how to recognize the problem and how to save your lawn

Will fixing the grass help? Or do you have to set up a new yard? I got this question from Domant, our buddy. Even if the grass was planted in your backyard two or three years ago, it doesn’t become that perfect green rug, no matter what efforts you make. Domantas favors a nature-friendly way and hopes the grass will manage on its own with just a bit of support from him.

But after a few years, noticing the thin and unhealthy grass, he felt defeated and asked what steps to take.

We visited his backyard and explained right there, since the grass was in bad shape: what the causes are, how to identify the issue, and what actions to take:

In this video, our course instructors Vaiva Marozienė, a plant expert, and Lina Puodžiūtė, a garden designer, discussed how to restore the grass with these signs:

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I can make you feel better right away – you will definitely not need to replace the grass. And how the improvement of the grass should happen in each situation, we will cover step by step: why this occurs and what exactly needs to be done.

First problem: circles in the lawn

If your lawn didn’t get poor everywhere, but only in certain environments, wouldn’t it be like you were raising a puppy? Teachers say that this issue is extremely relevant for those who breed bitches. When a dog goes to the toilet on the lawn, the marked areas start out bright green and eventually turn brown.

This problem is particularly relevant in public spaces near apartment buildings, when the lawn becomes like a map. Vaiva says this is precisely why lawns near apartment buildings rarely look beautiful.

Skin care Sedum and medicinal plant from the garden

Action plan: sow lawn areas. Stop letting pets do their business on the lawn, because otherwise the lawn renovation will be useless.

Of course, it’s a question of priorities: if you are offended by such a suggestion, let the dogs run away, but know why the spots appear and put up with them.

The second problem: diluted lawn

Domanto’s yard has a bigger problem: the entire lawn area is thinned. This means that the lawn is poor. When good growing conditions are not ensured, the lawn not only does not thicken, but on the contrary it becomes increasingly sparse, bare areas appear between the tufts of grass. This is mainly due to 4 reasons. If your lawn doesn’t make you happy either, ask yourself the following questions honestly:

1. Was the watering sufficient?

There is no irrigation system on this land. Vaiva Marozienė says that when watering, a lot of water is spilled, but a lot of water is also lost. Here the soil is clayey, so the water does not have time to be absorbed: it evaporates or runs to the sides. With the irrigation system the water would be absorbed much better: usually the nozzles spray and work at night, when the air temperature has dropped and the soil surface has cooled, then there is minimal water loss and maximum water absorption.

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Furthermore, irrigation systems water the lawn for a long time, but in small doses. When we water ourselves, we often do the opposite: we pour a lot of water, but for a short time. The lawn needs a lot more water than we think, so when we water ourselves, we usually don’t water enough: the lawn doesn’t get as much moisture as it really needs.

Well, when the lawn does not receive enough moisture, it becomes poor, the grass decreases, empty areas appear – this is a problem lawn.

2. Was fertilization sufficient?

The roots of lawn grass are shallow, so they cannot absorb nutrients from deep within the earth. So whatever you put on her plate will make a big difference. The fertilizer you provide will determine whether the lawn will be hungry and poor, or full and beautiful.

How to help a weakened lawn in spring? It needs nutrients that contain nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and trace elements. It is necessary not only to promote growth, but also to strengthen the root system. Therefore, look for more than just nitrogen (saltpeter) – those days are gone. Spring complex fertilizers are best suited for this.

This will keep your garden healthy and well maintained

How to Know Lawn Fertilizer is High Quality:

– long-term results. There are less expensive choices, but you will need to fertilize every two weeks. If you choose a long-lasting fertilizer, it will work for at least six weeks. They slowly release nitrogen into the ground, which means you will need to fertilize less often;

– check the label to ensure the fertilizer is free of chlorine;

– seek those that are designed as a blend, meaning one fertilizer ball contains a mix of all ingredients (these are the ones shown here). When mixed fertilizers are simply several «balls», combined and put into one bag, fertilizer absorption is not as effective. So if you are already using fertilizer, it’s better to do it less often but more efficiently.

To make fertilizing more even, you can also use a fertilizer spreader – I won’t go into detail at this moment, but here I wrote and demonstrated how to fertilize with a fertilizer spreader.

If the soil seems concerning, appearing tired or barren, you can apply «Humistar» before or during fertilization: it is an extra tool, an organic product made from humic acids. It enhances soil quality and assists grass in absorbing nutrients more effectively.

3. Has the grass been cut correctly?

Vaiva Marozienė draws attention to another very important factor that significantly influences lawn thinning: improper mowing. The lawn is very important cut according to planthe lawn will adapt to the cutting height. A lawn is made up of different types of grass, which are not equally suitable for low mowing. Depending on how low you mow the lawn, the composition of the lawn grass also changes. If you mow irregularly and start mowing the lawn when it comes out – once after 3 days, another time after a week or even two – then you are completely out of tune with the lawn system. Part of the grass dies, bare patches appear, the lawn begins to deteriorate.

Lawn renewal: an action plan for thinning lawns

We have presented several reasons why the lawn is thinning. What to do? Here is the action plan:

If the ground is hard, broken (base – clay or soil), V. Marozienė recommends:

1. Aerate, that is, prick the lawn so that the roots get more air;
2. Sprinkle sand and spray with Delfan to immediately help freshly cut grass;
3. After a couple of weeks, fertilize with complex fertilizers.

If the base is sand or soiland the soil is conductive, L. Puodžiūtė recommends:

1. Fertilize. Because soil is conductive, nutrients escape quickly. Fertilization can be carried out in spring when the air temperature is not lower than + 5-10 degrees and it already becomes permanent. By fertilizing we promote growth, so if there is a frost afterwards, the lawn will suffer again: you don’t really need it, so it’s better to wait for warmer weather;
2. An irrigation system is required. Conductive soil dries out very quickly, so constant and systematic watering is required.

In both cases, this is first aid in the spring. Lawn renovation will only be successful if you continue to take care of it and not neglect it.

The third problem: the mossy lawn

According to Vaiva, a mossy lawn is caused by poor maintenance. When the grass is poor, it does not have enough nutrients, the lawn is not cut correctly, there is a lack of water, it thins out and moss grows in those places.

What to do? First of all, you need to decide whether it is really necessary to destroy the moss. To me, moss is a soft underfoot green that has a beautiful green color that doesn’t need to be mowed or otherwise meticulously cared for. But of course this is the choice of each owner.

If, however, you have decided that moss is not necessary, first aid instructions would be as follows:

1. File the lawn with granulated lime;
2. Use a moss fertilizer with amino acids. It works like a moss killer, but the amino acids work together to give the grass a greener color. Then wait 12-14 days – or as indicated on the package;
3. Scarifying a lawn means collecting dead moss;
4. After a couple of weeks, fertilize with a complex spring fertilizer or an anti-moss fertilizer that contains iron;
5. If there is a lot of moss, the lawn may need to be seeded.

Ordinary slag, which with iron-based preparations, is not enough for more serious destruction of moss, only slows down the growth of moss and creates conditions unsuitable for its spread. But if first aid has already been given, these are suitable for further support.

What to do next? Lawn care needs to be improved: fertilizing, fertilizing and watering. Lawn grass is stronger than moss, so if good conditions are created for its growth, there will simply be no place for moss.