How to Cure Dry Yellow Lawns

Rake yellowed areas of the lawn to pull out any dead grass while also aerating the soil. This helps improve the lawn's appearance right away by eliminating some of the dry grass while prepping the soil so the area can be repaired.

Water the yellow grass heavily if the discoloration is caused by salt. Salt applied to roads during winter often makes its way into the lawn closest to the road, and the salt dries out the grass. Rinsing it away enables the lawn to start repairing itself and is necessary before introducing new seed.

Apply fresh seed to dry, yellow areas in spring when nightly temperatures remain above 35 degrees Fahrenheit, recommends the University of Rhode Island.

Add a thin layer of mulch or organic matter to damaged areas to provide nutrients to the lawn seed.

Fertilize the lawn as the new seed starts to grow. Follow all instructions on the package to eliminate the risk of over- or under-fertilizing. When used in appropriate amounts, a combination of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus helps the lawn stay healthy.

Request that everyone stay off the yellow areas of lawn while the new seed is growing. Walking over those spots pushes the soil down and makes it more difficult for soil to drain. Likewise, keep pets off the grass to prevent urination that leads to more yellowing.

Water the lawn early in the day to ensure the water drains properly and dries faster. Watering at night keeps the water in the roots longer and encourages diseases.