How to paint a yellowed lawn: the complete step-by-step guide
Painting a yellowed lawn in practice means recolouring it with a diluted colorant. Mow, remove debris and protect the edges. Dilute according to the state of the lawn, from 1:30 for badly burnt grass to 1:50 for grass that is still green. Spray in criss-cross passes, then allow 8 hours without rain. Drying takes under 2 hours.
Here is the complete method, with the mistakes that make a result look artificial and how to avoid them. To understand what grass paint really is before you start, our reference page covers the whole subject.
Before you start: the grass must be alive
A colorant recolours existing blades. It does nothing on bare soil, moss or dead, torn-up grass. The Royal Horticultural Society points out that an established lawn that yellows during a drought generally still has living roots and greens up again when the rain returns: that is the typical case where recolouring makes sense. Areas that are truly bare are better reseeded in spring or autumn.
If you can, do not wait until the lawn is straw-coloured either. Trials at North Carolina State University show that turf that is still a little green gives a more convincing result. Our article on when to apply a lawn colorant covers the right season and weather.
Choosing the right day
- A dry day, with at least 8 hours without rain forecast after application.
- Little or no wind, so the product goes on the grass and not on the flower beds or the patio.
- Grass that is dry to the touch and no frost: the North Carolina researchers note that this type of product dries and adheres poorly in cold weather.
- By the sea or in high, constant humidity, with repeated dew, full setting can take several days. Leave some margin before an event.
Equipment
- A pressure garden sprayer, set to a flat jet with a fan nozzle.
- A measuring container to dose the concentrate and the water.
- Gloves and old clothes.
- Tarpaulins, cardboard or masking tape to protect paths, edges, low walls and furniture.
For a few isolated spots, the 750 mL ready-to-use sprayer is enough, with no dilution or equipment.
Working out the quantity
One litre of concentrate covers 400 m² of healthy lawn and 200 m² of badly burnt lawn. Measure your area (length × width for a rectangle), then find your case:
| Area and condition | Format needed |
|---|---|
| 150 m², healthy or still green lawn | 1 × 500 mL concentrate |
| 100 m², badly burnt lawn | 1 × 500 mL concentrate |
| 400 m², healthy lawn | 1 × 1 L concentrate |
| 300 m², badly burnt lawn | 2 × 1 L concentrate |
| 600 m², healthy lawn | 2 × 1 L concentrate |
| 1,000 m², badly burnt lawn | 1 × 5 L Pro concentrate |
For an irregular area or a hedge, the article how much colorant for my lawn details the calculation. To measure the area itself, our article on how to measure your lawn area sets out three methods, online tools included.
The six steps
1. Mow and clear
Mow a few days before or on the day itself, at your usual height. Short, even turf takes the colour more evenly. Pick up leaves, branches and clippings: the colour would land on them rather than on the grass.
2. Protect what must not be coloured
Lawn products stain hard surfaces and wood, sometimes for good, as the North Carolina researchers point out. Cover paving, edging, the base of walls, fences and garden furniture. Keep away from the vegetable patch, edible plants and flowers, which must not be treated.
3. Shake and dilute
Shake the container vigorously, then dilute according to the state of the lawn. The yellower the grass, the more concentrated the mix:
- 1:30 for badly burnt, bleached or dormant turf (and for thujas and boxwood);
- 1:40 for moderately damaged or patchy turf;
- 1:50 for turf that is still green, a young lawn or simply evening out the colour.
As for the shade, Meadow Green, a light green, suits lawns that are still green and young turf. Forest Green, deeper and matt, does a better job of correcting very yellow, burnt or shaded turf. Our guide which shade to choose helps you decide.
4. Spray in criss-cross passes
Start at the far end of the garden and work back towards the exit, so you do not walk on treated grass. Hold the nozzle 20 to 30 cm from the turf and move at a steady pace, overlapping each strip slightly. Then make a second pass at right angles to the first. Two light passes are better than one heavy pass.
5. Let it dry
The product dries in under 2 hours in usual conditions, 2 to 3 hours in summer. Keep children and pets away until then. After that, it needs 8 hours without rain or watering for the colour to set properly. Rinse the sprayer with clean water as soon as you finish.
6. Judge and touch up
Judge the colour once dry, not wet. Look at the lawn from a little distance and go over areas that stayed light with a light pass. To know when to go over it again in the weeks that follow, read the article painted grass: how long does the colour last.
Mistakes that make the result look artificial
- A mix that is too concentrated for the state of the lawn, or a shade that is too dark for turf that is still green.
- Uneven passes, which leave darker stripes.
- A sharp edge on a path or low wall, which gives away the recolouring: hence the point of protecting well.
- A pass just before a shower.
What recolouring does not replace
The colorant changes how the grass looks and nothing else. It does not make grass grow back or fill in bare patches. It does not feed the lawn and treats no disease: it is not a fertiliser, a weedkiller, a biostimulant or a plant protection product. Nor does it stop new dog urine spots from appearing.
Frequently asked questions
What if it rains just after application?
If rain falls before the 8 hours are up, it can wash out part of the colour, especially if the product was not yet dry. Wait until the lawn has dried, look at the result, then go over the areas that stayed light with a light pass. Next time, choose a day forecast to stay dry until the evening.
Can Meadow Green and Forest Green be mixed?
Yes. The two shades can be mixed and cost the same. A mix can be used, for example, to soften Forest Green on a lawn that is only moderately yellow. Test it on a square metre that is out of sight and judge the colour once dry.
Do I need a second coat?
Often, yes, and that is intended: two light criss-cross passes give a more even green than a single heavy pass, which risks looking artificial. Wait until the first pass is dry before judging whether a second is needed, then go over only the areas that need it.
When can I walk on the lawn again?
Once the product is dry, which takes under 2 hours in usual conditions and 2 to 3 hours in summer. Children and pets can then go back on the lawn. In very humid weather or by the sea with repeated dew, full setting can take longer.
The format to start with
For a lawn of up to 200 m² of healthy turf, or about 100 m of hedge, the 500 mL Meadow Green concentrate is the simplest format, at €69.99, dispatched within 48 hours. Beyond that, the 1 L concentrate covers up to 400 m², with free delivery from the 1 L (France). For advice on shade and dilution, send us a photo of your lawn by WhatsApp or through the contact page.
