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This is my first Spring where I have to maintain my own lawn. Right now it looks terrible. There are mossy patches, bare areas along the tree lines. Certain areas are direct sunlight and others receive almost none. I know Spring isn't the ideal time to try to get grass to grow but I do want to do something to prevent further damage and maybe even improve it somewhat. I was planning on using a broom rake, followed by a thatching rake, and finally spreading some seed.
I am concerned the thatching rake will leave too many bare spots and lead to erosion. Anyone have advide?
Also, what type of seed mix should I use? I am thinking of something that will allow quick root growth if possible. I don't have children so I am not so concerned about it being resistant to high-traffic. In the fall I will look to seed with something that will eventually create a more established lawn.
You need to take some picutres and go to a local gareden cneter speicalist. You could alos realise that takigcare of a alwn to have a beautiful one is a year around job really.Make sure you bring some grass plugs so they can determine exactly what type of grass you have.
If you are desperate to "do something", you can rough up your bare pathces and then cover them with a couple bales of peat moss to a depth of 1/4-1/2 inch. Go to southern states and get some of their high shade lawn blend, a bit of starter fertilizer, and hand sow those areas. Do this before a rain, and it should take and last until we dry out this summer. Odds of anything surviving through the summer is quite low unless it is atypically wet and cool.
If you don't care, like you said, the time to do this is in the fall just wait till then.
Grass in deep shade just doesn't work well. Since you have low traffic you could start by expanding the natural areas in the shade. Mondo grass and liriope work well in this area. If you plant these now and water during dry spells they establish fairly quickly.
Well, that depends on where you live.
In central NC, where the OP lives, the Bradford Pears have bloomed, the tulips are out and the fescue lawns have greened up nicely.
But trust me, once summer arrives, the cool season grasses really suffer here.
^ agree. My fescue lawn is looking great now (I reseeded last fall) but once the summer comes along with the drought its gonna get ugly.
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