5 Signs Your Lawn Needs to Be Replaced (Not Just Repaired)

Every homeowner wants to believe their lawn can be saved. But sometimes the math doesn't work. After 37 years in this business, I've seen homeowners spend more on failed repairs than a fresh installation would have cost. Here's how to know when it's time to stop patching and start over.

Sign #1: More Than 50% is Dead or Dying

Walk your yard. If more than half of the grass is bare, brown, or infested with weeds, you've passed the tipping point. Spot repairs and overseeding won't work when healthy grass is the minority. You'll spend years chasing a uniform lawn and never get there.

Sign #2: The Wrong Grass Was Installed

Full-sun grass in a shaded yard (or vice versa) will never thrive, no matter how much you water and fertilize. If your Floratam St. Augustine is under oak trees, it will struggle forever. The fix isn't more care--it's a different grass type entirely.

Sign #3: Chronic Pest or Disease Problems

If you're treating for chinch bugs or fungus every year, your lawn may have underlying issues that won't go away:

• Poor drainage holding water
• Excessive thatch creating pest habitat
• Weakened root systems that can't recover
• Soil compaction preventing healthy growth

Starting fresh lets you fix the underlying soil issues and install disease-resistant varieties.

Sign #4: You've Tried Everything

Fertilizer, fungicide, pest control, topdressing, aeration... you've done it all, and the lawn still looks terrible. At some point, the sunk cost fallacy kicks in. All that money you've spent on repairs? It's gone. The question now is: What's the most cost-effective path to a beautiful lawn going forward? Usually, it's replacement.

Sign #5: Major Renovation or Hardscape Work

If you're adding a pool, patio, driveway, or doing any major construction, your lawn will be damaged anyway. Heavy equipment, dirt piles, and foot traffic destroy grass. It's often smarter to plan for full sod replacement as part of the project rather than trying to repair the aftermath.

The Replacement Advantage

When you replace your entire lawn, you get:

• Clean slate: All old problems--pests, disease, weeds--are removed.
• Proper variety: We match grass to your yard's conditions.
• Uniform appearance: No patchy blend of old and new.
• Instant result: You go from eyesore to showcase in one day.

Think your lawn might need replacement? Get a free assessment. We'll give you an honest opinion--even if it means telling you repair is the better option.