Grass Rx: Fix Summer Lawn Damage

By Gilmour

Throughout the summer your lawn plays host to backyard barbecues and birthday parties. Friends and family mingle in the yard while children play on jungle gyms and trampolines. But your outdoor fun can take a toll on the grass you primed and pruned all season long.

So, what’s the prescription for dry, flattened, beat-up grass? Learn the common causes of summer damage, and how to nurse your yard back to health with some smart lawn maintenance tips.

• Heavy Patio Furniture

Whether you’re hosting backyard parties or enjoying the beauty of your yard with a book, patio furniture is essential. Unfortunately it can cause dryness and damage if placed directly on the lawn. If possible, keep furniture on a finished deck or patio to avoid damage. If you put lawn chairs and other furniture onto the grass, be sure to remove them when not in use.

If you find damaged spots, try reseeding and consistently spraying the area with a gentle mist from your watering nozzle, even in early fall.

• Frequent Foot Traffic

After a summer of parties and barbecues, you may notice some areas of your lawn are worn and flattened. If you have high-traffic areas in your yard, lay stepping-stones or build a paved walkway to minimize grass damage. You may also consider aerating your lawn at the end of the summer season to relieve compacted soil. Aerating creates holes in your lawn, allowing soil drainage and promoting helpful microorganisms. The process revives damaged grass and makes it more resilient in the future.

For cool-season grasses, you’ll want to aerate grass at its peak in the early fall. Wait until late spring or early summer to aerate warm-season grasses. Not sure which zone you’re in? Explore our grass zone map. If you’re ready to aerate, hire a lawn care service or rent an aerator tool from your local home improvement store.

• Tough-to-Move Trampolines

Worried about the dead grass under your trampoline? You have a few options to fix this common issue. Do some fall lawn seeding of bare patches underneath your trampoline at the end of the season. Water seeds well with a Stationary Sprinkler, which is ideal for targeted watering in small areas.

To prevent future bald spots under your trampoline, try moving it to a new spot in the yard once a week. If you have recurring grass problems, another option is to give your trampoline a permanent home over an area of mulch or bark.

• Dry Dog Spots

If your dog has been spending extra time in the backyard this summer, you may notice more dead spots than usual. Take care of troublesome dog urine spots by sprinkling new grass seeds in the affected areas. Plant new seeds in freshly soaked soil and water them twice daily for 5 to 10 minutes until grass starts to sprout.

Prevent future damage by spraying the grass with your watering nozzle as soon as your dog is done doing his business. Check out our How to Care for Troubled Lawn Spots video for more tips.

The sun is setting on summer fun, but it’s not too late to tend to a grass emergency. A little care, along with some smart lawn maintenance tips, can revive your dry, flattened grass, so you can sit back in your patio chair and enjoy the sunset worry-free.