Will Watering Dead Grass Bring It Back? (Fact or Fiction)

A lot of homeowners with lawn problems have at some point asked themselves, will watering dead grass bring it back? It seems that a lot of people try to water dead grass with the hope that it will green up and spring back to life. But is this fact or fiction? Well, let’s take a closer look.

Will Watering Dead Grass Bring It Back? (The Short Answer)

If you are 100% sure that your grass is dead, water will not bring it back to life. In fact, watering dead grass is actually not suggested, as watering dead vegetation, such as grass, can have a detrimental effect on the soil. So, if you are sure your grass is dead, then do not water it.

What Impact Will Watering Have On Dead Grass?

Unfortunately, no matter how much water you give a dead lawn, it will never grow back. Dead really means dead when it comes to grass. The best cause of action is to actually give the lawn no water at all. Why is this? Let me explain.

Promotes Lawn Fungi

If there is one place fungus likes, then it’s a thick, damp layer of grass. Therefore, watering a dead lawn gives fungi more of what it likes. The best course of action is to stop watering and take care of the lawn as quickly as possible. You really don’t want fungus to make a home in the soil, as this will create a bunch of problems when it comes time to lay a new lawn.

Accelerates Vegetation Decomposition

Usually, the lawn is supplied with a steady flow of dead vegetation in the form of grass clippings. These clippings slowly decompose over time and turn to compost, giving the lawn small boosts in nutrients. So, what you don’t want to do is speed up this process because you’ll disrupt the natural cycle. Watering dead vegetation, such as a dead lawn, increases the rate at which the grass decomposes. The end result is your soil will become less fertile.

5 Steps You Should Take If You’re Faced with Dead Grass

Will watering dead grass bring it back? No, this is total fiction. So what should you do instead? Well, here are five steps you should take to bring your lawn back to life.

1. Remove the dead grass (even if there’s a small amount still alive, it’s wise to think about killing the lawn and starting again)
2. Break up the top two inches of soil
3. Spread seeds or lay sod
4. Water
5. Fertilize