How to Fix Bare and Patchy Spots After a Chicago Area Winter
A step by step for repairing bare, thin and salt burned lawn spots in spring after a hard Chicago area winter.
Almost every lawn on the North Shore comes out of winter with a few rough spots. Plow damage, salt burn near the driveway, matted areas, and dead patches from snow mold are all normal. The good news is that spring is the perfect time to fix them, and the repair is straightforward.
Step by step
- 1Rake out the dead grass and debris until you reach loose soil in the bare area.
- 2Loosen the top inch of soil so new seed makes good contact and roots can dig in.
- 3Spread a quality seed blend matched to your lawn, then lightly cover it with a quarter inch of compost or topsoil.
- 4Keep the area consistently moist with light, frequent watering until it fills in.
- 5Stay off the new grass and hold the first mow until it reaches about three inches.
Handle salt damage a little differently
The dead strips along driveways and walkways are usually salt burn. Before you reseed those, water them heavily a few times to flush the salt down through the soil. Seeding into salty soil just wastes seed, so the rinse step matters here in our de icing heavy region. Gypsum can help displace sodium in badly affected soil.
Snow mold patches
Gray or pink matted circles that appear as snow melts are snow mold. In most cases the crowns survive and the grass recovers on its own once you rake the matted areas open to let air and light in. Only the worst patches need reseeding.
Related readingHow to prevent snow mold next winterKnow what you can and cannot do in spring
Spring timing is on your side for repair, because the cool, damp North Shore weather is ideal for getting new grass to take. The catch is that you cannot apply crabgrass pre emergent to any area you are seeding. For a few patches that tradeoff is easy. For a full lawn renovation, wait for fall.
If the damage is widespread or you want it done once and done right, we handle spring repair and overseeding all over Lake County. Call or text 224-634-0673 or 224-200-8363 for a free estimate.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I fix bare spots in my lawn after winter?
- Rake the area down to loose soil, loosen the top inch, spread a matching seed blend, cover lightly with compost, and water lightly every day for two to three weeks. Hold the first mow until the new grass reaches three inches.
- How do I repair salt damaged grass along my driveway?
- Water the strip heavily several times first to flush sodium down through the soil, and consider applying gypsum to help displace it. Only then rake and reseed. Seeding directly into salty soil wastes the seed.
- Will grass grow back after snow mold?
- Usually yes. Snow mold typically kills only the leaf blades while the crowns survive. Rake the matted gray or pink patches open so air and light reach the soil, and most areas recover on their own. Reseed only the worst spots.
- Is spring or fall better for fixing a lawn in Illinois?
- Fall is better for a full renovation because weed pressure is low and there is a long establishment window. Spring is fine for patching isolated bare spots, with the caveat that you cannot use crabgrass pre emergent where you seed.
Want a hand with your yard?
Ruiz Landscaping is Mario Ruiz's family-owned crew serving Vernon Hills and the North Shore. Free estimates, fair prices, fast replies.
Ruiz Landscaping serves Vernon Hills, Libertyville, Mundelein, Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire, Long Grove and the rest of Vernon Hills's surrounding North Shore and Lake County communities.