Handling Bare Spots in Planted Grass Seeds

Watering

• Lack of water, or too much water, causes bare spots where grass seeds are planted. The seeds need to be kept damp until they sprout, then watered every day for the first week after sprouting. Once sprouted, however, the roots need oxygen and will drown if the soil is kept soggy. Check the watering system to ensure all seeds receive water. Place cups throughout the seeded area. Turn on the sprinklers for 15 minutes, then check each cup. Each should have about an inch of water. After the seeds have sprouted, reduce watering.

Birds and Pests

• Birds eating the grass seed and newly sprouted grass can leave bare spots in the lawn or a very sparse lawn overall. Cover the grass seed with topsoil so birds can't see the seeds. Birds don't like things that wave and glitter in the sun. Run string attached to stakes around the newly seeded area. Attach strips of aluminum foil to the string so they wave in the breeze. Another alternative is holiday garlands made from foil.

Excess Fertilizer

• New and established lawns are susceptible to fertilizer burn caused by excess nitrogen. Use a lawn food expressively formulated for new lawns. Don't fertilize again until after the first mowing, usually when the new grass is 3 inches tall. Pets urinating on the lawn can cause bare spots as well, because the urine contains high concentrations of ammonia, which converts to nitrogen. Keep dogs away from the lawn until it's well-established.

Uneven Sowing

• Spreading grass seed works best with a spreader rather than throwing out the seed by hand. The spreader is close to the ground so breezes won't redistribute the seed like it does when you cast by hand.

Light Requirements

• Lawns require lots of sunshine to remain healthy. Grass seed planted under a tree may sprout and then die off from lack of light. Tree roots also suck up water and nutrients, depriving the grass. Use a ground cover meant for light shade under a tree instead of grass or a grass variety that is more shade-tolerant.