Lawn Damage Repair

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ninj

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Has anyone ever fixed tire damage on a lawn?
Where I live, there wasn't room for two cars on the driveway, so I was asked to park far enough over to allow the other cars to get through.
This wasn't a good plan. The lawn now bears tire scars beside the driveway, and the right thing to do is repairing the damage.
I know pretty much nothing about lawns, and wouldn't have one personally, but here, neighbourhood tyranny reigns.


Alternatively, I could hire a lawn maintenance person at considerable cost (if you can find one now), but wondered if anyone has any experiencing just patching up something like this.
 
After you've scattered the grass seed, make a little top dressing of peat and some finished compost and sprinkle over top. Then the birds may leave some of the seeds...
 
After you've scattered the grass seed, make a little top dressing of peat and some finished compost and sprinkle over top. Then the birds may leave some of the seeds...

Basically correct, but @ninjafaery mentions tire scars which are usually indentations or ruts. Probably best to put some triple mix or top soil (usually fairly cheap by the bag at garden centres) down to fill the scars, then do the seed on top.

I just dug out a massive anthill to level it. Mower was having issues cutting around it. Moved some soil and sod to other parts of the yard and the broke up and raked out what was left (which was in fairly good shape soil-wise). Left it a week to settle, then seeded on Saturday. We've got plenty of rain and showers coming up this week so I think we'll be okay for watering.
 
For the tire ruts - I would first loosen the soil in the ruts with a garden fork - it is no doubt very badly compressed at this point. Then top dress with soil & seed.

Do you anticipate needing to continue to to park on this area? If so, maybe something different would be better than grass? A section of river rock, or gravel? In that case, DON'T loosen the underlying soil - just add on top - you would want it to stay as firm as possible.
 
For the tire ruts - I would first loosen the soil in the ruts with a garden fork - it is no doubt very badly compressed at this point. Then top dress with soil & seed.

Do you anticipate needing to continue to to park on this area? If so, maybe something different would be better than grass? A section of river rock, or gravel? In that case, DON'T loosen the underlying soil - just add on top - you would want it to stay as firm as possible.
Thanks...now that the snow is gone, it's easier to park closer to the edge of the driveway. Also overnight street parking is ok now too.
 
BTW, lawn maintenance is only one of my many issues with the whole lawn thing. It's too late in the game now (we could be selling in a few years depending on what Little M does and what we do in retirement), but I almost wish we had just landscaped the whole yard or used a non-grass ground cover. Though creeping charlie seems to be taking over my front lawn so maybe that's my ground cover.:unsure:
 
You guys are awesome. Thanks. This week looks good since it's going to rain for much of the week. Apart from a sprinkle of peat/soil/compost over the seeds, does a burlap cover give any protection?
 
BTW, lawn maintenance is only one of my many issues with the whole lawn thing. It's too late in the game now (we could be selling in a few years depending on what Little M does and what we do in retirement), but I almost wish we had just landscaped the whole yard or used a non-grass ground cover. Though creeping charlie seems to be taking over my front lawn so maybe that's my ground cover.:unsure:
Oooo Creeping Charley...you have my condolences!
 
You guys are awesome. Thanks. This week looks good since it's going to rain for much of the week. Apart from a sprinkle of peat/soil/compost over the seeds, does a burlap cover give any protection?

IIRC, you don't want a lot of cover. Air and light/heat are needed for grass to germinate. I wouldn't go beyond what Bette recommended.
 
Thanks...now that the snow is gone, it's easier to park closer to the edge of the driveway. Also overnight street parking is ok now too.
What are the plans for next winter though? I've seen some people here who have expanded their driveways so that 3 vehicles can park without going on the lawn.
 
I agree with Mendalla - I don't think burlap is needed - unless of course you have huge flocks of birds eating all the grass seed! A light daily watering of the seed is recommended - and avoid any applications of weed killer!

I've seen some people here who have expanded their driveways so that 3 vehicles can park without going on the lawn.
Many of our communities have bylaws that prohibit this. Just tonight on the news there was a fellow who was parking partly on his own lawn - but at a weird angle! - and got a ticket. He was incensed. But really - do we want front yards full of extra cars??
 
But really - do we want front yards full of extra cars??

Many of the houses we live in today were designed for the number of cars we needed yesterday. My poor neighbour at one point had 3 teen boys, all different schools/jobs/schedules, each with their own car. It's a single width, 3 car driveway. It was a complicated winter. Poking car noses into my roses was required.
 
I agree with Mendalla - I don't think burlap is needed - unless of course you have huge flocks of birds eating all the grass seed! A light daily watering of the seed is recommended - and avoid any applications of weed killer!


Many of our communities have bylaws that prohibit this. Just tonight on the news there was a fellow who was parking partly on his own lawn - but at a weird angle! - and got a ticket. He was incensed. But really - do we want front yards full of extra cars??
We have bylaws about lawns here too, and I don't think that parking on the lawn is acceptable although not sure what the specific citation is. Expanding a driveway isn't a problem though, but turning the entire front into parking would be an issue.

Good point to double check what's allowed there.
 
Back when I owned a tiny two bedroom townhouse in Hamilton, my driveway was basically the front yard paved over with concrete. I paid, IIRC, $10 a year on my tax bill for the privilege of parking on what should have been my front lawn.
 
Many of the houses we live in today were designed for the number of cars we needed yesterday. My poor neighbour at one point had 3 teen boys, all different schools/jobs/schedules, each with their own car. It's a single width, 3 car driveway. It was a complicated winter. Poking car noses into my roses was required.
We live next door to a small 6 plex apt building & have adjoining driveway with them. We've always had great relationship with all the tennants & owners, fortunately. Our driveway is quite long - easy to fit 4 vehicles, although the most we've had is 3. It's a real blessing to be able to just parallel park in & out of spaces - no need to back in out to reshuffle :)
 
I had to look up creeping charlie. It's pretty, for a weed. We have creeping bellflower here. It's similar, and also pretty for a weed. I think the grass looks better with it, than without it.:giggle:
 
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