By Dreeny8
Hertfordshire,
United Kingdom 
Our Front Lawn has been devastated by
(1) Maybe too much weed/feed by me
or
(2) Over zealous use of sand by hubby
or a combination of both.
Strangely it's only in patches (black) mainly in the centre. However, we are double fronted and although not massively large areas are involved it does look pretty awful. Hubby tried putting down a little grass seed to
at least rescue it for the summer but, of course, it has not germinated because of the substances, I guess, that have been applied. I think I know the answer but write this in the vain hope that one of you knowledgeable people might just have a solution for the short term.
dreeny8
15 May, 2010
Answers
The Black patches sound to me like dead moss, which was killed by the sand and weed killer applications which is what is supposed to happen?
Rake it out with a Scarifyer and keep mowing the lawn to encourage the grass to grow side ways and I am sure this will recover. Feed again 6-8 weeks after the first application of feed/killer. This is what I did about a month ago and the moss has almost all gone.
15 May, 2010
You can reseed those patches, once you've raked out whatever it is that's dead and black, but you need to wait six weeks from the last application of chemicals before preparing and then sowing the seeds.
15 May, 2010
Thank-u for your replies re: my black patches on the grass. I suppose it could be dead moss with a combination of weed. Hubby mowed this morning and he said it might be alright, the surrounding grass is perfectly healthy. I think perhaps watch & wait perhaps is best even though it looks awful. Thanks again.
dreeny8
15 May, 2010
I know exactly how you feel Dreeny! I put moss killer on this spring and now I have loads of horrible bare patches and can't get the seed to germinate! I think I'm going to do what Drc says and just be patient and keep cutting and watering and give it time! It is a shame though and quite annoying!
15 May, 2010
Hi, Karensusan, it's nice to know I'm not the only one. It's such a pity though when the borders are just beginning to look nice and it detracts from them.
We have two huge, very old, Crab Aple Trees out there which have shed their blossom everywhere so that's hiding a lot of it at the moment. In future, I can,t help but think, perhaps better to keep our moss and weed rather than have this. I didn't think I'd been heavy handed with the feed/weed and just maybe there was more debris lurking in there than realised which needed "bumping off". We live and learn.
Dreeny8.
16 May, 2010
Yes Dreeny, again, exactly my thinking...in future, the moss can stay...at least it's green!
16 May, 2010
Previous question
You could dig out the soil which is under your black patches and insert fresh compost and returf those bits. Either use grass from your own back garden or buy turf rolls at a DIY store or garden centre. If you click on 'L' in the A-Z index at the foot of this page then on 'Lawn care' you will find lots of information from other members. Minihoney shows how they relaid their lawn. If you use turf it needs a lot of water daily to get it established so do not do this before you go on holiday.
15 May, 2010