← The Notebook
Notebook · Guide 1 October 2026 · lawns

Fixing bare and worn patches in a lawn: seed or turf

How to repair a bald patch, a broken edge or a bump in the lawn — when to do it, how to prepare the soil, how much seed to sow, and when to mow the new grass.

lawnsseasonalsave your money
A bare, worn patch in a lawn with a neat square cut around it by a half-moon edging iron, the dead turf being lifted out.
1Cut out the damaged patch in a neat square.

A bald patch by the swing, a worn line where everyone walks, a corner where the paddling pool sat all August — almost every lawn needs patching sooner or later. It's one of the most satisfying garden jobs, because it works quickly when you do it at the right time of year. Before you start, ask why the patch appeared: if it's a path people always take, a stepping stone may be a better answer than new grass.

In pictures

  1. The cleared square patch of soil being raked to a fine crumb with a garden rake, level with the surrounding lawn.
    2Loosen, level and rake the soil to a fine crumb.
  2. Grass seed being scattered by hand evenly over the prepared patch, with a watering can with a fine rose beside it.
    3Sow evenly, cover lightly and keep it moist.
  3. A lawn edge repair: an H-shaped cut in the turf behind a broken lawn edge, with the two flaps folded back to show the soil beneath.
    4Broken edge: an H-cut lets you fold the turf back and re-level it.

01At a glance

  • When: spring or autumn, when the weather is damp and cool. Early autumn is ideal.
  • Seed or turf? Seed is cheaper and lets you choose a mix for shade or heavy wear, but takes a while to establish. Turf is instant. Either works.
  • Seed rate: usually about 15–25g per square metre — check the packet.
  • Tools: half-moon edging iron or flat spade, fork, rake, watering can with a fine rose.

02Step by step: re-seeding a patch

  1. Clear the patch. Cut out the dead grass in a neat square or rectangle with a half-moon edging iron or flat spade, slicing underneath to lift it about 5cm deep.
  2. Loosen the soil. Fork it over lightly and work in a little topsoil or compost.
  3. Level and firm. Firm gently with your heel so the patch sits level with the surrounding lawn.
  4. Rake to a fine crumb. Rake in different directions, removing stones and lumps, until the surface is fine and even.
  5. Sow. Scatter the seed evenly at the rate on the packet.
  6. Cover lightly. Sprinkle a thin layer of topsoil or compost over the seed.
  7. Water gently with a fine rose so the seed isn't washed away — and keep it moist until it's established.
  8. Keep birds off with a layer of fleece pinned at the edges, or sow a little extra seed to allow for losses.

Seed usually germinates in 7–10 days.

03Patching with turf

Cut out the damaged area, prepare the soil as above, then lay a piece of new turf — or lift a healthy piece from a hidden corner of your own lawn. Firm it in, top-dress the joins and water well. Use turf from the same supplier as the rest of the lawn if you can, to avoid a mismatched patch.

04Fixing a broken edge

  1. Cut an H-shape in the turf just behind the broken edge and peel back the flaps.
  2. Adjust the soil underneath so the edge will sit level.
  3. Fold the flaps back down, firm the edge with the back of a rake, top-dress with a sandy mix and water well.

05Fixing a bump or hollow

Use the same H-cut over the bump or dip. Peel back the turf, fork the soil, add or remove soil until it's level, firm it, replace the turf, then top-dress and water.

06When to mow the new grass

Wait until the new grass is about 5–7.5cm tall, then take off only about a third of its height, with sharp blades.

Save your money
Steal turf from your own lawn. A piece from behind the shed costs nothing.
Seed is the cheap option — one box patches a lot of bare spots.
Fix the cause. If a patch keeps wearing, a stepping stone is cheaper than re-seeding every year.

How we checked this

Every care and safety claim on this page is verified against horticultural and veterinary sources.

Sources: RHS — Repairing lawns · RHS — Starting a lawn from seed · RHS — Lawn mowing

Checked 1 October 2026. If our advice ever conflicts with the RHS, believe them and tell us.