How to Improve a Yellow Lawn

Examine your lawn for the possible reasons for the yellow patches. If there has been little rain, this is an obvious culprit and an easy fix. Extra watering alleviates the problem. If there has been plenty of rain, look for another cause. Neighborhood dogs using your lawn as a bathroom cause urine burns. Improper fertilizer application causes lawn burn. Lack of the proper nutrients or lawn disease are other possibilities.

Locate the nearest United States Department of Agriculture office or check with a university or your local county agricultural commission about testing your lawn. Use a trowel or spade and collect three to five samples by digging 4 to 6 inches deep and removing them. Any size diameter is acceptable, but keep them uniform. The office can help you analyze it and suggest proper treatment. Once you have ruled out lawn disease, you can approach the problem with more appropriate measures.

Fertilize your lawn according to instructions on the bag. There are numerous types of fertilizer, including liquid and granular with fast or slow release. According to the University of Minnesota extension, "It probably makes little difference to the plants whether the nutrients are applied in liquid or dry form if the fertilizer is washed off the leaves and into the soil soon after application." More importantly is proper application. Since yellow lawn can be caused by lack of nutrients, any fertilizer is better than none. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are key. Talk to a gardening specialist when making your decision and selecting the correct rating.