What to Do When the Lawn in the Backyard Won't Grow

Types

• Two main types of grass exist: cool-season and warm-season. These two types include many different varieties, such as Kentucky blue grass, fescue, St. Augustine and zoysia. Cool-season grass perform best in northern regions of the United States, while warm-season varieties thrive in the heat and long growing seasons of the southern areas. Choosing a variety that grows well in your part of the country is the first step in ensuring a healthy lawn in the backyard.

Light

• Grass grows best in full sunlight. Some varieties do better than others in partial shade, including St. Augustine and zoysia. Consider pruning large trees to lessen the effect of shade in your backyard. Another option includes choosing a different ground cover, such as bugleweed or periwinkle. For a backyard where only portions are in dense shade, creating a shade garden filled with plants such as hostas and wax begonias offers a solution.

Maintenance

• Different grasses have different maintenance requirements, with some needing more work than others. Providing your grass with at least the minimum maintenance increases its chances of healthy growth and development. In general, mowing every seven to 10 days, fertilizing once or twice a year, and watering on a weekly basis keeps grass looking its best. Some grasses need annual dethatching or aerating as well.

Diseases and Insects

• Grasses succumb to a variety of diseases and insects, depending on the grass type, growing conditions and location. Examples include fungal diseases such as dollar spot and insects such as cinch bugs, mites, worms or ground pearls. By choosing the best grass for your specific growing conditions and properly maintaining your lawn, you lessen the risk of diseases and insect infestations.