I know that grass is best planted in the late fall, (late Aug-mid Oct.) What can be done to fill in patches that are sparse or didn’t respond well to fall planting? I would like to not have to look at a spotty lawn the whole year?
Any green thumbs?
I owned and managed a gardening company for the last 12 years of my working life. And I started my working life at a sod farm supplying golf courses. I've installed a lot of lawns, both sod & seed.
Sod is best and expensive, but there is something fulfilling for most people to 'grow their own'. It is not EASY but simple. I once had grass growing in the doorframe of my truck where it had spilled. I would boast "I can grow grass anywhere, even your fridge".
There are three secrets to growing good grass.
Water
Water
and
water.
Plant grass in the spring after the sap breaks or the fall, allowing for enough sunlight through 6 to 8 weeks. Spring is the much preferred installation time as you will have three to four months to cultivate the new growth and condition the land properly. Soaking and rolling regularly, every spring, will give you an immaculate and flat lawn. That's what they do in lawn bowling and lawn tennis. Baseball is a whole other matter.
Do this, rake and roll the area as flat as possible. Score the rolled earth with a push broom gently and lightly. (Make sure to use "top" soil. Be careful as the term is specific to a mixture of loam and sand about 50/50. If you don't have in now, and its not too big, buy some sand and rake it in.)
First fertilize the soil on a top layer. Hand sew the seeds with a smooth back hand motion left to right if you are rightie, trying to toss in an even arc. Trying to ensure an evenness throughout but don't worry grass spreads horizontally. (if you have to walk on the prepared area go barefoot and do not tip toe.
Then, using a hose with the nozzle on mist, slowly and gently moisten the seeds and top part of the soil, without moving any of the seeds. You want the seeds and the soil to be soaked which will produce a sticky substance and glue the seed in place.
If gentle and painstaking, you can water five six times a day. Do not water at night and anymore in north America consider covering with burlap as America has been infesteed with Asian beetles. You will need three days at least in moderate weather to get a sprouting, ten to 14 before you can stop watering daily but the more (gently) you water the better. Grass is directly related to perennial rice.
Be careful with a power mower. You may want to soak and roll the ground before making your first cut to reduce wheel tracks. Take away the clippings on the first cut, after that leave them to decompose and fertilize. Regular cutting is recomended as grass grows faster and fuller when cut regularly.