We’ve all heard the saying “Grass always grows where it’s watered”. But if you ever wondered, does grass spread to bare spots, this article is for you.
There are special lawn species that can reproduce by runners which will spread through bare spots. As well as a rarely mowed lawn that can refill bare spots through seed spreading. Other factors also determine whether or not your lawn will grow in an area without grass.
To make sure you aren’t wasting time or money on treatments for your lawn, it’s best to understand how the spread of grass works first. This blog post will answer all of these questions and more!
Does grass spread to bare spots?
There are three options for how a plant spreads. The first is through root spread, the second by way of seeds while their last form of spreading can be seen through offshoots.
The grass species used for lawns do not produce offshoots, so this option will not work to cover bare spots.
Some types of grass can spread through their roots without any help. However, this isn’t true for all sorts and some lawns require assistance to cover bare spots!
Interesting Fact: Did you know that there are over 1,400 species of grass in the United States?
The grasses that can spread through their roots without help own stolons and rhizomes. Stolons are horizontal runners that grow slightly over the soil’s surface, while rhizomes grow under the soil. Both develop their own leaves and a stem, which allows grasses to spread.
Just remember you have to watch the runners because it can also cause invasive grass growth.
The second option is for grass to spread through seeds if your lawn is not mowed regularly. If it’s not cut the grass will grow bigger while developing flowers that produce seeds.
Those seeds can be spread through wind, animal, or water dispersal. If the conditions are suiting grass will spread to bare spots, but it might take some time.
You can speed up the process by sprinkling some grass seeds in addition. Then cover with soil and water regularly until you see green shoots appear.
Not exactly sure what kind of grass you have? Check with a local lawn care provider, garden center, or extension service.
You may not know what kind of grass you have, but there is always someone to ask. Talk to the local garden center or lawn care provider and ask them for help identifying your grass type!
Which grass can spread without seeds?
- Zoysiagrass
- Bermudagrass
- St. Augustinegrass
- Centipedegrass
Which grass spreads the fastest?
The St. Augustinegrass and Centipedegrass only spread through stolons why they spread but not that fast.
Zoysiagrass, as well as Bermudagrass, can spread by stolons and rhizomes which makes them reproduce a lot faster.
According to public opinion, Bermudagrass grows a bit faster than Zoysiagrass. So the fastest spreading grass is Bermudagrass!
Can grass plants choke out weeds?
Weeds can be a major problem when it comes to new lawns. Most bluegrass lawns are thick enough that most weeds will not grow, but you should have a full-grown lawn.
The grass is able to overpower weeds and can take away the nutrients they need. Remember a good watering schedule for your lawn to receive a thick turf.
When seeding a fresh lawn take care of any potential weeds before planting your grass seeds to thrive to an awesome turf! Just treat the spot with a bit of weed control before starting the seeding process.
How do you get grass to spread?
First, you should own a self-spreading grass species or stop mowing your lawn to get your lawn blooming and seeding itself.
Second, you can try to remove any obstacles that block sunlight. For instance, make sure no fences or bushes are shading your lawn that would prevent the sun from helping with spreading.
The right watering schedule is important! The lawn should get around one inch per week so just water three times a week for around 20 minutes and you’re good to go.
Next, avoid using pesticides on your grass as this may harm it and affect how easily it spreads.
Finally, you can also help speed up germination by applying a light, grass-friendly fertilizer. But don’t use it too excessively because this will harm the lawn.
Those steps will provide the younger plants with everything they need to thrive and older plants to spread faster.
How long does it take for the lawn to spread?
Time varies from region to region, but it usually takes about a year for the lawn to spread through seeding.
Old lawns are typically slower because they need dilution of natural vegetation. Typically, it takes about five years for a new lawn to spread about 200 feet per year. Planting grasses that are good at spreading will help you get your new lawn spread faster.
Technically, as seeds take a few weeks to germinate and grow into plants, it takes from one to three months for the lawn even to spread its first time.
Why does my lawn has damaged spots?
Grass blades should be green in color with no brown tips for healthy growth, but there are many reasons why your lawn has brown or damaged spots.
One reason for damaged patches is too much shade because grass needs enough sunlight for photosynthesis to occur. Shade from overgrown trees or even the side of your house can cause browning spots in your lawn because grass requires six hours of full sun to grow properly.
Another reason is due to a lack of water, such as during periods of drought when rainfall isn’t enough for healthy growth. Grass needs approximately one inch per week so that it can absorb enough water, but damages will also develop if you over-water your lawn because grass plants will drown.
As well damaged spots can occur if the soil is not rich enough and doesn’t contain enough nutrients for grass growth. Grass requires around two pounds of nitrogen supply per 1000 square feet per year and enough organic matter so it is able to thrive healthily.
