Waukesha County Home

Fall is an excellent time for lawn repair. We've had a couple of wet and challenging years lately that may have done havoc on your lawn. This is especially true if other stresses are involved, like poor soil condi- tions, including bad drainage, or even heavy traffic flow areas. I think most of us are going to see bare spots, or even larger areas, in our lawns that need attention. Before we talk about how to fix bare spots, all lawns could benefit from aeration this fall to allow for better air and water flow. I would avoid any type of rolling because this will simply compact the soil and make things worse. The use of an organic fertiliz- er would be beneficial as well to keep what is still healthy in good shape. Fall is the best time to fertilize your lawn anyway. It gives the roots a boost for a healthy start in spring. But don't fertilize the spots that need repair yet because we don't want to burn the baby root systems. Now, let's talk about repair. First, find the best grass seed for your sit- uation, be it dense shade to full sun. Don't go with cheap seed, you get what you pay for. Quality seed, with limited fillers, is best. Find a mix with a good blend of fescue, blue- grass and a little perennial rye for best results. Bluegrass is the best grass for drought resistance, but doesn't handle the cold or wet as well and fescue handles the cold and wet better but isn't as drought tol- erant. This is why it is best to have both of these in Wisconsin for our growing condi- tions. Also, finding a blend with a little of perennial rye grass in it is beneficial because it establishes quicker than the other two. The more diverse your seed, the better your success will be in having a healthy lawn. Now, let's look at those bare spots, or even the larger areas, that need repair. Remove any dead grass or other organic material and loosen up the existing dirt. Add some compost to the existing dirt, mix well and rake evenly over the area. I recommend com- post because it will add life to the existing soil and also help feed your new seedlings. If you find you have extra soil, just blend it in with the existing grass around the bare spot, it could use some of that compost as well. Plus it helps to seed a little past the bare spot anyway to ensure proper coverage. Now, apply the seed. How much you say? On average, 3 pounds of quality seed will cover roughly 1,000 square feet (32 feet by 32 feet), so kind of judge by that. It doesn't hurt to over-seed a little but try not to under-seed or you'll be doing it again. Lightly rake the seed around, being careful not to cover the seed completely, or simply press it in with the rake to make sure the seed has contact with the soil. Lastly, apply a thin layer of mulch, I like to use marsh hay because it contains less weed seeds but straw will do as well. This will help protect the seed and hold moisture. You'll want to water frequently, keeping the area evenly moist, until it fills in fully. Once the spot fills in you can think about fertilizing it to give it a boost. Even grass has its limitations when it comes to excess moisture, or even severe drought, but it isn't that hard to correct by following the guidelines above. Happy gardening! (Michael Timm is the chief horticulturalist for Ebert's Greenhouse Village in Ixonia.) OCTOBER 2020 HOME 3 MICHAEL TIMM Lawn in need of repair? Fall's the time to do it

• Cover