What to Do With Lawn That Is Damaged From Dry Heat & Now Infested With Weeds?

Analyze the Problem

• Well draining garden loam is the ideal soil for growing grass. Soil quality is tested by holding a handful of it in the hand, squeezing lightly and opening the hand. Garden loam falls easily from the hand in small clumps. Clay soil remains in a tight ball, and overly sandy soil runs out quickly. Traditional lawn grass species such as Bermuda, Kentucky bluegrass and St. Augustine may require soil additives. Native grass species such as Buffalo, bunchgrass and grama grass do not require soil additives.

Renewal Techniques

• Renovation involves complete removal of the lawn, renewal by aeration and overseeding, or overseeding without work on the soil. Core aerifying reduces compaction and improves surface drainage. A vertical mower makes slits in the existing lawn to roughen the soil before reseeding. A vertical mower also cuts and removes thatch build-up. Thatch is caused by disease or overwatering. Heat damage also reduces disease resistance.

Weed Control

• A damaged lawn infested with weeds responds to weed control techniques more effectively after it has been thoroughly irrigated. A scruff hoe or rototiller is then used to turn weeds under or cut them off at the soil line. Solarization is a technique that uses the sun's heat on a plastic cover to kill weeds in six to seven weeks. Corn gluten meal herbicide is a pre-emergent weed killer designed to eradicate broad-leaf weeds. It is non-toxic to children, pets and the environment. It does not affect grass or grassy weeds.

Complete Renovation

• Heat damage may have destroyed the grass turf entirely. A new seed bed is recommended for native grasses as well as traditional grass species. The soil is tilled no more than 2 inches deep, raked level and rolled lightly. The lawn area is watered for two weeks to allow weed seed germination and removal. Grass seed is then broadcast in two directions, covered with ½ inch of finely sifted compost or garden loam, and sprinkled frequently until germination. Weeds are pulled as they appear.