The northeast summer of 2020 has had quite a variety of weather. We’ve had drought conditions and then experienced torrential downpours for a week straight. Lawns can easily become stressed in weather such as this. Summer is one of the most difficult seasons for grass to thrive. There ways to tell if your lawn is unhealthy. Valley Green has been selling professional turf products in the northeast for over 20 years. After you read our article on ways to tell if your lawn is unhealthy, you can visit one of our 7 locations to help your lawn return to normal.
5 Ways To Tell If Your Lawn is Unhealthy
- The first thing you’ll want to look at it is the color of the lawn. Healthy grass is a bluish-green shade. Lackluster grass that is brown or tan in color is likely unhealthy. The colors may appear in larger areas or small patches. The discoloration can be caused by a variety of different reasons. One of the most common is that the lawn is too dry and needs to be watered. Other reasons include disease, items that have sat too long on the grass, and lack of sunlight.
- The texture of the lawn also matters. Healthy grass will grow lush and thick. If you look at your lawn and see the soil underneath, it means the grass could be thinning. Thinning grass can be caused by a variety of things. Inadequate fertilizer, mowing too much, or grub infestation could be the cause. Regular and correct lawn maintenance can usually prevent a thinning lawn.
- Mushrooms are also an indicator your lawn is unhealthy. Mushrooms often grow on lawns that are overwatered or too moist. If you’re suddenly having lawn drainage issues, you may want to check to see if your soil is compacted or if you have a thick layer of thatch that has accumulated. If the drainage isn’t the issue, you could be watering the lawn too much.
- Walking across your lawn can also be an easy indicator of how healthy your lawn is. Grass that is healthy will retain its shape after being walked on. Unhealthy grass is brittle and will bend or even break when walking on it. Lack of watering is the most common cause of brittle grass but if you’re watering regularly, you may have an insect infestation.
- Weed infestations can also indicate an unhealthy lawn. Weeds often compete with grass for sunlight and nutrients and this will mean grass will have a hard time growing. If you notice excessive weed growth, it might be time to do a soil test. Acidic soil often creates an environment for weeds to grow in. If you find that the test indicates that your soil is too acidic, adding the proper amendments will discourage weed growth and allow your grass to grow back.