Improve or Repair Bad Lawn Soil with These Tips (2024)

Improve or Repair Bad Lawn Soil with These Tips (1)Grass needs a few basic things to live: Sunlight, water, and soil. However, in order to thrive—and to give you the lush, green lawn you’re striving for—your grass needs those things in specific quantities and qualities. While it’s relatively easy to determine how much sun or water your lawn is getting, determining the quality of your soil takes a bit more effort. That’s why soil testing is so important! Take a look below the surface to find out if your yard is in need of soil restoration, soil remediation, or top-dressing…And learn how to improve soil quality with these tips from the Atlanta lawncare experts at Simply Green.

Do You Have Bad Lawn Soil?

If your lawn is patchy, wilted, or dying, it’s important to determine the cause and find a solution as early as possible to mitigate the damage to your landscaping. Instead of experimenting blindly, call us for a soil test to learn exactly what your lawn is asking for. Whether it’s a pH imbalance, a nutrient deficiency, or pollution, we can help you discover the culprit and make a plan for fixing it.

How to Improve Bad Lawn Soil

Some of the most common soil ailments can be remedied with these methods:

Aeration

If your lawn is compacted from foot traffic or other causes, aeration can make a huge difference in improving the quality of your soil. The aeration process removes small plugs of soil to allow for increased air flow, and allows water and nutrients to more efficiently reach the roots.

Fertilizing

Soil can become “worn out” from repeated planting over the years, or a lack of organic matter in the soil. Professional lawn fertilization can revive the soil with much-needed nutrients, giving your grass the “food” it needs to fuel its growth, giving you a strong, hardy lawn.

Introducing Beneficial Microorganisms

While lawn fertilization is important, remember that there can be too much of a good thing. Excessive fertilization can throw your lawn soil out of whack, killing the good microorganisms that decompose organic materials and negatively altering the pH balance of the soil. Lack of oxygen due to compacted soil can also kill off those vital microorganisms.

The microorganisms in your lawn include bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, algae, and protozoa. Just as humans need the right balance of gut flora to properly digest food, your lawn needs the proper balance of microbes. Soil microbes process atmospheric nitrogen, which your grass needs to grow. If those microbes die, it’s crucial to re-introduce microorganisms to the lawn by adding compost, mulch, or the needed microbes themselves. Soil additives like mycorrhizal fungi or soil nematodes can restore the balance and get your lawn back on track for healthy growth this spring!

Improve or Repair Bad Lawn Soil with These Tips (2024)

FAQs

Improve or Repair Bad Lawn Soil with These Tips? ›

The easy-to-spread granules can be used on established and newly seeded lawns or when sodding. Organic Lawn Food contains food-grade organic soil amendments, such as feather meal, bone meal, blood meal, wheat shorts, and molasses that help to improve soil structure and the soil's water-holding capacity.

How to turn bad soil into good soil? ›

Transform dead dirt into healthy soil using these tried-and-true methods.
  1. Stop using NPK fertilizers. ...
  2. Stop using herbicides. ...
  3. Leave the leaves. ...
  4. Be mindful of disturbing the soil. ...
  5. Use wood chips. ...
  6. Use compost. ...
  7. Stop spraying for mosquitos.

How to improve soil under an existing lawn? ›

The easy-to-spread granules can be used on established and newly seeded lawns or when sodding. Organic Lawn Food contains food-grade organic soil amendments, such as feather meal, bone meal, blood meal, wheat shorts, and molasses that help to improve soil structure and the soil's water-holding capacity.

How to turn a bad yard into a good yard? ›

Basic steps for lawn renovation
  1. Conduct a soil test. Contact local county extension offices for information on soil testing. ...
  2. Begin weed control. Use broadleaf herbicides if the weeds are primarily non-grasses. ...
  3. Provide adequate soil moisture. ...
  4. Mow. ...
  5. Remove thatch. ...
  6. Prepare soil. ...
  7. Fertilize. ...
  8. Seed.

How to naturally repair a lawn? ›

Healthy lawn basics
  1. Improve the soil. The first step is to test the soil's pH – it should read between 6.5 and 7.0, which is slightly acidic. ...
  2. Choose a locally adapted grass. ...
  3. Aerate. ...
  4. Mow often, but not too short. ...
  5. Water deeply but not too often. ...
  6. Overseed your lawn. ...
  7. Control thatch build-up. ...
  8. Inspect regularly for pests.

