How to Get Grass to Grow in a Muddy Yard
- 1). Push a core aerator across the lawn. Core aerators are machines that remove plugs of soil 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch in diameter and 1 to 6 inches deep. By creating these holes, gardeners promote soil drainage and proper airflow for grass growth. Rake up the plugs of dirt after aerating.
- 2). Spread a starter fertilizer across the lawn for overseeding. Starter fertilizers are high in phosphorous, which helps grass seeds develop strong roots systems. Use a starter fertilizer that has a nitrogen-phosphorous-potassium, or NPK, amount of 5-20-10 at a rate of 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Work the fertilizer into the soil with a tiller to incorporate the nutrients into the first 2 inches of top soil.
- 3). Pour grass seed into a drop spreader. Use the recommended amount of grass seed for your grass type. For example, creeping red fescue grass seed must be spread at a rate of 3 1/2 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Push the drop spreader back and forth across the lawn.
- 4). Cover the grass seed with 1/8 inch of compost. Compost imparts nutrients into the soil, which promotes seed germination and helps with soil drainage. Keep the grass seed moist to stimulate germination.
- 5). Prune back overhanging branches to increase the amount of sunlight to the lawn. Lawns that do not receive adequate sunlight cannot dry out. To prune back branches, make 45-degree downward cuts next to the branch collar. The branch collar is the swelling that attaches the branch to the rest of the tree.
