After a summer of drought in many parts of the country, Canadian lawns are looking a bit thin.  Not to mention that weeds have a habit of taking over where your lovely spring lawn left off.  The good news is that August and September are the best months of the year to thicken an established lawn and grow a new one.

To start, make sure that you have good quality soil – look for triple mix or “lawn soil” at your local retailer. 

Acquire good, quality grass seed and do not skimp on the purchase of this stuff.  The pedigree of your future lawn is in the bag.  Cheap seed will equal a poorly performing lawn.  This is an investment in your lawn for years to come.

Spread the soil about 3 to 4 cm. thick. You need the soil to give the germinating seeds a base into which they will produce a root. 

Broadcast the seed carefully and evenly over the area. Rake smooth and step on it to bring the seed and soil in firm contact.

Water the soil well and keep it wet until germination has occurred.

Quality seed takes longer to germinate and become visible to the eye, so be patient.  Within 4 to 6 weeks you will have a thicker lawn and next spring it will bounce back like magic.

Also, keep in mind that the best time of the year to fertilize your lawn is in late fall. Be sure to apply a quality, slow-release lawn fertilizer before the freeze up later this season.

Mark Cullen