How to Get Sod to Grow Back

Regrowing grass from damaged sod requires more effort than simply planting new grass seed. Take the opportunity to revitalize your lawn by tending to the soil so that it is able to support healthy and vibrant grass growth. Aerate and dethatch your lawn to prime the sod for the new grass, and pay diligent attention to the early stages of new grass growth to bring your lawn back to glory.

Garden rake
Dethatching tool
Plug aerator
Grass seed
Seed spreader
Fertilizer (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Rake the sod with a garden rake to remove obstructions like rocks and sticks. Remove as much of the debris on the lawn that will impede your efforts to aerate and dethatch the soil in future steps as possible. Gather the obstructions and bag them for disposal.
- 2
  Dethatch the soil with a dethatching rake. Rake vigorously over the entire yard to remove the thatch from the upper layers of sod. Thatch is a collection of broken roots and blades of grass that gather just beneath the soil's surface. Thatch soaks in water and keeps it from the deeper roots. The result is a lawn that is not as firmly established within the soil and therefore more vulnerable to drought and insect attacks. Gather the thatch and bag it for disposal.
- 3
  Aerate the sod with a plug aerator. Run the aerator over the entire lawn surface to pull plugs of soil from the sod. Aerating creates spaces in the sod to foster better hydration by allowing the water to seep deeper into the soil, and it provides room for the soil to expand to accept the moisture.
- 4
  Fill the seed spreader with grass seed. Choose a grass seed that will thrive in your location's climate. Consult with a local landscaper or garden expert to determine which types of grass will be best able to grow given your climate.
- 5
  Spread the seed evenly over the entire sod area. Follow the guide on the seed packaging for settings on your spreader. Average approximately 15 to 20 seeds per square inch if you need to spread the seeds by hand.
- 6
  Rake the seeded area with the garden rake to lightly mix in the seeds with the soil. Add topsoil if your sod does not provide enough dirt to make contact with the new seeds during the raking.
- 7
  Water the sod thoroughly but not to the point of saturating the lawn. Repeat the watering as frequently as necessary given the time of year and your climate. Water the lawn in the mornings during the warmer times of year and in hot and dry climates.
- 8
  Mow the lawn regularly to keep the new grass at 2 inches or shorter for the first six weeks of growth.

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