Lawn Care Trick You Need to Know: Frig It, Sprig It

I call this lawn care repair trick ‘sprigging’. If you have another name for it, or have tried it, I’d love to know how it worked for you. I use this trick to re-grow grass in areas where it has stopped growing or been worn out—and where it appears seeds refuse to grow no matter how many directions on the bag I follow.

So this lawn care trick is an end-around. It’s also simple and pretty much free. The key to these hard-start areas is to plant grass—not sod—that’s already alive and healthy.

Step 1: Remove Weeds

...and other crap from the immediate area that might choke out or compete with the new grass. Get as much as you can by the roots.

Step 2: Find Some Grass

In a bark mulch bed or growing out of your driveway—you know, places you couldn’t plant it if world peace depended on it. Use a shovel and dig it out. Lawn care tip: I actually ‘save’ these in an out-of-the-way bed in our yard because I know I’ll need them.

Step 3: Dig a Hole Big Enough in the Bare Spot to Put the New Sprig Into Then Cover With Dirt.

Use any extra dirt to re-fill the hole where you got the sprig. If it is ‘hard pan’ (i.e. super-packed) try to break it up a little to give the roots soft dirt to catch in.

Step 4: Water Thoroughly Right Away

I use my 'Hyde Tool PivotJet' with a light mist to keep the soil from running. Keep watering a few days after.

Step 5: Tips

Before using sprigs I let them grow tall if I can before harvesting them. Then I mow them after they catch, usually a week. The cool thing is that the sprigs eventually fill in the bare spot with grass. Not overnight, but it’s 600% better than dropping seed that doesn’t stay and can’t grow. What kind of lawn care is that?

Comments

[Lee Wilkerson]

I have also used this same remedy.

Another method I use is to take about 1 inch of sod from the edges of driveways or sidewalks. Presto! Two birds; one stone.

[morlamweb]

When my sig other and I decided to expand the garden a few years ago, I had the idea to re-plant the grass from the lawn area to some of the dead spots around the lawn. They panned the idea saying that it wouldn't work. Well, now three years later, it's the best part of the lawn.

[tricky_monkey]

It works! Been doing it for a while, old farmer or someone told me. Awesome you did a write up. Thank you for the reminder, I gotta fix my backyard.

[MyFixitUpLife]

HA! Love it tricky_monkey. Old farmer tricks are the best. Did you hear the one about seeding your lawn in the winter?

[MyFixitUpLife]

YES! Thank you Tricky_Monkey. We've had great luck with it too.

[lsutton3]

True what kind of lawn care

[MyFixitUpLife]

Don't quite understand your question Isutton3--

[lsutton3]

Is it ?

[MyFixitUpLife]

Works like a charm. Like anything lawn-wise, watering always helps.

[bluidmidget]

I did this last month. Had to put some rock around my a/c unit and had quite a bit of extra grass that I replanted in bare spots. You're right. It's better than grass seed any day. Sorry to say I didn't get the idea from your "ible," just something I've been doing for years. Thanks for sharing it though.

[MyFixitUpLife]

Love it bluidmidget. You rock.

[puddlepod]

Really like this idea. Cant wait to try this at home. Thanks

[MyFixitUpLife]

Thanks PuddlePod. Leet us know how it turns out...