BACK YARD · LAWN RESTORATION

Reseed Grass

Germination week 2 of 4

In Progress

DIY

Started May 15, 2026

Phase 3 of 5

Repairing the lawn before summer foot traffic and before the patio and shed builds open up more of the yard. A dense lawn now means less weed pressure and less bare-soil erosion through the rest of the season.

STATUS

CURRENT PHASE

Germination + watering

TIME IN PHASE

~2 weeks of 3–4 week window

NEXT CHECKPOINT

Bald-spot inspection · June 5–12

RISK

Dry stretch could stall germination. Watering cadence is the lever.

PHASE TRACK

Prep + seed

~May 15

Hay cover

~May 15

Germinate + water

Now → Jun 12

Spot reseed

~Jun 12

Establish + first mow

~Jul

ACTION LOG

May 15 Seeded back yard done

May 15 Covered with hay done

May 15–29 Regular watering, weeks 1–2 done

May 29–Jun 12 Continue watering, weeks 3–4 in progress

Jun 5–12 Walk the yard, mark bald spots pending

Jun 5–12 Reseed bald spots, re-cover with hay pending

Jun–Jul Continue watering until established pending

~Jul First mow at 3–3.5 inches pending

MATERIALS ON HAND

Item	Spec	Status
Grass seed	first round laid May 15	need extra for spot reseed
Straw / hay cover	covering full seeded area	need extra bale for spot cover
Hose + sprinkler	current watering setup	owned

NEXT ACTION

DO THIS NEXT

Keep the watering cadence steady for another 1–2 weeks, then walk the yard and mark bald spots.

Inspection window: June 5 – June 12, 2026

NOTES

Water early morning when possible. Evening watering invites fungal pressure on new turf.
Aim for consistently moist top inch of soil, not soaked. If a footprint stays wet, ease off.
Do not pull the hay off. It is mulch, not a tarp. New growth will push through.
Keep foot traffic off the seeded area until after the first mow.
First mow at 3 to 3.5 inches with a sharp blade. Bag the clippings on the first pass.
If bald spots after week 4 are larger than expected, check whether birds or runoff took seed from any low areas before reseeding.