A well-maintained lawn is not only pleasing to the eye, but it can also raise property values and improve the overall quality of a home. Many factors can contribute to a poor lawn, including hot, dry weather, improper care or neglect and excessive thatch accumulation. If your lawn is in decline, a renovation may be necessary to restore it to its full potential.

The process of renovating a lawn involves replacing old, dead grass, moss or weeds with new seed that is more drought and disease tolerant and visually appealing. It is often followed by a light top dressing that smoothes out small bumps and hollows and acts as a blanket for the new seed, improving its germination.

Getting the timing right for renovating your lawn is crucial. It is best to start in the fall for cool-season grasses and in the spring for warm-season grasses. As grasses awaken from their winter dormancy, they demand water and nutrients for growth. Performing renovation activities at this time will ensure that the lawn is growing and thriving by the time the cooler, moist autumn arrives.

Renovating a lawn can be a complicated task, especially if the existing soil has been poorly maintained. A thorough soil test should be done to determine if the lawn needs soil amending. If the soil is not conducive to grass growth, adding compost, peat moss, lime or other soil amendments will help.

Once the site has been prepped for planting, a mechanical process called core aeration can be performed to improve the soil structure. This will alleviate soil compaction, improve drainage and encourage root growth. It can also be helpful in reducing thatch levels and helping the lawn become more drought tolerant.

A light top dressing is then applied to the lawn and lightly rolled in with a garden broom or back of a rake. This will improve the appearance of the lawn, smooth out small bumps and hollows and act as a blanket for the new seed, which helps it germination and reduces the risk of birds eating it.

After the lawn has been reseeded, it is important to properly mow and water in order to promote good growth. A good mowing technique includes removing the clippings each time you mow and not cutting the lawn too short. The proper mowing height for your grass species will be outlined on the label of your mower and should be followed as closely as possible.

Finally, if a complete lawn makeover is not desirable or feasible, sodding can be an excellent option. If you decide to sod your lawn, be sure to follow the procedure outlined in Rutgers Cooperative Extension publication FS104.