Your lawn can get into a stage where even the best care and maintenance procedures cannot help the grass to survive or thrive. It can be issues with the grass type, climate, or shade. Some grass species perform well during the cold season, while others thrive during hot months.
Besides, some grass is shade resistant, while others cannot withstand shade. So, what is the solution to a lawn that cannot withstand the conditions of your yard?
Understanding how to change grass type will allow you to transform a lawn that is damaged beyond repair. Keep reading and learn how to bring your lawn back to life and change its appearance.
Contents
- How to Change Grass Type
- 1. Remove the old lawn
- 2. Prepare your yard for success
- 3. Choose the right grass seed
- 4. Seed the lawn
- FAQs on How to Change the Grass Type
- Can overseeding change grass type?
- How do you choose the best grass seed for overseeding?
- Should you fertilize or overseed first?
- Which is the best time to overseed the lawn?
- Author
How to Change Grass Type
1. Remove the old lawn
The first step of changing the grass type is to kill any poor-looking grass and weeds. Remember, you want to plant a grass type that can perform well in your yard. Thus, it is best to ensure that all the old grass is eliminated. Choose a method that will kill grass to the roots. You can consider a sod cutter or a flat shovel to remove the grass.
However, this technique works best for grass that does not have long roots. If your grass type has roots that go deep several feet, you can consider grass removal methods such as:
- Non-selective herbicide
- Solarization method
- Use of cardboards and newspapers to smoother the lawn
2. Prepare your yard for success
Changing the grass type effectively involves starting from scratch. Thus, you should take advantage of improving your soil and the drainage system. Start by testing the soil PH to determine the type of grass suitable for your area.
Besides, aerate the area and rake the ground to loosen the top inches of the soil. This process offers excellent growing conditions for the young grass seedlings.
Also read: Plug aerator machine for lawns
3. Choose the right grass seed
Maybe your old lawn failed to perform well because it didn’t match your yard’s conditions. For instance, a lawn can experience wear and tear if it cannot withstand heavy traffic from kids, pets, and other family members.
In this case, you need to figure out the purpose of the grass before making a purchasing decision. Also, check your local weather conditions. Do you live in the south or north? Some grass types will stay green during cooler temperatures, while others thrive in hot summer months.
Besides, check the conditions of your surroundings. Are there shades in your yard? Do you have a source of water near your yard? This will help you determine grass type that fits your growing conditions.
Also read: Best dead grass rake
4. Seed the lawn
If you are planning to start a lawn from seed, it is good to plant in spring or early fall. Start by adjusting the spreader settings to ensure proper spacing of the seeds.
Apply a thin top dressing of soil for moisture retention and provide the seeds with much-needed nutrients to allow the root system to develop deeper and strong.
Besides, water is essential for the success of your lawn. That’s why it is vital to ensure that the soil surface is moist until the grass sprout.
Also read: UTV/ATV salt spreaders reviews
FAQs on How to Change the Grass Type
Can overseeding change grass type?
Overseeding is usually done to fill the bare or thin spots. Also, if your lawn has brown patches, you can consider overseeding. Besides, you can overseed warm-season grass with a cool-season lawn during the wet months to prevent your lawn from browning.
In other words, you can change the grass type by overseeding. However, you need to prepare your yard to increase the germination of your grass seed and improve the end results.
Also read: Do I need to put hay over grass seed?
How do you choose the best grass seed for overseeding?
Choosing the best grass seed for your lawn requires a bit of homework. There are many grass seed varieties in the market, and there is no one-size-fits-all. So, how do you select the right grass type for your application and region?
If your existing lawn does well, you can consider the already planted type. But if the lawn has brown patches that result from the wet conditions, you might want to select a cool-season grass such as tall fescue or Kentucky bluegrass. Also, in areas with pest problems, you can go for grass type with endophyte enhanced seed.
Also read: Perennial ryegrass compared to Kentucky bluegrass
Should you fertilize or overseed first?
Applying a lawn starter fertilizer is vital to provide the seedling with the nutrients needed to germinate and grow. Also, it increases the number of grass seedlings that will survive in the future. However, many lawn owners are unsure whether to fertilize or overseed first.
Fertilizing your lawn a few days before or after overseeding is essential to feed your new grass seed. You can implement either of the tactics if you want a lush lawn. Besides, you can spread the grass seed and apply a starter fertilizer simultaneously to boost the growth.
Which is the best time to overseed the lawn?
As you know, choosing the best grass type can result in a lush and healthy lawn. But the time for overseeding matters. Weeds germinate fast in summer, which can hinder the growth of your grass.
Because the growth of weeds tapers off after summer, it is better to overseed the lawn in spring or fall. This is when the daytime temperatures are warm to improve the growth of the grass. Besides, the nights are cool to give the grass seed a break from the heat.
Do your lawn experience diseases, pests, and weeds issues? Is the color of your lawn annoying? In this case, you need to introduce an improved grass species that can resist the lawn issues.
You can achieve this by understanding how to change grass type. With this, you will improve your lawn’s overall appearance and health.
You can decide to plant a new grass species over the existing turf or remove the old grass to start from scratch. Either of these techniques can help you own a beautiful lawn.
