10 Steps to a Renovated Lawn

Does your lawn look poor and tired? With premium products from Fred Meyer and a little work, you can have a healthy new lawn in 10 relatively easy steps. And the best times to do this are mid-spring or fall.

Here's what to do:

1. First, apply Roundup® and wait 1-2 weeks for the lawn to die and turn brown.
2. Mow the dead grass as low to the ground as possible; remove debris. Then power rake and remove the debris.
3. Level the area as needed.
4. Apply fast acting lime at the rate of 25 lbs./1000 sq. ft. (west of the Cascades). East of the Cascades or in area where heavy soil is a problem, granular gypsum should be applied at the rate of 25 lbs./625 sq. ft.
5. Apply either a seed & sod starter fertilizer at the rate of 5 lb./1000 sq. ft. or a 16-16-16 fertilizer at 7.5 lb./1000 sq. ft. Spread evenly over the ground and rake into a depth of 1-2".
6. Sow grass seed according to package directions; rake into a depth of 1/8”.
7. Lightly cover the seed with peat moss or mulch; roll the area to firm grass seeds into the soil.
8. Water thoroughly without flooding, using an oscillating, non-puddling sprinkler. Keep moist until grass begins to show. Then reduce watering frequency, but increase the length of each watering. This helps ensure a deeply rooted, vigorous lawn.
9. New grass seedlings will pop up as soon as seven days after sowing. Mow the new lawn when it's 3-4" tall, usually about three weeks after seeding.
10. Because your new lawn is young and growing rapidly, it's important to give it plenty of food. Be sure to fertilize right after the first mowing. If you're renovating in the spring, try an organic-based lawn fertilizer. If it's fall, prepare your lawn for winter with a fall & winter lawn food.

Soon you'll enjoy a beautiful, like-new lawn!

While much of the information in these tips is applicable in several gardening zones/climates, some of the plants and timing suggested are best suited to the Northwest, generally in the mild/wet growing regions found along the I-5 corridor. You should make appropriate adjustments or consult local gardening experts in regions whose climates differ from this area of the Northwest.