Even if you water your lawn regularly, in the hot summer heat there is a chance it suffers from brown spots or patches of poor growth. Here are a few solutions to get your lawn looking beautiful depending on your issue. If you have a landscaping service and are still suffering from brown patches, speak with your lawn care expert to work together to find a solution.
Poor growing conditions:
Poor soil or erosion – If your soil has gotten too compacted, your grass won’t thrive. Aerate your lawn with a simple aeration tool to allow for better air flow. The same solution should apply if your lawn is suffering from minor erosion – water run off that brings soil with it. If the erosion is severe, you might need to try a terrace solution.
Roots – If your hedges are encroaching on your lawn, they could also be eating up all of the resources. If this is the case, spread mulch around the base of your hedges. This should nourish them, and allow your grass to get full nutrients from the surrounding soil.
Drought – If you are going through a dry spell, your lawn may be paying the price. Depending on the severity of the drought, you can water your lawn regularly. Just do it early in the morning or at the end of the day; otherwise, the water will evaporate and the watering will just be a waste.
Human/animal damage:
Dogs – If dogs have access to your yard, their urine is probably what is destroying your lawn. If this is the case, you may choose to walk your dog instead of having him use the backyard as a bathroom. Watering your lawn may also help, as can keeping your dog hydrated.
Lawn mower issues – If you use dull mower blades, you may be doing more harm than good. Make sure to sharpen your blades each season, or buy a new mower.
Lawn diseases:
Thatch – This is a natural result of an older lawn, as decaying grass can start to collect and become quite thick. It makes it difficult for healthy grass to prosper. Remove any old grass from your lawn after mowing to fight thatch.
Bugs – Grubs or cinch bugs can destroy your lawn. You might need pesticides to get rid of the problem. Check your lawn carefully to see what your specific insect problem is. Many pesticides are insect specific.
Fungal problems – Fungal problems are usually detected by seeing round circles in the patches. They also tend to occur where there is a lot of moisture. Send a small soil sample in to have the fungus confirmed. You can use anti-fungal treatments to help the problem.
