Lawn Recovery Questions for Zone 5B

You can reseed or overseed but it won't fix whatever underlying problem is causing the grass to be unhealthy.

How is the soil? Have you done a soil test to determine if there is a lack of nutrients or a pH issue? Is the soil compacted?

Are you over fertilizing? Too much fertilizer will cause plants to die back. Only apply fertilizer at the rates and times which the package specify.

When do you water? Watering in the evening will promote fungus. Water at dawn so that the water can soak into the soil but any moisture on the grass itself will evaporate. Water a weekly inch total once or twice a week rather than daily to promote root growth.

How high do you mow? Too low will be stressful for the grass, higher is better.

Is your mower sharp? When was the last time you sharpened the blades? I can't tell from the photos, but a dull mower will rip the grass and give pathogens an easy way to infect the grass. If your grass has frayed edges rather than edges which look like they've been cut by scissors, sharpen your mower.

Here is your state's extension service with lots of local info about lawns: http://msue.anr.msu.edu/topic/info/turf

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