How to Fix a Patchy, Weedy Lawn | This Old House

This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook resuscitates a dying lawn. (See below for a shopping list and tools.)

Shopping List for Fixing a Patchy, Weedy Lawn:

Tools for Fixing a Patchy, Weedy Lawn:

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How to Fix a Patchy, Weedy Lawn | This Old House

[IAmNotAFunguy]

RIP Roger Cook. We learned so much from him and he always made sure landscaping seemed easy.

[glenncoleman]

“Roger I don’t need a golf course”

Roger proceeds to do exactly what they do at a golf course.

[cannedham]

"Alright mary we got the hod pot done" 3:41

[teddyruxpin]

The results were so spectacular, they were not allowed to show them on TV.

[w.j.]

Excellent use of first name communications.. Really helps eliminate confusion and ensure each person knows who the other is talking to. Great stuff here. Good job.

[sn]

I followed every step in this video last summer, and my lawn which was a huge weedy mess (probably around 80-90% weedy) turned into grass in about 2-3 weeks. This should be ideally done in Mar-April if you're in the midwest. I do remember also adding weed n feed

[macsloan]

I loved that they used a bagga to catch the grass clippings.

[Knight]

Roger and Mary did a lot of work on that lawn, i hope it paid off for Roger and Mary after Roger and Mary were done. Roger seemed to know what he was doing and Mary helped too.

[beckysimpson]

Reseeding my lawn using this method (minus the plugging) was one of the most satisfying and successful projects in the yard. I used a blend of bluegrass and creeping redfescue because they can creep and repair the lawn, and a little perrenial ryegrass.

[radiogirl]

I think I'm in love! Who is this genius?? I have been struggling to get a perfect lawn without doing sod, I think this is the best thing I've come across

[jamesadamico]

I love the ‘partnership ‘ between the homeowner and the expert ... well done.

[Flyingsparks]

Roger great teacher love his New England accent he’s the best

[andrewk-majordochomerepair]

Jen N. is super too but no doubt many of us long time followers still miss Roger & wish him well.

[mbmann]

Please don’t ever go away This old house . Your just the best

[TheGoldenTrout]

Nice seed spreader. Just watch this episode when you start to wonder why grass is growing in your flower bed.

[vanessadraper]

Mary: Hi Roger
Roger: Hi Mary
Mary: How are you today, Roger?
Roger: Pretty good, Mary! And you?
Mary: Pretty good, Roger.
Roger: So, Mary, we're going to fix your lawn, Mary
Mary: Roger that, Roger.
Roger: We're both speaking like we learned to talk in a book, Mary.
Mary: Thanks for noticing, Roger.
Roger: Will you marry me, Mary?
Mary: No, Roger.
Roger: Merry Christmas, Mary.
Mary: Shutup, Roger.

[ballardfoodstamp]

We used to do this at the golf course's I worked on twice a year. It looks great! We would use sand instead of compost, but the greens get plenty of fertilizer all year anyway. So for a homeowner, compost is the best choice. Fertilizing with compost tea is another option to save money, and encourage root growth. The upfront cost of rental of the machines shouldn't scare you off. Unless you are doing it for other people, just rent it. Maybe see if your neighbors want to split the cost and do a few different yard's all at the same time. You can make it work with manual tools too. Just more time to get done. You can spread the seed by hand too. Just broadcast it out evenly.

[hdug]

when I watch those perfect lawn videos I always think about Hank Hill teaching Bobby to cut grass

[innpeasea]

I still come back and watch this video from time to time. It keeps getting funnier.

[SurferKenTV]

Legend says, Mary refused to pay Roger $3000 for materials, tool rental and “labor.” Roger came back and salted the earth. Only pain grows now.

Update: Rest peacefully King of Landscaping Roger Cook