippings on bare spots help grass grow? ›Grass clippings contain nutrients and can help enrich the soil of bare spots to prepare for new grass to grow. It also aids in moisture retention.
Can I just throw grass seed down on an existing lawn? ›When you just sprinkle grass seed on an existing lawn, it ends up just sitting atop of the soil and a lot of it may never germinate. Then homeowners end up asking the question, why can't I get my grass to grow? In reality, the best practice is to have lawn aeration performed followed by overseeding the lawn.
Does mowing grass help it spread? ›Some grasses spread quickly by sending out runners. Other types of grass don't spread as fast. Either way, cutting grass encourages it to put it's energy into roots and new shoots instead of height. This will help your grass to both spread and thicken.
How long does it take for grass to establish itself? ›Most grass seed will start growing in about 10-14 days, but sometimes it can take up to 30 days. When you're planting new grass seed in your yard, it can seem like it's taking forever to start sprouting.
How to get grass to grow in bare spots? ›
- Rake the Area. Rake and remove any debris or dead grass from the area, using a garden rake. ...
- Loosen the Soil. Break up the soil with a hard-toothed lawn rake or a garden cultivator. ...
- Amend the Soil. ...
- Spread the Seeds. ...
- Rake the Seeds. ...
- Begin Watering. ...
- Mow When Ready.
If this happens, water the area abundantly and wait a month to see if the patchy area recovers on its own. If it doesn't, then you will have to reseed. The right lawn spraying equipment can help you fertilise grass evenly.
Does grass naturally fill in bare spots? ›It can but it's not in a rush, especially if your spots resulted from dog urine or lawn disease or even an accident with the mower. Weeds, though, will jump in at a frustratingly fast speed. So what's best for you to do is follow some important steps for filling in those bare spots on your own.
Does cutting grass short make it grow faster? ›The theory that cutting short lengthens the time between cuts also doesn't hold up. Grass grows faster after it's been cut short as it tries to rebuild itself to its genetic norm. A good in-season height for most turfgrasses is 2½ to 3 inches — typically the highest setting on mowers.
Does cutting grass promote root growth? ›I often say, “The more you mow, the healthier your lawn will grow.” That's because mowing stimulates the turf to spread roots, and in some grass types, rhizomes and stolons too.
Does cutting grass encourage it to spread? ›Some grasses spread quickly by sending out runners. Other types of grass don't spread as fast. Either way, cutting grass encourages it to put it's energy into roots and new shoots instead of height. This will help your grass to both spread and thicken.
How long does it take for grass to spread out? ›In ideal conditions, most grass seed species will begin to grow about 8-10 days after initial sowing. After 6-8 weeks, the grass will be fully established and provide full coverage across the lawn with no patches.
Can grass seed be spread over existing grass? ›Overseeding is the planting of grass seed directly into existing turf, without tearing up the turf, or the soil. It's an easy way to fill in bare spots, improve the density of turf, establish improved grass varieties and enhance your lawn's color.