\u00a0“I’m Thirsty”<\/b><\/p>\n
If you can see your footprints in the lawn after you\u2019ve walked through the grass, that\u2019s a sign your grass is starting to wilt. Translation: It needs water. This is most likely to happen in the dog days of summer when the heat takes a serious toll on turfgrass. So drag out those sprinklers, and give your lawn a drink!<\/p>\n
<\/b>\u201cHelp! I\u2019m Drowning!\u201d <\/b><\/p>\n
Lawn mushrooms are a sign that your yard is too wet. If these fungi appear after heavy rain, they will usually go away on their own. However, you see them regularly, you\u2019ll need to find a way to dry out your lawn. The first step is to cut back your watering routine. If that doesn\u2019t help, try improving drainage with the use of a lawn aerator. Are toadstools still haunting your lawn? Consider trimming overhead tree branches to let in sunlight and banish mushrooms.<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cYour Mower Blades Are Dull!\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n
If your grass is turning an unhealthy shade of brown, your mower blades may be at fault. Dull blades can rip and shred grass blades, quickly turning a lush lawn into a scraggly yard. Examine your grass blades. They should be cleanly cut across the top. If they look frayed or torn, have your blades sharpened.<\/p>\n
\u201cOuch! Too Much Fertilizer!\u201d <\/b><\/p>\n
You really can have too much of a good thing. Take fertilizer, for instance. Apply too much to your lawn, or apply it unevenly, and it can result in fertilizer burn. When that happens, the grass will turn yellow\u2014or if it\u2019s particularly severe\u2014crispy brown. The good news is that a lawn that\u2019s been mildly burned with chemical fertilizer can recover. If you suspect that your lawn has been damaged, flush the mineral salts out of the grass with water. Run the sprinklers until water saturates the yard, then continue to water for the next several days to dilute the fertilizer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve Got Grubs\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n
If you see irregular brown patches in your lawn, you may have a grub problem. Grubs are insects in the larvae stage, and they dine on the roots of turf grass, causing it to wilt and die. To diagnose a grub infestation, dig up a patch of grass in a suspect area. If you see a white, beetle-like creature rolled up in a C-shape, you\u2019ve got grubs. There are a few proven ways to eliminate this creepy crawlies, such as spreading nematodes or milky spore on a troubled lawn.<\/p>\n
\u201cFeed Me!\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n
A lawn that has turned from dark green to a pale yellow is likely experiencing chlorosis or a lack of nitrogen. In other words, your lawn is hungry, and it needs food. It may be time to apply some fertilizer. Before spreading store-bought fertilizer, read the instructions thoroughly to avoid accidental overfeeding.<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m Choking!\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n
Thinning grass and weed-infested lawns can indicate soil compaction. Compacted soil prevents air and nutrients from getting to the roots of the turf grass, which causes it to die back. To evaluate your soil\u2019s compaction problem, push a screwdriver or pencil into the turf. This will be very difficult to do if you have compacted soil. If you notice a problem, know that it\u2019s time to aerate your lawn. You can do the job with a lawn aerator, available for rent or purchase at most home centers.<\/p>\n
THIS ARTICLE IS ORIGINALLY POSTED ON BOB VILA. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THE OWNER.<\/p>\n
This document is provided for your information and use as you deem appropriate. The publisher and provider offer no specific express guarantees related to the impact from the use of this information, nor can they be held liable for the results from the use of this information. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0“I’m Thirsty” If you can see your footprints in the lawn after you\u2019ve walked through the grass, that\u2019s a sign your grass is starting to wilt. Translation: It needs water. This is most likely to happen in the dog days of summer when the heat takes a serious toll on turfgrass. So drag out those sprinklers, and give your lawn a drink! \u201cHelp! I\u2019m Drowning!\u201d Lawn mushrooms are a sign that your yard is too wet. If these fungi appear after heavy rain, they will usually go away on their own. However, you see them regularly, you\u2019ll need to find a way to dry out your lawn. The first step is to cut back your watering routine. If that doesn\u2019t help, try improving drainage with…<\/p>\n