My lawn has some green and some dead grass and dying grass. How do i rejuvinate the dead and dying parts?
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Answers:
The first thing would be why is it dying? Could be insects like grubs, but the same chemicals that kill grubs also can kill earthworms and earthworms constantly aerate your yard (a very good thing). It could be that your lawn was seeded for full sun (as most homes are when they're built because there are no trees or shrubs to block sun yet), then as your landscaping developed and your trees and shrubs (or your neighbors') are now making portions of your full-sun yard into full or partial shade. Most types of grass need full-sun to thrive and you'll have to seed with appropriate shade grass to get grass to grow in heavily shaded areas.
Also, some grasses that are used in sod aren't realistic in many parts of the country. It takes rediculous amounts of watering and fertilizer to keep them looking as nice as the day they were laid. Check online and with your county or state exension office to see what varieties of grasses NATIVE to your area will do well in your yard. The right selection of native grasses will give you a beautiful yard that you won't have to dump gallons of water and pounds of fertilizer on. Remember, those grasses were growing and thriving in your area long before running water and sprinklers came about.
As far as reseeding...
Broadcast seed: This is where you sprinkle by hand or use a spreader (like you would for fertilizer) to distribute the seed. It's the quickest and easiest, but if you get a good rain the seed will wash away and a lot of the seed won't sink far enough into your existing grass to take root.
Aerator: Can be rented just about anywhere and removes plugs of dirt and thatch from your yard to improve yard health. Seed afterwards and the seed will fall into the holes created by the aerator and stands a better chance of actually growing.
Slit seeder: This one is harder to find to rent, but is the best for seeding. It's has blades that vertically cut into the soil and a seeder that drops the grass seed just before or just after the cutting mechanism (varies by brand). This will really make your yard look awful immediately following the procedure (until the old grass grows back and the new seed sprouts), but it's the best machine for seeding.
I've don't some research on this. It seems the best combination is to cut your grass as short as your mower will go, bag/rake the clippings, then aerate, then slit seed in BOTH directions (horizontally from the left side of your yard to the right, then vertically from the front-to the back, essentially seeding your yard twice), don't allow the ground to dry until the seed germinates and sprouts (but don't create so much excess water you have puddles and runoff), then water regularly until the grass reaches 2 to 3 inches in height.
I'd re-seed the dead/dying parts. There's a tool you can get to make holes in the lawn so the seed goes down into it -- the name escapes me. Or, dig up the dead stuff and loosen up the soil so the seed can grow better. After that, just water. Water 1-2 times a day. The new seed will germinate in as little as a week and by next season, you'll have a nice lush lawn.
I suggest you use an airator (a machine that puts holes in the ground to airate the soil), fertilizer (or a grub killer, if that's what's causing it. If it is, then pull up the grass and see if there's any little bugs on the roots.), or just reseed the areas that need it. More than likely, it's grubs that are chewing on the roots.
I had this problem with my lawn a couple of years ago.
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