Why are some lawns green but some are almost yellow?

SUBCRIBER

News

Has your vibrant green lawn suddenly become tainted with yellow spots? These yellow patches on your lawn may be caused by a variety of circumstances. If you’ve been wondering what’s generating yellow patches on your grass, your search is over! Whether you have a small yellow patch or a large swath of yellow, here are a few reasons why, along with some ways to fix them.

Dryness

Excessively hot weather or having areas of your lawn completely exposed to full sun all day can dehydrate the grass pretty quickly. High heat causes damage and discolouration to your grass.

One solution to dryness is to water the turf more frequently and deeply, early in the morning if possible to allow the water time to dry over the course of the day. To heal major damage, try reseeding in the autumn.

Excess Nitrogen

Excess nitrogen in your grass may come from two sources: overfertilization and dog urine. Nitrogen is a chemical that promotes the development of green leafy vegetation and is an essential component for a lush, healthy lawn. Too much nitrogen, on the other hand, may produce chemical burns to grass roots and a change in soil pH, resulting in yellowing grass.

Puppy urine has a high nitrogen content and may produce burn patches on your grass. Urine spots are often yellow bordered by greener grass because the diluted edges of the urine actually feed the grass (like fertilizer) while the more concentrated center of the urine spot burns the roots and causes the discoloration.

The best way to minimize damage from excess nitrogen is to prevent it in the first place. Before fertilizing, use care and make sure to thoroughly water it in. If the patch has already been damaged, water it immediately to drain it, and then water it every day for a week. Place in compost to replace any minerals that have been lost. If the grass is already dead, cover it with sod and reseed it the next year. Teach your pet to urinate in different locations rather than the same one. Water any urine off your lawn immediately to minimize damage.

Disease

The majority of grass illnesses that generate yellow stains on your lawn are fungal in nature. The vulnerability of your grass to fungus is affected by temperature, thatch, and moisture levels. Fairy rings, snow mold, fusarium, and smut are some of the most prevalent fungal illnesses.

Make sure your grass is dethatched and aerated to help avoid fungal illness. Water in the early morning hours so that the moisture may evaporate during the day rather than sitting overnight. Rake up any clippings, dirt, or leaves to prevent moisture from being trapped beneath.

Nutrient Deficiencies

Nutritional deficits may cause grass discolouration. Nitrogen and iron are two of the most common deficiencies that cause yellow spots on your lawn. Nitrogen deficiency causes leaves to become yellow-green or yellow, causing your lawn’s development to be inhibited. Huge clover groupings are also frequent on nitrogen-deficient lawns. Iron deficits often cause the younger grass blades to appear yellow, although they seldom result in stunted development. A soil test might reveal any inadequacies.

After identifying the nutritional shortfall, address it using a nutrient-specific plant food or fertilizer.

Pests

Little insects eating on grass roots and causing damage may also cause lawn discoloration. Using a magnifying lens, parting the grass blades, and carefully inspecting the thatch for larvae or insects is one approach to check for this. Pest damage to grass is often caused by juvenile pests rather than adults.

Once you have identified the pests that are damaging your lawn, use an insecticide formulated for that pest to treat. Pest populations may be reduced by reducing thatch, watering, and fertilization.

Soil Compaction

Physical damage from frequent walking on the lawn can cause soil compaction where the soil gets packed so close together that the pores are too small. This confines the roots and prevents them from spreading. Water and other nutrients are also unable to enter the tightly packed soil.

Aerate your grass using a core aerator or a rake to help loosen the soil. After aeration, apply grass seed, fertilizer, and a layer of loam. Try to keep heavy traffic off the lawn. If it isn’t an option, try putting in a pathway or stepping stones in high-traffic areas.

RESTORATION

Now that we’ve identified some of the reasons your lawn has yellow spots and ways to fix them, how can you restore the vibrant green color? Here are some more methods for reviving your grass.

• Reduce the number of trees in the area so that more sunlight can reach it (without allowing full sunlight exposure all day)
• Keep your mower blades sharp and only mow when the grass is dry.
• Improve drainage of your lawn
• Remove any extra grass clippings and fallen leaves using a rake.
• Fertilize as directed, and keep an eye out for weed rivals that might drain your lawn’s resources.
• Utilize a professional lawn care service that can provide you with a free lawn analysis and lawn care plan

Related Questions

• Why is my grass yellow instead of green?

  Drought Stress
  Your lawn needs water to thrive and when it doesn’t receive enough, it can start to wilt and ultimately the grass will turn pale green or yellow. Mother Nature does not always give enough water, so you should establish a regular watering plan or consider installing an irrigation system.

• Why is my grass yellow in some areas?

  Yellow patches are usually caused by an iron deficiency, particularly in the spring. This happens when high-carbon plant or organic matter is introduced to the soil. Also, organisms take nitrogen from the soil to break down carbon which can result in nitrogen deficiencies if the nutrients aren’t replenished.

• Why is some of my grass light green and some dark green?

  Improper Fertilization Can Affect Grass Color
  Since lawn fertilization is what helps to make grass green, if some grass is light green and some is dark green, it may be that it’s not properly fertilized. This may happen if a homeowner buys a bag of fertilizer and just spreads it over the yard.

• Why is my grass different shades of green?

  Perhaps the main cause of varying shades of grass is the Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium (NPK) ratio of your soil. Nitrogen is the element responsible for the quantities of chlorophyll and, as a consequence, the color green.