How to fix bad soil for grass? ›

How to Improve Bad Lawn Soil
  1. Aeration. If your lawn is compacted from foot traffic or other causes, aeration can make a huge difference in improving the quality of your soil. ...
  2. Fertilizing. ...
  3. Introducing Beneficial Microorganisms.

How do you bring soil back to life? ›

Simply add organic debris to the soil surface and let your “underground herd” break it down. As it does, it will improve your soil's texture and make nutrients available to your plants. So don't be shy about applying copious amounts of organic residue to your soil.

How do you fix compacted lawn soil? ›

Aerate the soil, which removes small plugs of soil to alleviate compaction and prevent thatch accumulation. You can do this yourself or contact your local lawn or garden care service for more support. Get planting!

Can you put topsoil over grass? ›

If you're looking for a short answer, then yes, you can put topsoil over grass and existing garden lawns. Although it's possible for grass to grow through the topsoil, this can only be successful depending on the thickness of topsoil applied as a top dressing.

What to do with a terrible lawn? ›

What Is the Best Way To Repair Grass?
  1. Step 1: Identify The Issue. If you want your grass to stay looking great, you must understand the issue that has caused the problem. ...
  2. Step 2: Rake It Out. ...
  3. Step 3: Soil Test. ...
  4. Step 4: Treat. ...
  5. Step 5: Grass Seed. ...
  6. Step 6: Monitor.
Apr 20, 2024

How to bring your lawn back to life? ›

Start by raking dead grass spots to loosen the soil and remove the expired blades. Lightly rake the healthy areas to get rid of dying grass and aerate the soil for root stimulation. Once you have the land prepared, take a rotary seed spreader and lay down new grass seed over the dead spots.

How to fix a neglected lawn? ›

Reviving Your Neglected Lawn
  1. Assess the Damage. Before you dive into action, take some time to assess the condition of your lawn. ...
  2. Clear the Debris. ...
  3. Mow with Caution. ...
  4. Aerate the Soil. ...
  5. Overseed Bare Patches. ...
  6. Fertilize Wisely. ...
  7. Control Weeds. ...
  8. Mulch to Retain Moisture.

What home remedy can I use for lawn soil? ›

10 Old-School Remedies That Stops Lawns From Dying
  1. It's Time For Composting.
  2. Epsom Salt Pest Blocker.
  3. Boiling Water For Weeds.
  4. Mulching Leaves For Greener Grass.
  5. Rake Your Grass Thatch Free.
  6. Just a Little Off The Top.
  7. Avoid Thirst Quenching Your Lawn.
  8. Aerate The Lawn.

How to fix a lawn quickly? ›

Thicken and restore your lawn with just a few simple steps:
  1. Prep your lawn for seed. Mow your existing grass as short as possible, then lightly rake the soil to loosen debris and prepare it to receive the seed.
  2. Spread the seed with a regular lawn spreader. ...
  3. Water the area well.

How do you make homemade lawn repair mix? ›

Instructions:
  1. Fill your tub/ wheelbarrow with your peat moss/ sawdust.
  2. Add 3lbs of grass seed.
  3. Grab a hose and soak down your mixture WHILE mixing. ...
  4. Once I feel the mixture is soaked and the seed mixed in, I simply cover it with my lid/ tarp.
  5. Store in a warmer place for 5 days.
Jul 8, 2021

How do you turn old soil into good soil? ›

As old soil might be deficient in plant nutrients, you need to replenish it. Here are some ways you can add nutrients and organic matter to soil: Add a handful of a slow release fertilizer like manure. Mix in one part compost for every three or four parts of the old potting mix.

How do you restore poor soil? ›

Loosen the soil: Use a garden fork or tiller to loosen the soil and break up any compacted areas. Add organic matter: Incorporate compost, well-rotted manure, or other organic amendments into the soil to improve its structure and fertility.

Can you make soil healthy again? ›

Six tips for healthy soil in your garden

Add organic matter. Incorporate compost to compacted soil to increase air, water and nutrients for plants. Protect topsoil with mulch or cover crops. Don't use chemicals unless there's no alternative.

Can I turn soil into rich soil? ›

You can increase the amount of organic matter in your soil by adding compost, aged animal manures, green manures (cover crops), mulches or peat moss. Because most soil life and plant roots are located in the top 6 inches of soil, concentrate on this upper layer.

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