Lawns must be well cared for, otherwise numerous problems can arise that make them unsightly or even ill. 5 types of damage are known that you must do something about.
In a nutshell
- Weeds and is one of the most common forms of damage to lawns
- Gaps occur due to intense exercise or a nutrient deficiency
- Discolouration is typical for lawns that suffer from drought, acidic soil or an excess of nutrients
- Mosses are also common
- numerous fungal diseases have a negative effect on the health of the lawn
weeds
Problems in the lawn are often directly related to weeds. Numerous weeds spread through the wind in your garden and ensure that the grasses have to compete with them for nutrients, light and water. Among the most typical plants that are considered weeds is this small selection:
couch grass; Source: Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA, Elymus repens (3739406828), edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Clover (Trifolium)
- couch grass (Elymus)
- Dandelion (Taraxacum)
- Daisy (Bellis perennis)
- Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys)
While they won't necessarily damage your lawn, many gardeners find the weeds a nuisance. The reasons for the success of the plants, including numerous wild herbs, are usually due to a lawn that has been cut too low, which also suffers from a lack of nutrients. If poor-quality seed was also used, the weeds have a free rein. To avoid possible problems with the weeds, you need to remove them. The following measures will help:
- cut out weeds
- use weed killers
Notice: You can prevent weeds by mowing the lawn regularly and keeping it three to five centimeters high. In addition, you should use high-quality seed so that the grass can fight the weeds.
Gaps
Gaps in lawns occur when they are heavily used and undersupplied with nutrients. Playgrounds and sports pitches are particularly affected. Even objects like a rain barrel can be responsible for this condition. If this is the case, the areas must be repaired and supplied with sufficient nutrients. This is the only way to close the lawn, as the affected areas can no longer grow back. With seeds, you can do this in the following way:
- cut the lawn
- loosen up affected areas well
- use a scarifier for this
- distribute high-quality seeds
- sprinkle fine compost
- water extensively
- Do not enter repaired areas for about 4 weeks
Alternatively, you can use a suitable lawn pavement or rolled turf. Lawn patches are applied to the prepared subsoil, while the rolled turf can only be applied after the turf has been removed about two centimeters deep. Don't forget to prepare the ground before laying the sod to prevent the damage from happening again.
Notice: When seeding a new lawn, be sure to disperse the seeds thoroughly. The use of a spreader is recommended for this purpose.
lawn discoloration
Along with gaps and weeds, grass discoloration is one of the classic problems you have to deal with. The discoloration does far more damage than many gardeners realize, as it indicates a deficiency or problem that can become dangerous for lawn grasses over time. This is shown by yellowish or brownish discolouration, which can affect individual sections or the entire area. The most common cause is drought damage. If you are struggling with these, you must act quickly as lawns suffer from drought more quickly than other parts of the yard. Here's how to prevent drought damage:
- Remove the affected turf with a scarifier or rake
- repair exposed areas (see section "gaps")
- Water the lawn well afterwards
- 1st mowing: 4 - 7 days later
- 2nd mowing: 4 weeks later
Another problem can be too low a pH. In this case, do a soil analysis to check if the pH is below 5.5. If so, lime it with garden lime according to the following instructions:
- sandy soils: 150 - 200 grams per square meter
- loamy soils: 300 - 350 grams per square meter
Don't forget to loosen the compacted soil, as this is usually the reason for acidic soil. Last but not least, you should take a look at the fertilizer administered. If you fertilize too much, the lawn will also discolour because the grass cannot cope with the excess nutrients. The straws simply burn, which becomes visible through the discoloration. Switch to a slow-release fertilizer and water the lawn well to reduce the amount of fertilizer.
mosses
Another problem for lawns is moss, which you have to fight. The problems: The triggers for settling in the lawn are numerous. It is not uncommon for there to be more than one cause. Typical include:
- compacted, moist soils
- mowed too low
- nutrient-poor soils
- shady locations
- low pH below 5.0
As you can see, these are due to poor maintenance or poor soil preparation when the lawn was planted. If you want to get rid of moss, you should examine the lawn for the problems mentioned, ideally with a soil analysis. This is particularly important for determining the pH value if it needs to be increased. For the other triggers, you must apply appropriate measures. This means that if, for example, shady areas are the problem, you should remove the shade providers there, if possible. Otherwise you have to make friends with the moss at this point or remove the turf there and use the space for something else. Compacted soils are refreshed and nutrient-poor soils are fertilized. You can fight the moss with the following measures:
- scarify twice a year
- Time: spring, summer
- Use moss destroyer and use according to the manufacturer's instructions
- fertilize sufficiently
- The blade height of the lawn should be at least 3 centimetres
fungal diseases
The biggest lawn problems you need to combat and prevent are fungal diseases. Snow mold (Microdochium nivale) and red tip (Laetisaria fuciformis) are particularly dangerous. Snow mold forms patches up to 25 centimeters in size that are damp, putrid, and gray-brown. Over time, they can run into each other. They often occur at temperatures below 10°C when it is humid. For this reason, it suddenly spreads under the snow in winter. You must prevent snow mold by taking the following measures:
- Avoid permanently damp lawns
- remove damp leaves in autumn
- Improve soil permeability: scarify, sand
- Autumn fertilization with magnesium and potassium
Compared to snow mold, red thread can be treated directly. The disease can be recognized by yellow patches in the lawn, which are misshapen and irregular. On closer inspection, the affected leaves develop a red stroma. It is also possible that a mycelium is formed. The reason is a lack of nutrients from late spring to early autumn, which weakens the grasses. The fungi strike at temperatures of 15°C to 30°C and humid weather conditions. You can fight them in the following ways:
- fertilize lawn
- Use slow release fertilizer
- Nitrogen fertilization is particularly important
- Nitrogen dosage: 5 grams per square meter
witch ring
Since the grasses will recover after fertilization, you do not have to remove the infested areas.
Notice: Less commonly, a brown fungus grows in lawns, the carnation swindle (Marasmius oreades), which appears in larger groups as horseshoes or circles. Remove or harvest the edible mushrooms and mow the lawn regularly back to a blade height of at least three to five centimetres.
frequently asked Questions
How often should you fertilize to prevent problems?You can prevent the problems by supplying the lawn with sufficient nutrients three times a year. Organic long-term lawn fertilizers are ideally suited, the nutrients of which are tailored to the requirements of the grass. You fertilize at the beginning of the season from March to April (100 grams per square meter), late May to mid-June (50 grams per square meter) and in August (50 grams per square meter). Never fertilize in strong sunshine.
How are holes in the lawn closed?It is not uncommon for you to suddenly discover holes in your lawn, which can arise for a wide variety of reasons. The problem: The lawn is destroyed in such a place. In this case, you need to loosen up the affected area and refill with fresh soil. Fresh grass seed is added to the soil to allow the site to recover and fill up. Fertilize if necessary or use a pre-fertilized substrate.
Where do local spots of yellowish-brown color come from?If you suddenly discover such spots that keep appearing in the same place, the answer is urine. In most cases, it is dog urine that marks your lawn. Of course, it can also be cat urine. Unfortunately, only repairing the lawn helps here, as the damage is irreparable. In addition, you should warn dog owners not to let their pets urinate on their lawn.
Are there lawn pests?Yes, lawns can be infested with pests. These are mainly insects such as cockchafers (Melolontha), garden beetles (Phyllopertha horticola) or the marsh cranefly (Tipula paludosa). You can tackle this with nematodes, which kill the larvae growing in the soil. You can also discover a mole or vole infestation. Use live traps or repellent methods to avoid harming or killing the animals.