Top 5 Common Lawn Issues and How to Fix Them

Taking care of your lawn is either something you love doing as a homeowner, or you consider it a chore. Whether you love or hate it, lawn care is an essential part of your home’s overall curb appeal and value. Sometimes it can be challenging to care for our lawns with our busy lives, and issues can arise. Here are some of the most common issues and how to fix them.

Shaded areas causing uneven growth

Depending on where your home is situated, you may have some shaded areas, and many types of grass seeds don’t thrive well in the shade. If you’re experiencing this, you should ensure that any trees in your yard are well-maintained if they’re causing the shaded spots. You can purchase a grass type that is better suited for shady areas and more tolerant.

Invasive Weeds

If you leave your lawn to fend for itself with weeds, they will likely take over. All types of weeds love to root in your yard. It will require some effort, but the sooner you can take care of them the better for your lawn. To take care of weeds, you want to ensure you’re frequently mowing with a sharp blade. To prevent weeds, you should water your lawn often, based on the rainfall in your area. If you are in a dry climate, make sure you’re watering in the morning before it gets hot. Fertilize your lawn and follow the individual directions on the product you choose.

Random holes that can be suspicious

Many little creatures can cause damage to your lawn during the night or when you’re not around. Raccoons and moles are typical suspects as they’re searching for grubs. If you don’t notice grubs, they can infest your lawn quickly and usually unnoticed. To find out if you have grubs, you can peel back a patch of lawn, and if you see white worm-like critters, you will have to treat them.

There are many different products on the market for pest control, and spray that kills ants and spiders might work best. If the infestation has caused a significant amount of damage, you may need to remove all of the infected spots and reseed. If you mow your lawn every week, add an inspection to your routine to make sure your lawn stays healthy. You can identify any new issues and problems before they snowball and become costly issues. Monitoring your lawn health is vital to keep your grass looking its best through the warm months.

Bare, bald, and pet spots

Whether you have pets that cause urination spots, you have heavy foot traffic, or there’s an underlying disease, bare and bald spots are not only an eyesore, but they’re also the breeding ground for weeds. To fix unsightly spots, you can dig out the affected areas and a few inches of the surrounding grass. Lightly till and rake the areas and cover with topsoil. For animal spots, due to the high levels of nitrogen, you will want to treat the area with a high-quality fertilizer. Choosing a designated location for your animals to do their business will help reduce the overall damage they cause to your lawn.

Yellow-orange spots called Rusts

Rusts are a plant disease caused by fungal spores, which cause the grass to turn yellow and orange or red and brown. These spots become powdery because a residue is left behind, particularly on underwatered, overwatered, or malnourished grass. To prevent rusts, practicing good lawn care habits are essential. Fertilize regularly with a high-quality product, aerate annually, watch your watering levels, and keep your grass mowed. If you want to make sure your grass has proper nutrient levels, test your soil’s PH level annually to make sure the potassium and phosphorus levels are suitable, and then you can adjust as needed. 

Alex Platt is a residential and commercial realtor in Boca Raton & Delray Beach. He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise about buying and selling real estate. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlattSellsProperties