How to Fix Your Front Lawn

Remove dead grass. Bare patches of a front lawn will need to be reseeded, but if you just put seed on top of the old, dead grass, it will not grow properly. Using a shovel, remove the top layer of soil and grass and extend the area out a few inches into the good grass around it.

Rake the soil. This will help till up the soil and make it more receptive to accepting the seed. This is very similar to the process done in large fields and helps remove debris and other material that may hamper the growth of the grass seed.

Spread the seed out evenly on the tilled soil. It is helpful to over seed to ensure that the grass will fill in nicely. Sprinkle some of the seeds around the areas that already have grass to help the formerly bare patch blend in.

Water the soil and seed. While you can water before you place the grass seed down, watering afterward will help jump-start the seed germination process. Be careful not to flood the area with too much water as this will wash the grass seed away.

Water the soil lightly every day. Grass stems are largely composed of water and they will need frequent waterings to grow properly. Again, don't flood the area, just water it lightly until the soil is moist.

Wait until the grass seed is established to fertilize. Over fertilization can kill tender grass seedlings. It is best to wait until the grass seedlings are at least 1 inch in height before fertilizing the area. Be careful to use only as much fertilizer as is recommended on the package.

Apply grass-safe weed killer as necessary. Some weeds may need to be pulled to remove them, but take care to do this only if the weed has not yet gone to seed. Pulling seeded plants will distribute the seeds across your lawn.

Mow your lawn weekly. Avoid setting the mower to its lowest setting as this will clip the grass too far down and make it harder for it to grow back. While this does mean more work, it will also ensure that your front lawn looks lush and not over-cut.