Common Lawn Care Issues Every Homeowner Should Know About

As human beings, there are some quintessential things we should all know. Things like; how to start a fire without matches, how to use the remote of any given TV, grow your own veggies, how to change a tyre, question the status quo, cook at least, erm, three different meals and… Yepp, understand what the most common lawn care issues are so that you can jump on them fast. That’s one of the best things anyone can do to help grow the healthiest patch of lawn between here and St Andrews Golf Course.

You see, as a homeowner, there are a bunch of common lawn care issues that you should be aware of to keep your lawn lush, green, healthy and beautiful. So to help increase your skills and knowledge and, just generally make you a better rounded individual (even if that simply means crushing the next lawn-based round of your local pub quiz), we’ve pulled together a list of the most common lawn care issues to wrap your head around. Ready? Let’s do this:

1. Weeds Are The Worst

It’s true. Weeds really are the worst. Sure, they’re just plants that we’ve labelled bad, except they really are bad when it comes to your lawn. That’s because they have the ability to sprout up on the weaker areas. Weeds takeover your lawn pretty quickly, competing with your grass for nutrients, water and sunlight. Not ideal. As for the most common weeds which include dandelions, crabgrass and clover, it’s important to regularly go on a weed-pulling rampage, use herbicides to keep them under control or, call in the professionals to see what the underlying issues in your lawn might be.

2. Pests Are A Problem

The bad news is, there’s a whole kaleidoscope of pests that can cause major harm to your lovely patch of lawn. We’re talking grubs, chinch bugs, ants, chafer grubs, leatherjackets and armyworms. The good news is: they can be dealt with, it’s just a matter of spotting the signs. To do this, keep an eye on your lawn. Look for clues that suggest damage is being done such as brown patches or uneven growth, and then either treat it yourself or, have our team of technicians come on and deal with them appropriately.

3. Diseases Are Dangerous

That’s right, your lawn is susceptible to diseases, especially the fungal kind, which can cause your lawn to come up in brown patches or yellow spots of grass. This is not good for your grass’ health or your hopes for a pretty looking lawn. As for the different types of lawn disease, you might come across dry patches, dollar spots, fairy rings, snow mould, red thread, slime mould or even litchens. The secret to battling against these is to look after your lawn year-round, keep it as healthy as possible, well-watered and then treat with fungicides if necessary.

4. Soil Compaction Sucks

This is one of those things most people never think about because lawn’s should be enjoyed and not branded with a ‘Do Not Walk On The Grass’ sign, like you find at every posh university campus. That said, heavy foot traffic, machinery and even weather conditions can cause soil compaction, which can limit the amount of water and nutrients enjoyed by your grass roots. Luckily, aeration can help to alleviate soil compaction.

5. Over or Under Watering

Traditionally, we in the UK, never really have to worry about watering our lawns because we get four seasons in one day, almost every day. That said, the climate is changing, heatwaves are becoming more common and floods are getting intense, and with it the task of watering our lawns comes into the fold. Basically, too much or too little water can cause big problems for your lawn. That’s why you want to try to water your lawn deeply and infrequently, rather than giving it light, frequent waterings. Oh and avoid watering during the hottest part of the day to prevent the kind of instant evaporation that will make your effort pointless.

6. How You Mow Matters:

There is a thing we like to call The Art of Mowing. That’s right, it takes more than just yanking on the starter cord and doing some lengths of your garden until your grass is chopped. You see, mowing your lawn too short or too infrequently can cause stress to the grass and make it more susceptible to disease and pests. That’s why you want to mow your lawn to the recommended height for your grass type, usually 3 inches, and then mow frequently enough that you’re not removing more than one-third of the grass blade at a time.

7. Nutrient Deficiencies Are Dangerous

One of the biggest threats to the health of your lawn is a lack of nutrients. The way this takes hold is through visible signs. Usually, it causes your lawn to become thin, discoloured and weak, making it vulnerable to weeds and diseases and pests and intense weather conditions. That’s why we always urge our customers to test their soil regularly as a way to determine any nutrient deficiencies they may be encountering, and then fertilise their lawns according to the results.

By being aware of these common lawn care issues, you can take steps to prevent them and keep your lawn looking healthy and beautiful. Thanks for reading our guide on understanding lawn scarification and aeration. For more lawn care tips and tricks, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.