Published: February 25, 2019, 8:36am | Modified: June 19, 2019, 12:58pm
Is your lawn looking less and less attractive? Is it turning brown or becoming patchy in certain areas? Perhaps your bumpy, lumpy, pale, weed-covered lawn is practically begging you to bring it back to life. In this blog post, we'll take a look beyond the surface to resolve the issues that cause it to look less-than-stella. Here are 4 possible reasons why your lawn looks ugly.
The Soil Quality is Poor
Probably the number one cause of a suffering lawn is the soil. Living in Florida, especially in coastal areas, our lawns tend to be made of a soil and sand mix. Some areas of your lawn may get no sun and are always damp, while other areas may be exposed to sun from dusk until dawn.
When thinking about why your grass isn't growing well, or even if you're thinking about laying down sod, it’s important to make sure that your lawn’s soil favors turf growing conditions. You can do this by testing for its nutrient content, cation exchange capacity, and pH. It's possible your soil is lacking the necessary nutrients to ensure your grass will go properly. For soil structure to improve, top-dressing or aerating can help.
The Soil is Compacted
The usual causes of soil compaction are a high foot or vehicle traffic and poor soil composition. We often see soil compaction in new home developments, where you have heavy machines, trucks and workers constantly moving around a property. When the soil is excessively compacted, the airspace that’s required for optimum plant growth is reduced. This can lead to a thin turf that’s prone to weed growth, pests, and diseases.
One way to fix compacted soil is to have your lawn aerated. You can use a tiller or rake to loosen the soil and allow air to pass through, which will also allow for water and roots to easily move through the ground.
The Drainage is Poor
If your lawn has poor drainage, don’t be surprised if you spot moss or ground ivy on it. This is a common problem with soils that have heavy clay content because there’s nowhere for the excess water to go. Waterlogged soil can interfere with the functions within your lawn’s root zone. To correct this, you’ll need to drain the water away by installing perforated piping.
You can also look into planting trees, flowers or shrubs that can tolerate excess water. Canna and Elephant's Ear are just a couple of the many plants that can thrive in moist environments.
The Grass is Cut Too Short
Your plants’ growth center gets damaged if you mow the lawn too short. If you want to have a full, lush lawn, you’ll need to mow high to maintain a healthy root system that can withstand heat and drought. Never mow your lawn shorter than 3”.
Unfortuantely, if you have cut the grass too short, there isn't much you can do to fix it, other than wait for it to grow back. Watering your lawn a couple times a week can help to stimulate growth. Check with your local water department to determine if there are any water usage restrictions before you try this.
Learn More About Improving Your Lawn
While the reasons listed above are the most common reason your lawn may not be thriving, they certainly are not the only reasons. The professionals at A One Stop Garden Shop can help you determine the root issues of your ugly lawn and come up with a solution that will leave your lawn looking better than ever. Give us a call at 561-784-7222 or stop by our garden center in Palm Beach County, Florida.