Weather extremes in Texas in recent months have left many lawns damaged by freezing temperatures, drought or pests. When spring arrives, many of us will be out restoring and patching turfgrass.
Once turf is actively growing, patches of dead grass are unattractive and are a magnet for weeds. If your lawn is on your "to do" list this spring, follow these easy steps to fix bare or damaged areas with sod. It's instant, permanent and stops soil erosion.
Determine what caused the grass to die -- freeze, drought, insects, disease, too much traffic, heavy shade, poor drainage or a low/high spot. If it still exists, fix the source of the problem. Be watchful for pests -- chinch bugs in summer and brown patch in the spring and fall.
How to repair lawns
Use string or marking paint to outline a square or rectangle area that encompasses the problem section. Lightly till the soil. If needed, organic amendments such as a finished compost may be mixed in. Then, rake it smooth, removing dead roots and debris as you go.
Next, measure the area to determine how much sod you need. Sod - Bermudagrass, St. Augustine and Zoysia -- is sold in square yards, so convert the number of square feet to square yards -- 9 square feet equals 1 square yard.
Purchase fresh sod and install it immediately onto the prepared area. Place the first piece along the longest, straight side. Lay all other pieces of sod tightly against the first piece, without stretching or overlapping. Backfill all gaps and spaces with soil.
The new sod must make good contact with the soil underneath. Use a weighted lawn roller or place boards on the new sod and walk on the boards a few times to press the sod flat.
Get new sod growing
Water at least once per day during the first two weeks after installation. Use enough water to keep the sod and soil moist but not soaking wet. The soil beneath the sod needs to stay constantly moist. Lift up a piece to check. As soon as the new grass is well rooted (cannot pull grass from soil) begin a deep and infrequent watering program to promote a deep and healthy root system.
Restrict traffic on the area for at least three weeks to give the grass a chance to grow roots and the soil to settle. Sod should establish in three weeks with good warm temperatures.
Mow the area once the sod is tightly rooted. Run your mower diagonally across the sod seams. This will reduce the chance of your mower lifting a corner of sod from the new patch.
Fertilizing lawns
Generally, lawn fertilizers are best applied after April 1 in the Brazos Valley. Periods of warm weather in late winter make homeowners anxious to fertilize lawns. However, you may mow the winter weeds in your lawn many times before the turf grass begins active growth and needs a nutrient application.
If you fertilize before the turf is actively growing, you will only stimulate weed growth. Early fertilization can also encourage lush growth that is stressed in the event of a late "cold snap."
Ensure optimum fertilizer use by following fertilizer recommendations made specifically for your lawn based on soil analysis performed every few years. For information on soil testing, visit the web site: soiltesting.tamu.edu.
To reduce the risk of pollution, keep fertilizer off sidewalks and driveways. This is a responsible maintenance practice that can help protect valuable water resources.
For more information on lawn care, visit aggieturf.tamu.edu.
Charla Anthony is the horticulture program assistant at Texas AgriLife Extension, Brazos County, 2619 Texas 21 W., Bryan, Texas 77803. Her e-mail address is charla.anthony@theeagle.com
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