You have a small yard and two large dogs, and they have really taken a toll on the grass over the course of the winter. Here is what you need to know about patch seeding in order to fill in the dead spots:
1. Spread a good quality potting soil or compost on the dead spots, about 1/2″ thick. This will create a space for the seeds to grow and develop roots.
2. Sprinkle a good quality grass seed, that is appropriate for the climate where you live, over the potting soil or compost. It is also important to use seed that is appropriate for the amount of sun or shade that area of the yard gets. There are also high traffic varieties that can withstand more activity than others. The high traffic variety may be a good choice if you have dogs and/ or children that play in the lawn.
3. Spread another 1/2″ to 1″ of potting soil over the top of the seeds. Just like any other type of seed, grass seed needs to be covered with dirt in order for it to sprout and grow.
4. Water the grass either in the cool of the evening or early in the morning every day until it germinates. If you have a sprinkler system, it can be set to run for 5 to10 minutes both in the morning and at night. The seeds and the baby grass really need to be kept damp all of the time. Once the grass is established, the watering can be scaled back to every other day or every couple of days.
You should also not mow the new sprouts, as the tires running over the baby plants can damage or kill them. Also, you can fertilize the grass after it is established, and full grown. Do not fertilize the baby plants or the seeds, as fertilizer can be quite harsh and burn or kill the newly sprouting grass. Just let it grow, and water it. It might look awkward for a few weeks, but it will soon be beautiful and lush.
In the summer it is easiest to control yellow spots, caused by your dog, by just watering the lawn every other day. This helps to dilute the ammonia in the urine and help to keep it from killing or yellowing the grass.
