Attention: These 8 signs in your lawn mean your grass needs help before it's too late

Time of India

6 days ago

There are several signs that often suggest that your lawn is unhealthy and needs your attention. One of the key aspects of a healthy lawn is the grass. But, amid other components that also exist in your backyard, the grass is sometimes overlooked. While some signs of an unhealthy lawn are easy to spot, like brown patches, others can be harder to notice. The Spruce talked to experts to explore the key factors and methods for keeping your lawn healthy and how to tell when your grass needs attention.
According to the CEO of The Difference Landscapes, a New Hampshire-based landscape design, installation, and maintenance firm, Greg Cuoco, "A healthy lawn requires the right balance of what I call a SWAP (soil health, watering schedule, aeration, and pest management) program. An unhealthy or stressed lawn is likely due to a problem in one of these areas."
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Here are eight signs to watch for, along with solutions for each problem:
Patchy Brown and Yellow Spots
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The appearance of patchy spots in several colors is perhaps one of the most obvious signs of an unhealthy lawn. Greg Cuoco suggested that to ensure care in this case, one needs to rake these areas, then aerate and reseed them. Topsoil can also be added to support their growth. However, if this doesn't help, there might be another issue beneath the surface.
"If the patchy spots are irregular in shape or size, this could mean it's a pest problem and insecticide is needed," he said, according to The Spruce. "If it's easy to lift up a brown patch, it's a telltale sign of grub infestation at the roots, which is treated with insecticide," he added. If one notices a pattern to the patches, it could be caused by fungi. In that case, fungicides, baking soda, or neem oil can help, he adds.
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Too Much Thatch
Thatch is a natural mix of organic material in your lawn, but too much can cause issues. To manage it, learn to dethatch your lawn about once a year. Cuoco also suggests regular raking, fertilizing, mowing, watering, and aerating. "A small amount is healthy compost, but more than 1/2 inch of thatch will rob your soil and roots of needed nutrients and water," he said.
Spongy Texture
According to lawn expert Dan Deins, if areas of the lawn look particularly spongy or matted down, this is probably an indication that something is wrong. "If you walk across the yard and see footprints linger or notice weeds taking over in certain spots, that's an alarm bell, too," he said.
This usually happens because of too much thatch or overwatering. To avoid it, dethatch and aerate your lawn. For sponginess from excess water, stick to a regular watering schedule and add drainage if needed.
Weeds Everywhere
A few weeds aren't a major problem, but if they're popping up all over your lawn, that's when trouble starts. Cuoco explains that weeds compete with your grass for nutrients, water, and sunlight. The best solution depends on the weed type—dandelions, for example, often mean compacted soil, so aeration helps. To get rid of weeds, remove both the plants and their roots, and if they keep coming back, consider using herbicides.
Thin Grass or Bare Patches
Making efforts to grow a lush lawn, only to find thin patches of grass growing and various bare patches is really frustrating but there is a fix for it also. "Get a soil test to learn soil pH and identify nutrient deficiencies, and then add the appropriate fertilizer or compost," Cuoco said. "Aerate the grass and be sure to follow the recommended mowing schedule for your grass type," he added.
Adjusting how you water your lawn is important. Instead of frequent short waterings, he recommends one deep soak per week—about 1 to 1.5 inches of water. This helps your grass grow thicker and more evenly.
Wilting and Brittle Grass
Even with a great watering schedule, Cuoco says it might not suit your lawn and could leave your grass wilting or brittle. "Set a watering schedule based on your soil type, grass type, climate, and time of year (i.e., more frequent watering in spring and summer, less hydration in fall and winter)," he said.
He suggests watering between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m., especially in hot weather. Watering later means much of the moisture evaporates before your grass can absorb it, which wastes water—this applies to sprinklers, too.
Grubs or Holes
Holes all over your lawn are a clear sign that something's wrong. "It could mean the soil isn't draining right or there's heavy thatch," Deins says. "You might also notice ants or other insects setting up shop, which sometimes points to underlying issues like root rot or too much moisture." He adds that changes in color, like a gray haze, or a mushy feel often point to grubs or other pests, which usually attack from below and are harder to spot.
"I recommend going with organic treatments like beneficial nematodes for grubs, or compost tea for soil health," he stated. "I've found that adjusting mowing height and changing up your mowing pattern can help the grass bounce back, too," he continued.
Short Roots
If your lawn isn't growing tall, it could be missing water or nutrients. Short grass faces extra risks, especially in hot weather. "Shorter roots make grass more sensitive to drought and high temperatures," says Cuoco. To maintain healthy length, avoid cutting your lawn too often in summer and stick to a regular watering schedule. Remember, don't water in the afternoon.