A lot of time and effort goes into making your yard look healthy and green, so it can be frustrating when dead patches start to appear. Thankfully, the health and beauty that you invested can be restored using the right methods and materials. Fixing the bare patches and keeping them from making a comeback requires that you figure out what is causing them.If your green lawn has brown patches popping up here and there, it not only ruins the appearance of a healthy lawn, but it can also be a sign that there is a bigger problem that needs to be addressed. Here are some of the most common reasons homeowners see dead patches in their otherwise healthy lawn and tips for treating them.
#1: Fungus
If you notice irregular patches in your lawn or areas of thinner, lighter-colored webbing it is probably a clear sign of a fungal disease.
Fungus can grow in our yards for a few reasons, these include…
Not Enough Sunlight
Improper Air Circulation
Excessively Wet Weather or Ground Conditions
How can you treat fungus in your yard? If it gets really bad, you should apply a fungicide. Otherwise, the issue might resolve itself in drier conditions with increased maintenance.
#2: Chinch Bugs
It is easy to confuse a chinch bug infestation with dead patches caused by drought. The damage caused by chinch bugs will first appear as yellowed grass that eventually turns brown and dies. When the grass dies in one area, the chinch bugs will begin to spread outward to the perimeter of the dead grass causing the patch or patches to grow in size. To deal with a chinch bug infestation, you will need to rake the area and remove existing thatch and overgrowth. Once you have done that, you should apply an insecticide to your entire lawn that is designed to kill chinch bugs. When it has dried, you can seed or resod the bare patches.
#3: Grubs
In large numbers, grubs can be very destructive to your lawn. They feast on the roots of your grass; so if your lawn is infested with grubs, it will feel spongy or lift away rather easily in affected areas. Typically, we see grubs in the spring or early summer when the ground is overly saturated. Getting rid of grubs requires raking the area to remove dead grass; it will need to be cleared for treatment. Next you will need to apply an insecticide to the infested area and water it well – if you have pets or children, do not allow them to walk on the treated area while it is wet. When it has dried, you can re-sod or seed the bare spots. Green & Grow can help with pest control.
#4: Mowing Techniques
Mower blades that are dull or positioned too low can damage grass blades and lead to bare spots. To avoid this, routinely maintain your mower to ensure that the blades are sharp. Additionally, you will want to ensure that the mower is set to the correct height according to what type of grass you have.
#5: Pet Urine
Our pets can really do some damage to our lawns when they urinate in the same area time and time again. Because it contains a high concentration of nitrogen, pet urine causes dead patches in grass?
What can you do? Encourage your pets to use the restroom somewhere else or in an area without grass. If they do go on your lawn, water the spot thoroughly immediately after your pet urinates.
#6: Chemicals
Pesticides, herbicides, gasoline, oil, and any other types of chemicals can kill your grass fast. If you notice patches that are the same exact shapes as the spill or in the area where you mixed chemicals or filled up your mower, chemicals are likely to blame. But the fix is easy – simply water the area thoroughly after a spill happens.
#7: Salt
In regions where salt is used to keep sidewalks, driveways, and roadways free of snow and ice in the winter, brown patches might appear where the salt came in contact with the grass after everything else melted away. This can be unavoidable but to minimize the damage, be considerate when spreading salt about your property in the winter. When spring rolls around you should give your grass a little extra water. If these patches stick around, you might have to reseed or re-sod the spots.
#8: Any Objects Left On The Grass
Leaving items like garden hoses, kid’s toys, and swimming pools can leave behind dead spots in your yard once they are picked up. To avoid this, make sure your yard is picked up at the end of the day. In most cases, the grass returns to its normal state once it has been re-exposed to air, water, and sunlight.
Dead patches of grass can make your yard look unsightly, but we can help.
A lot of time and effort goes into making your yard look healthy and green, so it can be frustrating when dead patches start to appear. Thankfully, the health and beauty that you invested can be restored using the right methods and materials. Fixing the bare patches and keeping them from making a comeback requires that you figure out what is causing them. If your green lawn has brown patches popping up here and there, it not only ruins the appearance of a healthy lawn, but it can also be a sign that there is a bigger problem that needs to be addressed. Here are some of the most common reasons homeowners see dead patches in their otherwise healthy lawn and tips for treating them.
About Green & Grow
About Green & Grow