21 Expert Organic Lawn Care Tips

The expert who founded Safelawns.org offers insider's tips for achieving a lush, green lawn – without the use of toxic pesticides or chemical fertilizers. By Paul Tukey / SafeLawns.org

What to Do About Pesky Bare Spots

If you look outside at your lawn right now and see areas of little or no grass, and you're just hoping that grass somehow fills in, you are most likely going to be sadly disappointed. More often than not, weeds beat grass to the bare spots. Other plants — dandelions, plantain, chickweed, crabgrass and quackgrass, etc. — all set seeds that can persist in the soil and germinate when the conditions are right.

Because we are constantly mowing our lawns, we don't let grass go to seed, and it doesn't have a competitive chance. The only way grass can fill in a bare area is through the spreading of underground roots known as rhizomes or over the ground runners known as stolons.

To help your grass compete, you should always keep grass seed on a dark shelf in the potting shed or another cool, dry area. When a bare area appears, spread some seed, cover it with a thin layer of compost and keep the seed moist until a couple of weeks after it germinates. Actively growing grass will outcompete the weeds and help give you that lush, green carpet you may admire. For a great online source for grass seed from across the U.S., visit seedland.com.