Lawn Problems & Solutions

Thatch Build Up

• Lawns with a thatch buildup of more than a half-inch generally have pest problems. Thatch is the layer of dead and living organic matter that is sandwiched between the grass and soil. A thick layer of thatch provides a hospitable environment for insects. You can tell your grass has a thick layer of thatch by cutting out a small square and measuring the brown section between the soil and the grass blades. If your lawn feels bouncy when you walk across it, thatch is a problem. To remove thatch, rent a power rake or dethatcher. As you push it across the lawn, it will slice through the grass and pull up the thatch.

Weed Growth

• Almost any lawn will have weeds. However, fertilizing at the wrong time will create a lawn with a lot of weeds. It is important to fertilize lawns after they have had time to grow in the spring for warm-season grasses or in early fall for cool-season grasses. Dormant grass cannot absorb nutrients. When fertilizer is applied before grass has had time to green up, it gives weeds nutrients to promote their growth. Wait for the grass to grow several inches before applying fertilizer.

Fungal Infections

• Lawns can get fungal diseases when they are watered late in the day or at night. Cool temperatures and wet grass blades provide optimal growing conditions for fungal diseases such as rust, leaf spot and necrotic ring spot. Fungicides can help control fungal diseases, but grass that has succumbed to fungus should be removed and new grass planted in bare areas.

Brown Spots

• Brown spots in the grass that aren't caused by fungal disease can be the result of animal urine. Urine has a high salt content that can burn grass blades. The result is brown, dead areas in the grass. You can distinguish fungal disease from urine spots by the lush green growth around the areas damaged by dogs. Prevent brown spots by building a dog run for your pet or keeping it in one area of the yard. If you see your pet urinate in an area, quickly leach the the urine from the soil with water to prevent salt accumulation and burning.

Mowing

• Sharpen your lawn mower's blades every year. Dull blades don't make a clean cut, leaving an open wound in the grass blade and providing an entry for harmful pathogens that can cause fungal diseases. Mow at the correct height for your grass type. If too much of the grass blade is taken off at one time, the grass roots suffer. For example, annual ryegrass should be mowed when it reaches 2 1/4 to 3 inches, with the mower's blades set at 1 1/2 to 2 inches. Mow back and forth across dry grass and leave the grass clippings on the surface of the lawn. Grass clippings contribute extra nitrogen to the soil.