Early spring and fall are ideal times for restoring "dead" lawns to life. During these moderate seasons, the grass varieties in Lawn Booster naturally hit their stride for optimal growth, and nature works in your favor. Start by getting rid of weeds that crept in while your lawn was stressed and brown.
If your lawn failed to live up to expectations this summer, don't wait until next spring to take action. The late summer/early fall season is a great time to rejuvenate your lawn. It's important to keep in mind that even the most attractive lawns don't look that way on their own.
You want to aerate the lawn when your grass is in its peak growing period so it can recover quickly—think early spring or fall for cool-season grasses, and late spring through early summer for warm-season grasses.
When can I start applying REVIVE? Apply Revive anytime the grass is green and growing.
How Long Does It Take for Brown Grass to Turn Green Again? The recovery time depends on the cause. Dormant grass can start to green up within 7–10 days with proper watering and care. If the grass is dead, it requires reseeding, fertilization, and consistent maintenance, which could take weeks or even months.
Moderate over-application of Revive will not burn or hurt your lawn. Reapply every 4 weeks during severe heat and drought or as conditions warrant.
If you notice brown, bare, or thinning areas in your lawn, these are clear signs that you need to sow new seed or replace the sod. It is best to remove old and dead grass before planting a new lawn, but in some cases, you are able to sow new seed over an existing lawn.
Customers say that Revive is an effective organic soil treatment that significantly improves lawn health, promoting greener and thicker grass while enhancing water retention. Many users appreciate its ease of application and pet-friendly nature, often noting visible results within days.
When the grass is dormant: Aerating during the dormant season, when the grass is not actively growing, can be less effective and may cause unnecessary stress to the grass.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO OVERSEED? Late summer or early fall is the best time to overseed lawns. Soil and atmospheric temperatures are most favorable for optimum seed germination and growth. With adequate moisture, fertilizer and sunlight, the new seedlings will be well established before cooler fall weather sets in.
Dethatch cool-season grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass, in late summer or early fall. Dethatch warm-season grasses, such as Bermudagrass or Zoysia grass, after spring green-up, as they enter early summer's peak growth. Never dethatch when your lawn is dormant or stressed; you can damage it beyond recovery.
The best time to level your yard is during the dry season. If done during a rainy season there is a good chance for soil erosion. Proper backfill at the foundation is very important.
Consistent watering is crucial in turning your brown, lifeless lawn into a vibrant carpet of rich green. Grass seed must have consistent moisture to germinate and establish healthy roots, so respect this critical step. Water your lawn daily so the soil stays consistently moist. If needed, water twice a day.
Aerate and Dethatch
The small holes it leaves behind allow roots better access to oxygen, water, and nutrients. Lawn aeration is essential when reviving a lawn damaged by soil compaction, overwatering, or fungal diseases. Removing the thatch layer helps your grass recover more easily.
Grub damage takes the form of irregularly shaped brown patches on a lawn. It usually makes its first appearance in August is sometimes mistaken for drought harm. Unlike a drought-damaged lawn, grub-infested turf peels up easily from the soil because its roots have been depleted.
Best Overall Lawn Fertilizer: Milorganite Slow Release Nitrogen Lawn Fertilizer. The best fertilizer for grass, overall, is Milorganite Slow Release Nitrogen Lawn Fertilizer. This grass fertilizer is wonderful for promoting healthy grass, trees, shrubs, and flowers.
Fertilizer can be incredibly beneficial for thickening up a living lawn — but it won't bring a dead lawn back to life.
Quality grass seed labels include guidance on optimal seeding rates to maximize your results. Don't overdo or cut corners. Too much grass seed causes undue competition for resources such as light, water and nutrients, and grass seedlings struggle as a result. Too little seed leaves lawns thin or bare.
Can I fertilize my lawn every 2 weeks? To avoid over-fertilizing, applying a fertilizer every two weeks is not recommended. Fertilizing as often as every two weeks will likely lead to problems such as lawn burn, excessive grass growth, as well as polluted water that can lead to toxic algae growth.
Follow Watering Schedule
That can make it difficult to know if the grass is still alive. You can get a better idea of what's causing the brown color by following a consistent watering schedule. Watering will help dormant grass become green again, while dead grass will remain brown.
Definitely yes! Hand-sowing is the simplest method if you only need to cover a few spots. Take a handful of seeds and spread them over the dead patch, or better yet, involve your kids and introduce them to some basic gardening chores.
It can return to its initial green and lush look in a few weeks, or it can take months. It's a game of patience, and the timeline depends on the grass type, damage level, weather, soil conditions, and lawn care practices. Sometimes, much of the grass is dead and homeowners must reseed the lawn.