Symptom: Yellowing Lawn

Nitrogen Deficiency

• The most common cause for a yellowing lawn is nitrogen deficiency. Small patches or even the entire lawn may suddenly appear to be a bright, sickly yellow color. This may also occur if the wrong kind of fertilizer is used on a lawn and the nitrogen levels are unbalanced as a result. In order to correct this, a nitrogen rich fertilizer should either be spot applied or applied to the entire yard.

Over Fertilization

• Overuse of fertilizer, even nitrogen rich fertilizer, can cause yellowing of the grass. This is often referred to as burning the lawn. First, it will appear bright yellow and then it will fade to brown as the yard dies. Over fertilization is difficult to correct and the entire lawn may be lost for the season. Always follow label directions when using fertilizer and spot test it in an inconspicuous spot before applying it to the entire yard.

Over/Under Watering

• Grass requires approximately 1/4 inch of water every three to four days in most areas. In hot or dry climates, lawns may need as much as 1 inch of water per day. Over watering can cause grass to appear pale yellow as it attempts to deal with the bombardment of water. Under watering may first display as a light yellow color before the grass turns brown. Set up shallow dishes at varying points of your yard and use sprinklers to water. When the depth of water in the dishes reaches the desired amount of water, turn the sprinklers off.

Diseases and Pests

• Some diseases and pests such as grubs may also cause yellowing of the lawn. This typically occurs in patches. The patches may be uniformly round, particularly in the case of a grub infestation. Monitor your yard and apply pesticide as necessary. Dig up diseased yellow spots before they can spread to the rest of your lawn and replant the area with healthy grass seed. These diseases are caused by fungi and bacteria and are difficult to treat. Containment and removal are the best solutions.