March 9th, 2023 by Shauna Hammond

Spring is here! You know what that means: it's time for that spring lawn check-up. Your lawn can be one of the most important parts of your home especially if you enjoy spending the warmer days outside with friends and family. While is why making sure your lawn stays healthy is a vital part of your lawn care routine and should be done every spring to ensure your grass has the best chance of growing strong and healthy. The check-up is simple to do, but there are some things you'll want to keep in mind before you get started.

How to tell if your lawn is unhealthy

There are a few tell-tale signs that will let you know if your lawn is unhealthy, this can be a variety of symptoms depending on the issue. Lawn diseases and pests can cause the grass to yellow, brown and wilt which can result in a patchy-looking lawn. So, if you notice holes in your lawn or patches that have been damaged by pests some of the most common ones being leatherheads and chafer grubs then this may be the first indication that your lawn is in need of some TLC. But how do you tell which problem it is you are dealing with?

Signs of lawn disease

As the weather warms up, it's a good time to check your lawn for signs of disease. Lawn diseases are usually most identifiable by symptoms such as discolouration such as yellow spots and patches on the grass blades as well as some other symptoms.

Red Thread

One of the most common lawn diseases in the UK is known as red thread, which is the fungus Laetisaria fuciformis. This often occurs in very wet seasons, and while it is quite treatable and it is not likely to kill grass at the root it can still be very unsightly and may be a sign that your lawn does not have enough nutrients. You can usually spot this by a very noticeable red fungus that grows on the blades of grass, during the later stages the grass may appear bleached in colour. In order to protect against and control red thread using a lawn feed that is high in nitrogen is a must as this will help your lawn to better absorb the nutrients it needs in order to combat such diseases.

Fusarium or Snow Mould

If you notice that your grass has patches of yellow and brown then there may be a chance that your lawn is struggling with a mould disease, these are most commonly Fusarium or Snow Mould. If left untreated then it is often too late to save and that area may need re-seeding, so it is important to keep an eye out for the early-stage symptoms so you can begin taking proactive measures. Treating the area immediately with a fungicide can help to prevent further damage, however, if this should fail you are left with the only option of re-seeding the area.

Dry Patch

Dry patch is identified by patches of grass that are usually irregular in colour, these will often be a dark dull green which will eventually turn brown, another symptom of dry patch can also be areas of your lawn becoming waterlogged this is due to the soil becoming water repellent rather than absorbing moisture as it should. Due to this, the soil becomes dry regardless of how often it has been watered resulting in the grass suffering from drought-like symptoms and being unable to absorb necessary nutrients. In order to prevent dry patch from occurring it is important to scarify the lawn, do not over-compact the soil and of course, ensure your lawn receives important nutrients to promote robust and healthy roots, this can be done by using including Iron Sulphate in your lawn care routine. If you notice signs of dry patch occurring then densely aerate (spike) the soil and apply water, do this every day for around 4 days. If this alone does not work then try using a chemical solution such as a wetting agent in conjunction with the above method, this will likely need repeat treatment over a period of 3/4 months.

Signs of lawn pests

You will notice the effects of lawn pests are very similar to that of lawn disease presenting itself as yellowing grass and there will be areas where the grass may be sparser. You may also notice burrows or mounds in your lawn too which can also be a sign of lawn pests.

How to Treat Lawn Insects

Ants, beetles, chinch bugs (seed corn maggots), cockroaches and grubs are some of the most common insect pests that can damage your grass. Some bugs feed on grass roots or leaves; others suck the juice from stems and shoots.

Insecticide

One of the most obvious and most effective ways to treat these is by using an insecticide spray that kills them on contact or one that poisons them when they eat it, however, the downside of using such things is that it will also kill insects that benefit grass and plant life such as Bees, so this is only recommended as a last resort.

Natural Predators

Try alternative methods such as introducing natural predators such as birds, in order to do this make your garden as attractive as possible to them - try setting out bird feeders and bird baths.

Aerate Your Lawn

Another chemical-free way to rid your lawn of unwanted pests is to regularly aerate your lawn, since grubs enjoy compacted soil since provide them with shelter, aerating your soil will make it less appealing to them.

How to treat drought on lawns

The first step to keeping your lawn healthy is to make sure it's getting enough water. If you're still using a sprinkler system, check to see if there are any leaks or clogs that need repairing. If not, try hand watering with a garden hose to see if this helps keep up with the dry conditions. You can also add a slow-release fertilizer and compost to help restore nutrients in the soil after they've been depleted by drought conditions and overuse of chemicals like pesticides and herbicides.

If these steps don't seem like enough, try mulching around the edges of your yard so that grass doesn't grow up against fences or buildings where it will be harder for moisture from rain or irrigation systems (if applicable) to reach them.

Tips for keeping the lawn healthy

Prevention is always much easier than treatment, so trying to keep your lawn healthy and strong is the way forward. Some tips for keeping your lawn healthy and strong are:

·        Use a good quality lawn fertilizer.

·        Iron Sulphate and Nitrogen lawn feed will encourage vibrant green colour and strong roots

·        Add compost to the soil and water deeply but not too often (once every 15 days).

·        Mow your lawn at the correct height for your type of grass; this will promote healthy growth.

·        Keep your lawn free of weeds by spraying them with a weed killer (there are many brands available) or use an organic option such as vinegar mixed with dish soap and water applied directly onto weeds using a pump sprayer

·        Ensure you are correctly watering your lawn, not too much and not too little.

So as spring approaches and we get ready to step out into the garden to make the most of the warm weather, take the time to check on your lawn.