Should I Kill My Lawn & Start Over? Exploring Sod Replacement vs. Aerating & Renovation

So, your grass is gross. Maybe it has big bare spots that just won’t fill in. Maybe it’s more weeds than grass. Maybe you’ve considered just paving it with green concrete.

It needs help. But how much help?

Will lawn renovation with aeration and topdressing do the trick for your Central Florida lawn?

Or are you thinking “should I kill my lawn and start over?”

Let’s take a look:

First, Can Aeration and Topdressing Help?

Topdressing and aeration can help a struggling lawn, especially if your soil is compacted from heavy foot traffic.

Here’s how it works:

Aeration uses a cool machine to pull out tiny cores of soil from your lawn, allowing water and oxygen to get to the roots.

All those little holes help the topdressing materials nestle nicely down into the soil.

What exactly is topdressing? It’s a nutrient-rich layer of soil blended with compost and other organics. Topdressing improves the biological composition of your soil, adding organic matter and microorganisms it needs to thrive.

As the topdressing materials settle into all those holes created by the aerator, the nutrients release into the soil and do their thing — creating a strong foundation for a healthy and lush lawn.

Here at Ground Source, we use Comand Soil in our topdressing, a specialty compost that helps restore the soil ecosystem by providing all-important organic matter and beneficial microbes crucial to soil health.

But topdressing and aeration are most effective in improving lawns with minimal issues or to maintain healthy lawns — not for serious lawn renovation.

And you have to be patient. It’s not a quick fix like a new sod lawn. You won’t get instant results.

Bare spots that are six inches or a foot in diameter can take a few months to fill in after aeration and topdressing.

When Should You Restart a Lawn from Scratch?

Sometimes, the answer to “Should I kill my lawn and start over?” is yes.

When should you replace grass with new sod?

Stubborn Bare Spots

Sometimes a lawn has bare spots that don't go away, no matter how much you water, fertilize, swear, aerate, topdress or recite magic incantations under a full moon.

Bare spots can be due to a lot of things, from insect infestations to depleted soil to heavy foot traffic.

If you’re tired of trying everything, it’s time to restart your lawn from scratch with new sod.

Weeds Have Taken Over

Sometimes weeds win.

If your yard is infiltrated with wild Bermuda grass, torpedo grass or grassy weeds that are uncontrollable, it’s time to restart your lawn from scratch with new sod.

Here’s a super important tip: it’s crucial to kill every last trace of weed first, so they don’t grow right back into your pretty new sod.

Your Soil is Terrible

Sorry. Sometimes you have to face brutal facts.

Your lawn is only as healthy as the soil it grows in. Maybe your Orlando yard’s soil has become so barren and depleted it needs to be replaced so it can support a healthy lawn.

Time to restart your lawn from scratch with new sod.

You Want a New Variety of Grass

No offense to that zoysia grass in your yard, but maybe you’d rather have St. Augustine. Maybe the people who planted your grass didn’t do their research to figure out what variety will really thrive there.

Killing your lawn and starting over with grass suited to your property is your best bet.

Need to Restart Your Lawn from Scratch? Trust Ground Source

When it’s time for lawn renovation, let the pros at Ground Source tackle it for you.

We’re sod experts, but that's not all. We’re with you every step of the way as you plan your perfect outdoor space.

Sod, irrigation, landscape design: Let us transform your yard from an embarrassing eyesore to a place you spend every spare minute.

Are you ready to enjoy the vibrant, impressive yard you've always wanted? Request a quote today! We’ll help you review your options and then transform your property.