Today we’re beginning a two-part look at the seven worst lawn problems faced by North Texans. If you notice any of these issues, it’s time to call in professional lawn care services before they take over your turf. In Part 1, we’ll cover three major problems that frequently damage local lawns.
Throughout North Texas, homeowners’ lawns take a beating. The sources range from weather extremes, over-watering or under-watering, to the invasion of lawn-destroying bugs and using improper fertilizer. When you notice your lawn turning yellow or brown, it’s essential to accurately diagnose the problem to address it effectively. Sometimes the solution requires nothing more than a few simple steps. Other times, professional lawn care services are needed.
3 Severe Lawn-Damaging Problems in North Texas
Disease, dehydration and overfeeding are the causes of many turf troubles. Without treatment, they lead to a sharp decline in lawn health. Here are three serious lawn problems you’ll want to spot and stop early.
1. Brown Patch
Persistent brown patches have several potential causes, and pinning down the correct source can prove challenging. The clumps of dying grass may well be caused by a fungal disease appropriately called brown patch. In that case, the Rhizoctonia fungus is the likely culprit, and it can attack with surprising speed. It’s most aggressive in the summertime, but it can affect your lawn when temperatures hit 65 degrees. Between 80 and 85 degrees and combined with high humidity, brown patch can accelerate and destroy your lawn quickly. Worse, several patches can appear simultaneously, exacerbating your yard’s demise. While the Rhizoctonia fungus appears to pop up overnight, it probably spent the winter dormant in thatch. When temperatures rise and the lawn is mowed, the fungus emerges from hibernation and makes its way into the blades of grass.
When homeowners first notice the problem, it appears as a brown circle that is bordered by a darker ring. This outer boundary (called a smoke ring) is usually more noticeable in the morning, especially when there’s dew on the lawn. Diagnosing the Rhizoctonia fungus is difficult to diagnose and even harder to treat. Solutions range from modifying mowing techniques to a proper balance of fertilizer. Many times, a lawn professional is needed to handle the problem. Specialists will identify brown patch disease, apply timed treatments throughout the season, and improve your lawn’s conditions to prevent future outbreaks.
2. Under-Watering
Under-watering your lawn can produce hot spots. Proper hydration typically means watering between one-quarter and one-half an inch every 2–4 weeks. More rain means less watering, of course, but be cautious if you’re going through a drought. You’ll have to be particularly vigilant about maintaining (and maybe even increasing) your watering schedule. Note that early morning watering minimizes evaporation, which increases watering efficiency.
3. Over-Fertilizing
Some homeowners think that if a little fertilizing is good, then a lot must be better. However, over-fertilizing can result in nitrogen burn, doing more harm to your turf than if you avoided fertilization altogether. A seasonal lawn fertilization service uses commercial fertilizers at the right formulation levels, and the right timing for your grass type. Unfortunately, DIY efforts to fertilize turf often lead to serious mistakes that are hard to recover from.
Excessive fertilizing literally burns your lawn, creating brown patches or worse. Fertilizer burn doesn’t always kill your lawn, but it can cause enough damage that weeks or months may be needed to correct the issue. A brown lawn probably cannot be saved. However, if your lawn is just a bit yellow, recovery is more likely. If your lawn has widespread dry patches that you suspect are due to nitrogen burn, use a metal rake to lift the grass and inspect the roots. If the roots are intact, the grass will probably not need to be replaced, and will recover with adequate hydration. The raked areas will need irrigation to leach away the fertilizer that is causing the dry patch. If the patches are small and isolated, then the nitrogen in the family dog’s urine might be the culprit. This problem is also exacerbated when the lawn is under-watered.
These three issues can cause lasting damage to your lawn, but there are four more problems that are equally threatening to your turf’s health. Check out Part 2 to learn about the remaining four major challenges facing North Texas lawns.
Top-Rated Lawn Care Services in North Texas
Green Top Lawn Care offers a range of services to help you maintain healthy, thriving turf. We provide lawn fertilization, insect control, turf disease management, weed treatments and other key solutions for Tarrant County residents. Call (817) 684-4044 or request a free lawn care quote today.
