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Turfgrass Problems and Solutions Lawns are never perfect. They all have their flaws and issues. Identified below are common cultural, insect, and animal problems that may be found in lawns and recommended solutions to eliminate and control these unexpected nuisances. Small Dead Spots Ringed in Green |Lawn Turns Brown|Weed Takeover| Grass Yellow or Pale|Grass Dull Gray/Green Color|Grass Grows Poorly/Thin| Tunnels in Lawn|Grass Sickly|Irregular Brown Dead Patches| Grass Chewed| Bare Areas/Dead Spots|White Circular Patches|White Powdery Substance| Dark Spots on Grass Small Dead Spots Ringed in Green [back to top] The urine of female dogs kills grass and causes these spots. The solution is to soak the spots with water, eventually grass will grow back. Lawn Turns Brown [back to top] If a lawn turns brown, it may be the result of excessive thatch buildup. To remove thatch, use a simple leaf rake or dethatching tool. To prevent thatch buildup, do not over fertilize or overwater lawns Weed Takeover [back to top] Excessive weeds are a sign that the grass is weak and unhealthy. Reasons may include compaction, waterlogged soil or too much fertilizer. To control weeds, hand pulling is the safest bet. However, the following products are available to assist in the removal of weeds. Grass Yellow or Pale [back to top] The lawn is lacking food, but don’t immediately apply fertilizer. Follow the fertilization guidelines found in the Lawn Management section. If the grass has been fertilized properly, but continues to be yellow or pale, it may be infected with aphids. If aphids are found, spray with an insecticidal soap. Grass Dull Gray/Green Color [back to top] The lawn is not getting enough water. Follow the watering guidelines in the Lawn Management page. Grass Grows Poorly and Become Thin [back to top] If the lawn is correctly watered, fertilized and mowed, the lawn may be compacted. To resolve soil compaction, aerate the soil. Tunnels in the Lawn [back to top] Gophers and/or moles have attacked the lawn. Gardens Alive has the following products to control animal pests. Grass Sickly [back to top]If a lawn is growing slowly or looks thin. It may nematodes. These pests attack at the roots. Pull up a clump of grass; if galls are on the roots, nematodes have infested the lawn. St. Augustinegrass, zoysia, and bermudagrass are major targets for nematode attacks. Use the following products to control these nuisances. Irregular, Brown, Dead Patches [back to top] Irregular brown dead patches are typically a symptom of grub infestation. Occurring in the late summer to early fall, grubs chew away the roots of grass and may be the larvae of several beetles including, Japanese beetles, Asian garden beetles, or May beetles. Introduce beneficial nematodes to the lawn to control grubs infestations.
Grass Chewed [back to top] Chewed grass is typically caused by grasshoppers. While they are often not a nuisance, if several grasshoppers begin to appear, control them with the disease Nosema Locusta. Bare Areas or Dead Spots [back to top] Bare patches may be a sign of armyworms, cutworms, or sod webworms. These pest feed at night and are found under dead sod. Apply Bt (Bacillus Thuringiensis) or milky spore disease (Bacillus Papillae) to control armyworms. Small White Circular Patches that Turn Brown [back to top] White patches that turn brown and are the size of silver dollars are often caused by the dollar spot fungus. It thrives on dry, undernourished lawns. To resolve this fungus disease, apply sulfur fungicide to the infected area every 3 to 5 days until symptoms disappear. White, Powdery Substance on Grass [back to top] A thin, white powdery coating on the grass is a sure symptom of powdery mildew. If this disease infects the lawn, spray with sulfur fungicide every 3 to 5 days until symptom disappear. Dark Spots on Blades of Grass [back to top] Black spots on grass are caused by leaf spot fungi. Leaf spot occurs when weather conditions are cool and moist. To control fungi, spray with sulfur fungicide.
Ball, Jeff and Liz. Rodale's Landscape Problem Solver: A Plant-by-Plant Guide. Pennsylvania: Rodale Press. 1989.
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The purpose of the Greenscape Guide is to educate individuals on the basic fundamentals of planting design and provide resources that will assist in the creation of beautiful spaces. |
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