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Bald Patches in Grass
Bald patches - bare spots where the grass has thinned or disappeared entirely - are one of the most common lawn problems. Left alone, they don't just look bad; they're the first place weeds and moss will colonise, so the problem spreads if you don't repair them.
The key to a lasting repair is fixing whatever caused the patch in the first place, then reseeding correctly. This guide covers every likely cause and the exact steps to bring bare areas back to healthy grass.
What's Causing the Problem?
Heavy Wear & Foot Traffic
Regular walking routes, children's play areas, and where garden furniture sits all compact the soil and wear the grass away, leaving bald tracks and patches.
Pet Damage
Dog urine scorches round patches, and digging or repeated running along the same route wears the grass down to bare soil.
Chafer Grubs & Leatherjackets
Root-eating grubs kill the grass from below, leaving patches that lift away easily. Birds and foxes then tear up the loosened turf to feed.
Deep Shade
Grass simply won't thrive in heavy shade under trees or beside fences and buildings, so those areas thin out to bare soil.
Poor or Compacted Soil
Where the soil is compacted, full of rubble, or very poor - common on new builds - grass can't root and bare patches keep returning.
Scalping on Uneven Ground
High points on a bumpy lawn get scalped by the mower down to the soil, creating recurring bald spots.
Fungal Disease
Some lawn diseases kill grass in patches, leaving bare areas once the dead grass rots away.
How to Solve It - Step by Step
Find and fix the cause first
There's no point reseeding a patch caused by grubs, shade or compaction without addressing that first, or the bald spot will simply come back. Match the cause using the patterns above.
Treat pests and disease
For grubs, apply nematodes in late summer. For disease, improve airflow, drainage and feeding. Only reseed once the underlying issue is dealt with.
Relieve compaction
Fork or aerate compacted patches so the new seed has loose, breathable soil to root into.
Prepare the patch
Rake out all the dead grass and debris, loosen the top few centimetres of soil, and mix in a little fresh topsoil or compost to give the seed a good bed.
Sow quality grass seed
Scatter a good grass seed evenly across the patch, press it gently into the soil, and lightly cover. Use shade-tolerant seed for patches under trees or beside fences.
Keep it moist and protected
Water gently and keep the patch consistently moist until the seed germinates (usually 1-3 weeks in the growing season). Keep off it and protect from birds where possible.
Prevent it happening again
For high-wear areas, consider stepping stones or a path along the worn route, and reduce shade by pruning. For badly uneven lawns, levelling stops recurring scalping.
- Identify the cause - wear, pets, grubs, shade or compaction
- Treat any pests or disease before reseeding
- Rake out dead grass and loosen the soil in the patch
- Mix in fresh topsoil or compost as a seed bed
- Sow quality (or shade-tolerant) grass seed and lightly cover
- Keep the patch moist until the new grass establishes
Want Those Bare Patches Filled In?
We prepare the soil properly, then repair bare areas with quality seed or fresh turf so the new grass matches the rest of your lawn rather than standing out. See our turfing and lawn repair in Basingstoke.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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