There are few things as devastating for the property-proud Kiwi than watching your prized lawn turn an alarming shade of brown, then die. Could you have done something differently? Would the hiring of a lawn mowing service have prevented it from happening? There’s no point in dwelling on the what-ifs. Jump into action with this step-by-step guide to reviving your dead lawn.

Step 1: Find Out Why

Lawns don’t die for no reason. One day, you could have a perfectly lush patch of grass, and days later, it could be turning an awful shade of brown. How did it happen? Finding out why can reduce the risk of it happening again.

Some of the more common reasons for a dead lawn include:

• Pests

• Poor preparation

• Improper installation techniques

• Poor watering and feeding

• Wrong grass type

It’s also worth looking at the crown of your grass to make sure it is, in fact, dead and not dormant. Under drought conditions, some grass varieties can make a rapid transformation from green to brown but do not die. If the crowns are discoloured or dry, you definitely need to pay attention to a step-by-step guide to reviving your dead lawn. There’s no coming back.

Step 2: Prepare Your Lawn Area

Mark out the patch of grass you are going to sow because it’s time to prepare the site. The first step is to eradicate weeds and old grass with a herbicide product. There is a range of organic and pet and child-friendly options in your local garden stores. Alternatively, you can ask a garden expert near you for assistance.

Cover off the area to keep animals and children off the grass until the herbicide dries. It’s also worth checking the weather forecast so you can benefit from a sunny, warm, or wind-free day with no rain on the horizon. Allow a week before you move onto the next phase of your revival process.

Step 3: Remove Thatch

Sometimes, the revival process of your lawn doesn’t have to be a monumental undertaking. If you are only dealing with a small section of dead lawn, remove decomposing plant material from the surface of your soil where the brown grass is. More than half an inch of thatch can impact your lawn’s ability to get much-needed nutrients, air, and water.

Step 4: Till Your Soil

Once your organic herbicide has taken effect, it’s time to start soil tilling. This process aerates the earth and offers the opportunity for you to incorporate organic compost if your soil lacks fertility. Till your land to a depth of around 12 to 15 centimetres (5-6 inches) with a tilling tool.

Step 5: Test Your Soil & Fertilise

If you are not entirely sure why your lawns died in the first place, then there’s quite a lot of risk in planting your new grass and hoping for the best. Therefore, before you get too carried away, buy a soil test.

The soil test establishes how much phosphorus is in your soil, which is essential for root development. If there isn’t enough phosphorus, then you may need to purchase nutrients for your land before planting. Otherwise, you can also buy a grass starter fertiliser to give your new lawn a helping hand.

If you’re not sure how to begin, talk to your local lawn mowing service provider. They are masters of healthy, happy lawns.

Step 6: Start Planting

Once your soil is healthy enough to give your new lawn what it needs, it’s time to purchase climate-appropriate grass seed and sow it. Spread the seed over your prepared area, making sure your seed-to-soil contact is on-point.

Once you’ve spread out the seeds, put a thin layer of soil on the top. From this point, you will need to keep the soil damp but not overly wet.

With daily watering for two to three weeks, grass will start to grow. Know whether the roots have taken hold yet by giving a strand of grass a gentle tug. If there is resistance, the roots are establishing. If the soil moves, that process has not yet happened.

While your new grass is growing, minimise traffic to the area. Avoid mowing your new lawn until it’s about 1.5 times higher than the regular cutting height recommendation.

When All Else Fails, Hire the Experts

Following a step-by-step guide for reviving your dead lawn can result in some immaculate new lawns. However, not everyone has the inclination or time to bring their yard back to life or plant a new one.

Why not look up a local lawn care company that can both plant your lawn and keep it in tip-top shape for its lifetime? The only thing you then have to worry about is enjoying your new back yard to its full potential.