Foreclosure flippers - best methods for reviving dead lawn?

Question

There are quite a few things that usually come with foreclosed properties - lower prices, lots of work, uncertainty, and dead lawns.

What are your best methods for turning a dead yard into a beautiful, grassy, resale-friendly area in just a few weeks or months?  Sod doesn't count unless absolutely necessary, trying to save some dollars here.

Water, water, water is key.  What else?  When to fertilize, when to till, etc?

Lots of articles out there but none specifically for flippers with our unique needs & goals (trash to cash in a short time frame).  Let's hear your tips!

Matthew Paul · Answer

Heres what I do for a couple of guys that rehab . first we cut the grass as low as possible , then we double dose it with fert and lime, then we spray the entire lawn with round up , killing  everything.  A week later we till it with a tractor , mixing the fert and lime into the soil , we rake it and then install a lawn sprinkler system .

A beautiful lawn every time and an irrigation is a much bigger selling point than sod .    Cost is about 10% higher than sod.

Andy Collins · Answer

It really depends on the condition of the lawn and the time of year, generally you aren't going to take a bad lawn and turn it into a nice lawn in less than about a year.

you can kill weeds,  as you said water water water, and some fertilizer, if you mow the lawn frequently it will look better than it really is, because the weeds don't have a chance to ourgrow the grass.

Sod is the only 'quick fix'

Aaron McGinnis · Answer

Bobcat - take off the entire top surface to remove any and all trash, uneven-ness, and to loosen everything up.
	
	Spray with weed killer several times for the next week or three. Wait for weed killer to disintegrate, then till, feed, and straw.

Steve K · Answer

I usually just replace it if it's in that rough of shape.  New grass will show a lot better and it usually costs around $130 per pallet which covers approx 400 sf per pallet.

James Hannon · Answer

Agreed with the above post.  Possibly some straw coverage and plenty of water as stated.  I have had good results hydro seeding lawns.  Although more costly than seed alone it produces great results.

Bryan H. · Answer

Rake out all of the dead stuff. Loosen any really compacted soils by raking or you may need to aerate. Lay down 2x as much seed as you think you will need and keep it watered. Get a pretty good seed, don't go cheap and you will see results.