Did you know it doesn’t require much to solve the issue of weed overgrowth or lawn-related problems you might face? You just need the right technique and treatment material to manage lawn problems. These will help you regain a lush and healthy lawn, bringing the sense of achievement and satisfaction you had with it.
Lawn problems are quite common, and you may even face them while having a constantly maintained lawn. However, you don’t need to worry as we have detected the problems most lawnmowers face and given effective solutions for each of them. You can start repairing your lawn with us.
Common Lawn Problems & Solutions
If you are a lawn owner, you may encounter some common problems. These can be treated using the solutions that we have mentioned here. Although if you want efficient and quick treatments, you can also look into lawn care services. Professional lawn care services give your lawn the required solution from weed to flea control. Commercial lawn care offers many services and treatments that have numerous benefits for your turf. Although if you have time and are on a budget, you can also take care of your lawn. Use our solutions here to overcome all common lawn problems.
1. Dried out Yellow Stripes
Dried-out yellow stripes on the lawn appear when you have misapplied the fertilizer. During application, when some lines of grass do not receive the fertilizer, they get yellow compared to the lush green parts. The wrong application of fertilizer causes this issue. However, if the yellow stripes are darker and tanner, it can also be a problem caused by an issue with your lawnmower.
Solution:
When spreading the fertilizer, overlap the wheel tracks with the fertilizer [1]. Making sure all the spots are covered. Use a drop-type spreader for it. For tanner strips, the issue is caused by the lawnmower. Adjust it to cut evenly.
2. Spread of White Grubs
If your lawn is dull brown and some sections are dying and wilting, you might have grubs. These are small C-shaped creatures, milky white, with three pairs of legs around their brown head. They grow from beetles, which lay eggs in the summer. These eggs hatch into white grubs, which eat grass and plant roots. Your lawn gets eaten by them if it is infected with these creatures.
Solution:
Firstly check your lawn and see what its current condition is. Cut a sod near the affected brown area. If it comes out quickly and you see white worm-like creatures, your lawn is infected with grubs.
If the quantity of grubs is less, around 10 – 15 grubs per square foot, your lawn will recover independently. More than this amount of grubs require treatment. You can use beneficial nematodes [2] to control grubs. Use a mixture of Heterorhabditis nematodes and water, applying it to the soil in fall and spring. After a few days, check and start replanting in affected areas.
3. Brown Bare Spots
Having brown bare ugly patches is one of the most common lawn problems. Several things can cause irregular and circular brown areas. It may be due to fungal organisms, grubs, weed dieback, foot traffic, and dog urine. You need to figure out the actual cause of it to find the right solution.
Solution:
- If grubs cause the issue, use a mixture of Heterorhabditis nematodes and water.
- A dry patch due to dog urine can be detected if it has a brown center and green outer ring. You can water the area profoundly and apply fertilizer or dog lawn spot solutions available. Raise the mowing height for less sensitive grass.
- The fungal organisms that affect your lawn are called Rhizoctonia Solani. To eliminate them, use aerating for better water and air soil circulation. You can dethatch the lawn and water it in the early morning also follow lawn watering tips. You can also apply a fungicide to it.
4. Weed OverGrowth
If you have a lawn, weed overgrowth can be your worst nightmare. This lawn problem can be caused by dandelions, dollar weeds, crabgrass, creeping Charlie, and other weeds [3]. Weed, especially dandelions, fester in thin and under-fertilized lawns. Hire weed control services because getting them out is tricky as you must remove their roots to stop them from sprouting.
Solution:
- Most weeds can be avoided by regularly watering and fertilizing the lawn.
- You can also pull out the weed and taproots with a dandelion digger.
- For weed control, you can use a herbicide “post-emergence.” It is a broad-leaf herbicide that kills the plants from their roots without damaging your grass. You can apply it in the fall time so that it can target winter annuals.
5. CrabGrass
This is a type of grassy weed that appears annually. It is the bane of existence for lawn owners as it grows anywhere in compacted lawns and clay soils. It grows fast, pushing out the already-grown grasses in your lawn. This type of weed needs to be treated at the right time, especially post-emergence. It is easily detectable by looking at the lawn, which has noticeable thick patches sprouting around the turf.
Solution:
- You can organically treat crabgrass using corn gluten meal. Its application must be made at the right time, early spring, within 10 days. Organic mulch can also be used to stop its growth by blocking sunlight.
- A preemergence herbicide is also used with fertilizer to kill crabgrass. The benefits of professional lawn care services, they treat it properly at the right time.
6. Compacted Soil
Compacted soil can become a real problem if it is not treated. This is hard and clumpy soil that occurs due to irregular prepping and high foot traffic. This soil has very little water and air circulation, about 10 percent. When no water and air reach the roots, they weaken and wilt. This causes pants to die and weed to grow.
Solution:
- You can provide your soil with good aeration. Commercial lawn care uses special tools [4] for it, such as piston-driven aerators.
- The organic way of treating compacted soil can also be used, such as compost or peat moss, into the soil to provide circulation.
FAQS
1. What are the common mistakes that stop the lawn from growing properly?
The common mistakes you make while treating your lawn are not constantly maintaining it with regular soil prepping and fertilization. Moreover, not applying weed preventer at the right time, delayed watering the lawn, frequently not mowing the lawn, and providing it with no proper aeration.
2. What are ways to repair a lawn?
Firstly, use a rake and remove the debris, unwanted rocks, and weeds. Then spread the new soil over the surface. Level the surface out using a rake. Sprinkle your lawn seeds and water the new lawn.
3. How to find out if my lawn needs nitrogen?
If your lawn lacks nitrogen, you need to look out for these signs. The signs are slow growth of plants, yellow/brown patches, grass thinning, pale color in the lawn, and weed growth.
4. Which type of fertilizer should be used on the lawn?
To get a healthy and lush lawn, use fertilizers with high nitrogen but lesser potassium and phosphorous. A healthy lawn will not require more potassium and phosphorous content. Select the fertilizer depending on the condition of your lawn (healthy, new, stressed).
References:
[1]https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/garden-green-living/lawn-care/how-to-apply-lawn-fertilizer-181155/
[2]https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/beneficial-nematodes
[3]https://www.almanac.com/content/common-garden-weeds
[4]https://insights.workwave.com/industry/lawn-landscape/best-landscaping-tools/