Revitalize Your Lawn: Fixes for Common Lawn Five Problems
1) Yellow and dried-out grass. In addition to proper watering, be sure that the grass is mowed to the right height. It should be a few inches high and it is important to only cut 1/3 off the grass when mowing. The lawn should be mowed frequently – once or twice a week – when it is growing quickly and less when it is not.
2) Unhealthy, slow-growing grass. If the lawn is not thriving, it probably needs fertilizer. It is a good idea to apply a slow-release fertilizer every other month of the growing season, about three or four times a year. This will help the grass stay thick and healthy. A top dressing, ideally applied regularly, introduces additional organic material into the lawn and will also improve the lawn’s health and density.
3) Shallow roots. Whether the soil is hard or the root system has gotten too dense, aeration will soften the ground and make room for roots to grow deeper. It will also make it easier for the roots to get the water, air and nutrients they need to be healthy. Periodic aeration – each year for a new or highly compacted lawn to every three years for a well-established lawn – will help the grass stay healthy and decrease the need for additional maintenance.
4) Too much thatch or moss. Dethatching – generally done every three years – gets rid of that dead material (also called thatch) that accumulates in the lawn. It is also great for decreasing the amount of moss in the grass. Cool weather grasses especially need to be dethatched regularly.
5) Patchy or poor quality grass. If the lawn is troubled by sparse and patchy areas, overseeding will encourage grass to grow in bare areas. It is also great for introducing better grasses – either higher quality, more drought and weed-resistant, and/or more suitable for the area – into the lawn. Choose the active growing season (warm weather grasses in spring to early summer and cool weather ones in spring and fall) to overseed. Daily watering improves grass germination and is essential after overseeding.
Also see lawn aeration or aeration sandals
1) Yellow and dried-out grass. In addition to proper watering, be sure that the grass is mowed to the right height. It should be a few inches high and it is important to only cut 1/3 off the grass when mowing. The lawn should be mowed frequently – once or twice a week – when it is growing quickly and less when it is not.
2) Unhealthy, slow-growing grass. If the lawn is not thriving, it probably needs fertilizer. It is a good idea to apply a slow-release fertilizer every other month of the growing season, about three or four times a year. This will help the grass stay thick and healthy. A top dressing, ideally applied regularly, introduces additional organic material into the lawn and will also improve the lawn’s health and density.
3) Shallow roots. Whether the soil is hard or the root system has gotten too dense, aeration will soften the ground and make room for roots to grow deeper. It will also make it easier for the roots to get the water, air and nutrients they need to be healthy. Periodic aeration – each year for a new or highly compacted lawn to every three years for a well-established lawn – will help the grass stay healthy and decrease the need for additional maintenance.
4) Too much thatch or moss. Dethatching – generally done every three years – gets rid of that dead material (also called thatch) that accumulates in the lawn. It is also great for decreasing the amount of moss in the grass. Cool weather grasses especially need to be dethatched regularly.
5) Patchy or poor quality grass. If the lawn is troubled by sparse and patchy areas, overseeding will encourage grass to grow in bare areas. It is also great for introducing better grasses – either higher quality, more drought and weed-resistant, and/or more suitable for the area – into the lawn. Choose the active growing season (warm weather grasses in spring to early summer and cool weather ones in spring and fall) to overseed. Daily watering improves grass germination and is essential after overseeding.
Also see lawn aeration or aerator shoeser lawn rakes create a lot of stress to the grass, but should look better than before in a month or so.
