Think the grass borders compensated for it (8)
I believe the answer is:
redeemed
'compensated for it' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'think the grass borders' is the wordplay.
'think' becomes 'deem' (I've seen this before).
'the grass' becomes 'reed' (type of grass plant).
'borders' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters are bordered by others).
'deem' put into 'reed' is 'REDEEMED'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for redeemed that I've seen before include "free from error" , "Thought about the possibilities again" , "Bought back from pawnbroker" , "Bought out of pawn" , "bought back from uncle?" .)