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You can thicken new grass by using fertilizer, watering it 1 to 1½ inches per week, mowing when it is at an optimal height, and preventing weeds. You should fertilize your grass while you plant the grass seed, or soon afterward. Use an herbicide to prevent weeds or spot spray with herbicide to kill existing weeds.

You can fertilize right after mowing as long as you've collected the clippings. If you leave grass clipping, they can form a mat that prevents the fertilizer from reaching the soil. Plus, grass clippings are rich in nitrogen, so if you leave them and then apply fertilizer, you can end up with too much nitrogen in the soil.

If your grass is stressed from being over-trimmed, try watering it heavily and then allowing it to recover for at least two weeks before mowing again. If you notice brown patches where the grass has died off because it’s too short, you should remove the dead grass and overseed the area. Leaving dead patches can invite weeds and other problems, so if you want a totally green lawn, getting rid of dead patches should include removing the dead sections before reseeding the area.

A soil test can tell you if your yard is experiencing acidic soil conditions, making your lawn limp, weak, and yellow. Raising the pH level by adding lime can improve the yellowing grass situation. However, lime application is only effective if acidic soil is the problem causing the yellowing.