There’s nothing more frustrating than a lawn that has bare spots. A patchy lawn can be unsightly, and will be especially annoying for those who take pride in their garden.
However, grass is notorious for spreading everywhere. So if you have bare spots on your lawn, will the grass spread to cover these on its own? Or will it need a little help? What even causes bare spots on your lawn, anyway?
The answer as to whether your grass will spread to cover these bare spots will depend on several factors. It will depend on what has caused the bare spots in the first place, as well as what type of grass you have in your yard.
If you have Bermuda grass or Kentucky bluegrass, you might be lucky enough to see it spread to cover these bare spots.
Other grasses which might be able to recover from bare spots are centipede grass, St Augustine, and zoysia grass. These three types of grass are more prevalent in the south, and are more likely to run and cover any bare spots.
If you’re in the northern part of the states, then creeping red fescue is the grass type to look out for. Other types of northern grass won’t spread because they are bunch-type grasses.
In the case where you don’t have a type of grass that easily spreads, you will need to reseed your lawn to cover these bare patches.
Depending on the cause behind the bare spots, you might need to take further action. This is because if your bare spots have been caused by your dog urinating in the same places, then the problem will persist.
If you want to prevent the bare spots from coming back again, you will need to train your dog to do their business in one particular spot, or in a different location altogether.
Will Grass Spread As It Grows?
The key to this question will lie in the type of grass that is used on your lawn. There are some types of grass that will spread and fill out any bare spots, as we’ve mentioned above.
However, the vast majority of grass types won’t be able to spread. The only way that your grass will be able to fill these bare spots is if it reseeds itself.
If you want your grass to cover any bare spots you may have, chances are that you will have to reseed the lawn yourself and allow the grass to grow this way. It will also be important not to cut your grass too short, as this will damage it and could cause it more issues.
What Causes Bare Spots In Grass?
There are several factors that can cause bare spots in grass. The most common causes of bare spots in grass are down to human error, dogs, as well as turf disease.
If you have been a little too generous with the fertilizer in one particular spot, this can burn and kill off the grass in this one area. If you have lowered your mower blades too low, this can cause unnecessary stress to your lawn.
Other human factors which could cause bare patches in your lawn include using a hot grill that has burned patches.
Most turf diseases tend to kill off patches of your lawn in circles. One of the most common turf diseases is patch disease.
These diseases will typically involve a fungus attacking the roots of the grass plant, causing it to die off. The best way to treat these diseases is with a fungicide, and to make sure that your grass has the right amount of airflow as well as light.
Dogs are notorious for causing bare patches in lawns. This is because of the high nitrogen content in their urine, which will kill off the grass if your dog does their business in the same spots.
Your grass could also have developed bare patches because it’s worn out, or it hasn’t had the amount of nourishment it needs to grow properly.
How Do You Plant Grass In Bare Spots?
You will have to choose whether you want to replace the bare spots with new turf or if you want to plant new seed. If you reseed your lawn, you will need to choose an appropriate grass mix for the grass you have in place.
Sprinkle this in one direction, and then in the other direction. Make sure to lightly rake over this seed, and protect it from any birds using netting.
If you want to use turf, you will need to cut out the affected bare patch, rake over the soil, add any additional topsoil if this is needed, then replace the bare patch with your new turf.
When Should I Seed My Lawn With Bare Spots?
This will entirely depend on the type of grass that you have in your lawn. It will be best to try and match your new grass with the type of grass that you already have in place.
Warm season grasses will take best when they are sown in the early summer or spring months. Cool season grasses will take best when they are sown between the late summer months and early fall.
In Summary
So there you have it! You now know that your grass may or may not spread to cover any bare patches that you have in your lawn. It will all come down to what type of grass you have in place.
If you have a grass that is a “running” type, this will likely spread and cover any bare patches you have over time. These types of grass include Bermuda, Kentucky, centipede, St Augustine, zoysia, and creeping red fescue.
If you have a different type of grass in your yard, then you will need to either reseed your lawn, or replace the bare patch using other turf.
It will also be important to deal with the underlying issue that caused the bare spots in the first place. If you aren’t able to identify what caused the bare spots, then they will likely come back again over time should the same circumstances continue.
