"Matthew Harelick" wrote in message
om...
Hi:

I am a new homeowner. Our Lawn is dead. There are spots of grass
and
large spots of dirt. Several things contributed to this condition.

1. When we moved in in May we just didn't have the time to think about
the
Lawn.

2. The previous owners parked their cars on the lawn.

3. We live in the Northeast and had a drought and of course water
restrictions.

I would like to restore the lawn. I personally don't care if I have a
mix of things like clovers and dandelions in the lawn, I just don't
want raw dirt.
I do want a low maintenance type of lawn, one that once its grown can
survive a drought.

How do I start fixing the situation, and when should I start? Is this
week (or next ) a good time?


Thank You

Matthew

The parked cars from the former owners may have made your task a bit
tougher. Normally I would just suggest overseeding w/ a good seed from a
garden center, but your lawn will probably be badly compacted. You may want
to try double aerating or even top dressing it before you do anything else.

The best time to start would be as soon as the soil is firm enough that you
can walk on it w/out leaving footprints. That's a general guide.... It will
vary depending on how much rain you get this spring. The big problems is
homeowners getting on the lawn too early in the spring and doing more harm
than good.

Your seed, if you overseed, will probably need a couple of weeks of
temperatures in the 60's before germination. After seeding and especially
after germination you much keep the young grass plans moist ( not soaking )
constantly for a really good success rate.

Good Luck

Peter H