Are you seeing thinned-out or dead areas of your lawn when you look out your window? You might have thought your lawn was in good shape but suddenly, there seem to be some areas that aren’t doing too well.
Dead spots in a lawn can be a major source of frustration. If you desire a thick and thriving lawn, as most homeowners do, seeing any dead spots can make it feel like you’re far from your goal.
For these reasons, you might be wondering how to fix dead grass spots. In this article, we’ll talk about how to deal with this problem so that you can get back to having a lawn you enjoy fully.
First and foremost, you have to figure out what caused the dead grass patches in the lawn in the first place. It could be pet-related damage, drought, pests, or another issue entirely. The time of year also matters as there can be different issues that occur at different times.
If you are reading this article in the summer, there’s a good chance that it might be related to turf disease. In fact, at the time that we wrote this article, our area was experiencing some particularly bad cases of lawn fungus.
In Bermudagrass, Spring Dead Spot is a common fungal disease that results in dead spots in the lawn, just as the name implies. These dead patches typically stand out as well-defined areas.
Other common lawn fungal infections include Brown Patch and Dollar Spot.
Unfortunately, a lot of times turf diseases have been festering for a while before homeowners spot them. And sometimes, homeowners make the problem worse by implementing the wrong solution. It’s not uncommon for people to misidentify a lawn disease as a drought problem. The trouble is, that watering can actually make the problem worse.
This is why a professional diagnosis is key. An accurate diagnosis will help set you on a path toward success. But if you make an improper diagnosis, you could make the problem worse. You may need to adjust your watering and mowing activity, based on recommendations from your lawn care professional.
People are often shocked to learn that their mowing habits could also lead to dead spots. If you are mowing too short, you may be putting more stress on your lawn than it can handle.
Getting fungal activity under control is important as some diseases can be highly destructive. There are various formulations for fungal control products. It’s important to acknowledge that lawn fungus control products will not reverse the damage already done.
Instead, it will stop lawn fungus in its tracks.
Lawns won’t automatically “bounce back” like people sometimes think they will. Once the application of fungicide has stopped the active growth, lawn repairs might be necessary.
We’ll talk about how to fix patches of dead grass, next. Even if those patches were caused by another problem, like a pest, you likely want to know what you can do to fill them in.
Once you’ve addressed whatever it was that was causing the dead spots in the lawn, you can start to think about how to repair them. It’s important that this is done after solving the initial problem so that those dead spots don’t just keep recurring.
One of the best ways to instantly repair a dead spot in the lawn is to lay sod. Sod is truly an “instant lawn.” One day your lawn is struggling with bare spots and the next they are all filled in with new grass!
Our best advice when purchasing sod is to try to get it when it is no more than two or three days old. When sod gets stacked up on a pallet in our hot Memphis, TN weather, it can start to struggle. But you want to install healthy sod from the onset.
Sod also needs to be regularly watered to ensure that those roots become established. You don’t want to invest in a sod solution only to have it fail. Make sure that you are properly caring for it so that it can thrive.
You should also feel confident leaning on your lawn care professional for advice. If you are trying to deal with repairing dead spots in the lawn, your lawn care pro should be able to help.
In looking at the big picture, it’s important to invest in your lawn’s overall health with a lawn care program that takes all of your lawn’s needs into account. While this won’t be an “isntant fix” to current lawn care problems, it will make your lawn stronger over time and could play a role in preventing some future issues.
With good lawn care, your turf can grow more resistant to pests, diseases, weeds, and environmental stressors. While problems may not be prevented entirely, the thicker and healthier your lawn is, the better it will fare.
When a lawn fungus attacks a healthy lawn, it does a lot less damage than when it attacks a lawn that is already struggling and thinned out in many areas. In the latter situation, it can really ravage the entire lawn quite quickly.
The key is to choose a great lawn care company that can help you with your problems.
We know that fixing dead grass patches in the lawn can be frustrating. But if you are working with a lawn care professional, they can continue to guide you with the best advice.
You are definitely doing the right thing by looking into your lawn problems. The very fact that you are reading this article shows that you care about your lawn and are looking to get the best possible results.
By choosing a great lawn care provider to have on your side, you can gain confidence that you’re getting your lawn back on track and repairing any dead areas that are causing you frustration. Before you know it, you’ll be looking at a thick, green lawn that you can be proud of.
Ready to have a lawn that you love at your Tennessee or Northern Mississippi home? Talk to a lawn care expert, choose from 3 program options, and become the master of your lawn.
Image Source: Sod
