How to Reclaim a Weedy Yard

Top-Dress With Compost

Top-dressings — such as a cow-manure/alfalfa mix — are underused in lawn care (such as after you've sown grass seed). Too bad, because they're full of organic matter that activates soil.

Note: Cow manure, like grass seed, can be overdone. A little will go a long way for the freshly laid seeds, so layer no more than 1/4 inch over the lawn. If you have any leftover, feed other trees and plants in your landscape.

Tip: Paul uses this handy perforated shovel to sift the compost over an area. The shovel is also good for working in water gardens.

Fertilize the New Lawn

Paul suggests an all-natural, bio-solid fertilizer for Jerry's new lawn. Because it's all-natural, he won't have to wait for the grass to germinate to use it. After a few weeks in the lawn, the fertilizer will break down and enter the root zone of the grass.

Another thing about bio-solid fertilizers is that they contain iron — an element that will help Jerry "green-up" his lawn. And it's very versatile, so he can use it to fertilize garden beds, trees, shrubs and flowers.

Repeat fertilization twice a year — once in the spring, once in the fall.

Keep It Watered

Last but not least, Jerry gets one of the most critical lessons, and that's in watering. As his fescue germinates over the next 10 days or so, Jerry will need to water the lawn lightly once or twice a day so the seeds stay moist. The best time is in the early morning or at night.

Once the grass is up and has been mowed, he'll need to switch to deep soaking. This encourages newly formed roots to reach down into the soil in search of moisture. One good option for deep soaking is an oscillating sprinkler — it does all the work.