How to Fix Common Lawn Problems
Here are some of the most common problems you may encounter when trying to keep your lawn looking it's best:
Nitrogen Deficiency - Symptoms include slow growth and leaves that are light-green and turning yellowish. Older, lower to the ground grass leaves will often show the deficiency first - and the entire lawn is usually affected rather than spotting.
Leaving your clippings on the lawn after a mow is recommended to allow the soil to re-absorb nutrients from this natural mulch. For a serious nitrogen deficiency you will want to add nitrogen fertilizer -- ask for guidance at your local gardening supply store and follow the instructions completely for best results.
Insects - Holes and chewed spots in the grass leaves are a sign of an insect problem. A grub infestation will cause the turf to be easily pulled up. Examine area to identify the problem insects, then consult your local gardening center for a treatment.
Dog Urine - Dead spots in the lawn outlined with a green ring are caused by dog urine. The best treatment is to flush the affected area with water as soon as possible. If this is your dog's urine you could check with your vet to see about a supplement or dietary change that will balance the urine's PH and nitrate contents.
Iron Deficiency - Iron deficiencies show up in patches. Grass blades will yellow with their veins remaining green. Often iron deficiencies show up in grass areas next to concrete such as sidewalks and driveways. This is because concrete has properties which cause it to absorb surrounded iron.
Treat iron deficiencies with a store bought iron supplement. Follow the instructions on the package, and take care to remove leftovers from cement/concrete areas before watering to avoid leaving stains.
Lawn Diseases / Fungus - Brown, tan or yellowish spots which do not fit into the above categories may be a lawn disease such as a fungus. These are often caused by over-watering. The turf should not be easy to be pulled up (that would indicated an grub problem). If you think you have a lawn disease check out this visual guide to lawn diseases.
Frayed / Torn Grass Blades - Torn or ripped grass blades are caused by dull lawn-mower blades. Be sure to keep your blade sharp to avoid this eye-sore. Torn grass blades also leave the lawn more vulnerable to pests and disease, so have your mower blade sharpened twice a year.
Compacted Grass - Caused by heavy foot-traffic. Aerate the area, add organic matter (clipping work well) and reseed.
Water Deficiency - Grass will start looking as if it's turning to straw. Another symptom of under-watering is footprints left on the lawn when walking through it. For proper watering buy a rain gauge and check to make sure your lawn is receiving 1-1.5 inches of rain a week and supplement watering accordingly.
Following these guidelines you should be able to spot lawn problems early enough to effectively treat them. Good luck.
