Maintaining a lush lawn is a rewarding, yet sometimes frustrating, endeavor. Whether it’s stubborn weeds, soil problems, or infestations, common lawn problems can hurt the health and appeal of your lawn. Here are some common problems, the underlying causes, and how to fix them.

1. Compacted Soil

Your lawn relies heavily on the quality of its underlying soil — compaction can significantly impact its health.

The Problem

Soil compaction refers to the compression of soil particles, which reduces the pore spaces between soil particles. Since it restricts the movement of air, water, and nutrients throughout soil, compaction can starve your lawn’s foliage. It can also cause:

• Rotting and sick plants
• Increased susceptibility to lawn disease
• Pest infestations
• Weed overgrowth
• Standing water or flooding

Soil density can vary depending on climate effects — for instance, significant freezing, thawing, drying, and cultivation can alter the soil’s structure. Otherwise, weight on top of the soil is the main cause of soil compaction. Topsoil compaction usually results from heavy foot traffic, while subsoil compaction is often due to driving cars or operating machinery over the soil, particularly if the soil is already wet or covered with snow. Dry soil types also have higher load-bearing capacities and compaction resistance than wet soils and clay.

The Solution

Combating soil compaction involves these strategies:

• Aeration: Perforating the soil with an aerating tool, usually about once per year, penetrates and removes soil to encourage a looser structure.
• Add organic matter: Incorporating organic matter, such as compost or mulch, provides your lawn with nutrients. It also encourages earthworms, which loosen soil and leave nutritious castings behind.

2. Grubs & Insects

Grubs and insects are a common cause of damage to gardens and lawns.

The Problem

Healthy lawns can accommodate certain amounts of grubs, insects, and spiders. Many are beneficial in appropriately-sized populations — for example, spiders help control insect populations as natural predators.

Infestations and certain types of grubs and insects can damage healthy lawns. Grubs refer to beetle larvae that live in the soil and eat grass roots. Various other pests, such as slugs and snails, chinch bugs, ants, and armyworms, cause a range of lawn problems. Grub or insect infestations may cause yellow patches of grass, spongy lawn sections, and other lawn damage, and they can even attract other predatory wildlife or pests that can also harm your yard.

To determine if you have a grub infestation, unearth 3 inches of soil across a square foot. Look for milky-white and C-shaped larvae — more than five in a square-foot range indicates an infestation.

The Solution

Try these strategies to eradicate and prevent grubs and insect infestations:

• Beneficial nematodes: Introduce nematodes to your soil. These microscopic worms prey on grubs but leave your plants alone.
• Pesticides: Used correctly, pesticides protect your lawn from invasive or harmful insects. Consult with a professional for safe application according to local regulatory guidelines.
• Preventative action: Infestations are more likely in unhealthy and vulnerable lawns. Keep your lawn healthy and discourage insects by following good practices for watering, soil health, fertilization, and other upkeep.

3. Moles

Moles are an important part of your lawn ecosystem, but they can pose certain challenges.

The Problem

Moles help maintain your lawn’s health by feeding on grubs and other insects, and their burrowing helps improve soil aeration. When their activities become excessive, however, their tunnels may disrupt root systems, displace soil, and create uneven yard surfaces, causing weak or dead patches in your lawn. Signs of mole infestations also include ridges of dirt across your yard, patches of loose or sinking soil, persistent weeds, drainage problems, and small hills of dirt.

The Solution

Manage your mole population with these tips:

• Limit food sources with grub control measures.
• Use natural repellents, such as garlic or shallots, around your lawn’s perimeter to deter moles.
• Install garden mesh or other physical barriers.
• Place repellent devices or visual deterrents in your yard.

4. Brown Patches

Numerous factors can cause brown patches of grass across your lawn.

The Problem

Brown patches in lawns generally indicate underlying problems, such as underwatering, poor drainage, soil issues, fungal disease, and infestation. For example, mowing your lawn excessively short can expose grass roots, increasing its risk of disease. Likewise, over-fertilizing your lawn causes an excess of nitrogen, damaging the grass, while other fertilizers contain high salt content that causes grass to dry out and burn.

Keep in mind that brown patches don’t always indicate poor grass health. Grass turns brown during dormant periods — summer grasses go dormant in the winter, while cold-hardy grasses may go brown in the summer. Small patches can also come from areas where pets urinate.

The Solution

Since several potential concerns cause brown patches, treating your lawn relies on accurately determining the underlying cause. Depending on the underlying issue, these strategies can help remedy and prevent brown lawn patches:

• Avoid driving vehicles or machinery over your lawn.
• Ensure your irrigation covers your lawn evenly.
• Avoid watering your lawn around midday. The sun can evaporate water too quickly, preventing it from adequately penetrating the soil.
• Aerate your lawn regularly.
• Identify the correct fertilizer type and amount for your lawn and grass.
• Avoid overwatering — consider additional drainage measures if necessary.

5. Bare Patches

You may find you have a few bare patches in an otherwise healthy lawn.

The Problem

Bare patches stem from several potential causes. Heavy foot traffic is a common problem — in addition to stressing or even uprooting the grass on top, soil compaction can kill off the roots and grass altogether. If the bare sections of your lawn are often in the shade, they may not have enough sunlight to support vegetation. Drought, insect infestations, poor drainage, diseases, and pet or wildlife waste may also result in brown patches.

The Solution

Identify the root cause of bare patches to most effectively remedy them. If your patches come from foot traffic, consider installing stone or gravel pathways or a barrier that redirects traffic. If your lawn suffers from pests or disease, implement the appropriate treatment.

Otherwise, preventing bare patches comes down to ensuring your lawn’s health. In addition to aerating and adding nutrition to your soil, reseed with grass suited to your climate and lawn conditions. There are numerous grass species available, with some better suited to certain climates than others.

6. Weeds

While some weeds are inevitable, persistent or overgrown weeds require further measures.

The Problem

Grass and other plants in your lawn compete with grassy and broadleaf weeds for nutrients, water, and sunlight. Weeds are often more resilient than other vegetation and can thrive in unfavorable soil conditions. The more weeds thrive, the tougher it is for your grass or other plants to break through.

The Solution

Consider these weed control tips:

• Time your removal: Some weeds require a more time-sensitive removal strategy. Timing pre-emergent weed control treatments prevents them from germinating.
• Choose the right products: Weed treatments aren’t necessarily universally effective. Opt for high-quality products that target the specific weeds in your yard.
• Hire a professional: For the most efficient and effective approach, hire a professional for your weed control. Besides commercial-grade products, contractors also have advanced knowledge and skills.
• Plant ground-cover: By growing low to the ground and spreading easily, ground-cover plants occupy space where weeds may otherwise show up. Consider mondo grass, aronia, periwinkle, or creeping thyme.

Get Expert Lawn Care

Lawn Doctor’s lawn care and pest control services keep your yard resilient, healthy, and visually appealing. Leave the lawn care work to Lawn Doctor — contact us today to find out how.