What can i do to make this dead lawn nice again :(

If its solid dried mud then I doubt that the seed has suffiecient contact to keep the seed moist while it tries to germinate. Also watering from a can or hose can just wash the seed away.

Did you create a nice surface for the seed to germinate into. Breaking up the surface with some vigorous raking before sowing would have been good but not easy why the soil is baked/hard

Can you still see the seed?

Give it another week as grass seed germination is generally longer than one week.

Down here in the south its been too hot and dry until the last fews days to think about sowing grass seed.

 

"is it worth putting down, feed and weed?"

Most lawn herbicides, such as "weed and feed", cannot be used on new lawns for 6 months - check the packet!

Fertiliser won't hurry / improve germination, only a good seedbed will do that, and some moisture, but fertiliser will stimulate growth after the seeds have germinated.

If you have a roller handy you could roll the newly germinated patches once the grass is 1" or more taller - that will anchor it, and cause it to thicken up ("Tiller")

 

i have noticed in some areas that the grass roots, i believe its that at a guess, are above the soil?
also how often should i water the lawn, the new seed recently put down and also the beginings of the shoots and the grass that is already taken, this info may help me get a better lawn

 

another tip is to pre-germinate the seed before scattering it. You mix the seed up with some compost and sand in a plastic bag, water so its damp (not wet), and leave in a warm place. When its germinated, scatter on the areas, making sure you have losened up the surface first. Keep watered with gentle sprinkling rather than heavy squirts.
And don't cut the grass short!! We always cut ours higher - even in mid summer. People always cut their grass far too short and then wonder why it dies so easily!!
If all else fails - relay with astro-turf!!!!

 

dont know nothing on this pre germinate, so i get seed, compost, and sand and mix it up and water it, how oftern? at what point in germination do i scatter on areas? thanks for help

 

garden at moment, worried about the grass roots above ground :O you can see some areas have took well and others havent

 

If its in a plastic bag, you shouldn't need to water it at all as the moisture is kept in. Wait until the shoots are 1/2 to 1cm - it just gives the seed a head start once its outside. But it needs a loose base to anchor into.

 

why are the roots in areas coming above the ground?

 

the grass seed is definately growing in new areas, which is good still wondering about the roots on top of the soil! i hope eventually i will have a nice lawn, i have mowed the lawn today, only did the parts that are established or the seeds that have produced grass to a few inches, but i only cut the very tops off grass.

 

If the ground has not been loosened up the roots won't really be able to penetrate.

If you forked-over the top inch or two then its probably the seed germinating, and the the root having to find its way downward to the soil.

 

its the old grass that has the big roots over the soil, rather than the new, the new grass seems to be coming through nicely, not all over yet, but its definately picking up over the place

 

seems you are making progress, just keep being patient. We look forward to the next update in a weeks time

 

the grass is coming on well, didnt realise how much it has spread till just looked at the last pic i put on here

 

I seeded a bit on my front lawn to save digging the weeds all the time. The deeper green patch was just soil like the neighbours not long ago. It took two boxes of wilko grass seed to grow this thick. I did dig it well though and added 2 bags of compost to the soil to raise the level a bit.Ive already mowed it once.

 

i still have a long way to go with my lawn :( but it definately has improved greatly, from:




to this:



and it is now like this: (still got a way to go yet, but can see alot of improvement)