How to Resurrect a Dead Lawn

Determine the size of your lawn. Measure it with a tape measure or walk the perimeter to find the approximate square footage. You need this information to buy the appropriate amount of lawn patch and topsoil. Once you have the total square footage, purchase enough lawn patch mix and topsoil to cover the lawn.

Dig up the lawn with a garden spade and dirt rake. You want to get to the soil underneath and remove the dead grass. Dig and rake into the soil about 2 inches.

Shovel about 1 inch of topsoil onto the lawn. Do not pack down, simply shovel it onto the lawn loosely to allow water and fertilizer to penetrate to the ground underneath.

Following the manufacturer's instructions, apply a 1-inch layer of lawn patch mix over the topsoil. Patch mix has the right balance of nutrients, mulch, seeds, plant extracts and fertilizer. Press it down slightly with a garden spade to mix into the topsoil. Put down a coat of fertilizer with a sprayer if recommended by the lawn patch manufacturer. If the lawn patch does not expressly call for fertilizer, do not apply it.

Water the lawn with oscillating sprinklers twice a day in 15-minute intervals. Repeat the watering for a three-week period. Grass should begin to sprout within seven to 10 days. Do not cut the new grass until it has grown about 3 to 4 inches. Resume normal watering after three weeks.