If your lawn is sandy or contains too much clay the soil won’t have enough nutrition for healthy growth.
Brown spots will also develop on a lawn if too many herbicides are applied to kill weeds because they contain chemicals that prevent grass from growing healthy in that spot.
How can I repair my lawn?
No matter the cause, you can fix damaged spots in your lawn by supporting self-spreading grass and adding grass seed to help fill it back in. After your repairs are made your lawn will need plenty of sunlight, water, and nutrients for a full recovery!
I want to provide some repairing tips for people that want to add to their self-spreading lawn and people that don’t have a self-spreading lawn.
Tips on how to repair a bald spot in your lawn
It is best to start with loosening up the soil of the damaged spot. Remove leftover roots and have a look if the soil looks rich or low in nutrients.
Fertilizing the entire spot with organic or chemical fertilizer will give the soil to give everything a boost in growth.
It is important to not overfertilize the soil because heavy fertilizers can damage young roots while still underground.
If the soil looks too bad or you want to be sure to provide a good foundation for new grass growth, fill the area with fresh soil containing enough organic matter.
You can make little holes in the bald spot for better root growth and then sprinkle it with new grass seeds.
Water the lawn so that you get good coverage of water on all sections of the area. This will help ensure that your new seeds are humid enough and do not get damaged or destroyed by heat, or too much wind.
You may need to repeat these steps for several weeks depending on how quickly your bare spots grow back over with fresh grass shoots.
If done correctly though, you can have a lush green lawn once more.
Will grass seed germinate on your existing lawn?
It is possible to seed grass on an existing lawn, but it can be a little bit challenging.
It’s a great idea to prep your lawn for new grass seed. Not only will it increase the likelihood of germination, but you’ll get a better end result in terms of color and density!
First, you can sprinkle new soil on the area you want to reseed and rake it under the existing grass leaves. This will ensure quality soil to support the germination of the grass seeds.
Another option would be to use fertilizer to add nutrients that will be needed for the growth of the grass plants.
Interesting Fact: Did you know bamboo is the largest variety of grass? It can grow up to 151 feet tall!
Then apply the grass seeds and make sure to sprinkle them evenly to avoid a patchy result. After you add the grass seeds, make sure they get enough moisture.
If you do not water your new seeds often enough, the mature grass plants will not leave water for the seeds to grow. Just make sure you have a good watering schedule and you receive an awesome lawn. It’s better to reduce the amount you’re watering and increase the frequency of how often you water your yard.
How can I avoid bare spots on my lawn?
There are many reasons why your lawn could have bare spots. You can avoid them by making sure to provide the right care for your grass and soil, depending on where you live and what type of grass it is. Here’s a look at some common problems:
Overwatering or underwatering the lawn is a reason why lawns develop bare spots. Try to note your watering schedule and watch the changes. Then you can easily adapt as soon as you see negative changes.
Bald spots in your lawn can be caused by too much sun exposure or not enough. Try to find the right lawn for your individual conditions. If you have problems just ask your local garden center or a garden expert that is able to help.
Soil that doesn’t contain enough nutrients will lead to damaged grass spots as well so watch your lawn and fertilize if needed. However, too much fertilizer will damage grass so learn by doing and observe developments and adapt if necessary.
If you notice that your grass is becoming lighter in one place, you can sow grass seeds to counteract this.
Are you a dog owner and you let it pee on the lawn? Then you should water that spot afterward!
Dog pee is bad for lawns because it is high in ammonia, which will burn the grassroots. Dog urine can also contribute to bare patches on your lawn because it depletes nitrogen and potassium.
Because of that, acidic salt deposits will be left behind that make grass grow poorly or not at all.
If dog pee still burns holes through your lawn you should try increasing the used water.
Noticing more than just a couple of these problems? Then it could be time to call in an expert!
Final thoughts
Grass can spread by either runners or seeds. Stolons or rhizomes, which are over and underground runners, use asexual propagation to expand. For seed production, the grass needs to reach a certain height, but it is usually cut before the grass develops flowers and produces seeds.
You can support both types of spreading and as well by sprinkling additional seeds. If you don’t own a self-spreading grass or want to speed up the process you can just reseed the spot on your own.
Some of the self-spreading grass species are good weed controllers because the mature lawn will not allow them to grow. To prevent further damage to your lawn avoid using too much water or under-watering, choose the right species of grass that suits the conditions, like sunny or shady areas.
Also, you should monitor the soil conditions and add or use less fertilizer if you see any negative happen. For all the dog owners, remember that their pee can damage your lawn as well!
Now you’re good to go for spreading your grass and reseeding those bare spots!
