How to Handle Patchy Grass
Do you have thinning grass under your trees or a patchy section on your lawn? Determining the source of the problem is the MOST important part of finding a solution.
How to fix patchy grass & thinning lawns
Patchy, thin grass is usually an indicator of a bigger problem. It may be tempting to simply add fertilizer or spread grass seeds, but trying the wrong solution could actually make things worse. Until you know what’s causing the problem, you won’t be able to successfully overcome it.
Some causes for thinning grass include:
- Compacted or hard soil. If your soil is too hard (compacted), it creates a hostile environment for growing grass. When soil is packed down, it prevents roots from getting the air and nutrients they need to grow, resulting in thin grass. In this case, lawn aeration and soil amendments are often helpful.
- The lawn has not been properly watered or mowed. Good lawn care practices like proper mowing and lawn watering can go a long way toward preventing thin patchy lawns and bringing them back to health.
- Not enough fertilizer. Lawns need soil with the proper pH and a balanced composition of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to stay in top condition. You can learn more about proper fertilization techniques on our fertilization page. If you’re in our service area, we have a variety of fertilizer packages custom-tailored to fix your patchy lawn.
- A disease or insect problem is occurring. Lawn diseases, such as powdery mildew, or insects like Japanese Beetles and grubs, can create thin, patchy grass.
- Too much shade. Shade problems can also cause or contribute to thinning grass under trees or in random lawn patches. Even grass seeds that have been specially cultivated for use in shaded areas can struggle without enough sunlight, resulting in thin grass growth, straggly grass, and bare patches.
What to do about thin, patchy lawns
If you’re within our Minneapolis and St. Paul metro lawn care service area, you can call us to schedule a consultation. A Rainbow Lawncare consultant will identify the problem and give you the solution for how to fix patchy grass and give you a thicker, healthier lawn.
Our experts recommend soil testing when there is a difficult problem to diagnose, or your lawn has not responded to other treatments. These tests provide a wealth of information about your soil, including nutrient levels, pH, and other conditions that impact your lawn’s heath. We also suggest current clients have regular soil tests performed every three or four years if they have challenging conditions on their property.
If you are not within our service area, soil testing may be available through your local agricultural extension office. Check for one in your area and use the information provided on their website to guide you to a thicker, greener, healthier lawn.
Challenged by a thin patchy lawn?
