The frustration is probably starting to set in as you watch the lawn you just slaved over to look lush and green slowly turning yellow. Hang in there; we have multiple ways to turn that yellowing grass back to the green lawn it should be!
What Causes Yellow Grass?
Grass can turn green for several different reasons, most of which are easy to remedy once you discover the problem. We will break down each of these to get a better understanding. The most common reasons are the following:
- Too much nitrogen
- Hot weather
- Over-watering
- Lawn disease
- Pests
- Lack of basic nutrients
- Dormancy
Too Much Nitrogen
As I am sure you know, nitrogen is essential for plants, but there is a catch-22 with nitrogen. Too much nitrogen can burn the roots of your grass, altering the pH of the soil. Once the pH of the earth is altered, and the roots are roasted, you will notice the yellow spots of grass.
Side Note: If you are a dog lover, that may be part of the reason your lawn is turning yellow. Dog urine has a high composition of nitrogen that can affect your lawn.
Hot Weather
This one is the most common one that folks see. When the days get long and slightly miserable with all of the heat, the grass feels it too and starts to get dehydrated. When it is dry, this will result in those yellowing patches.
Over-Watering
Ironically, you can overwater your lawn. If you water too often, you end up suffocating the plant and its ability to absorb nutrients. It also opens the door for fungal infections to take up residence on your lawn.
On the flip side, overwatering can cause the soil to become waterlogged. This causes the grassroots to grow way too close to the surface. That directly translates to all of the issues we have talked about; fewer nutrients, oxygen, and water uptake.
Lawn Diseases
If you notice an irregular pattern in the yellowing patches on your lawn, there is a good chance that it is a disease at work. As we mentioned above, fungal diseases are pretty common, especially in places of overwatering.
Pest
Unfortunately, pests do not just bother the human race and pick on grass too. Insects and larvae can attack your grassroots, stripping it of its nutrients. This is pretty easy to identify by the presence of larvae or insects dormant in your grass or abnormal holes in the grass stems.
Lack Of Basic Nutrients
As I’m sure you have discovered, lawns can get pretty finicky when it comes down to the nutrients it needs. Make sure you have used a fertilizer that is recommended with the type of grass you have planted. There is a good chance that your lawn may be low in nitrogen or iron.
Dormancy
Bears aren’t the only thing that goes into a form of hibernation; your lawn does, too, at any given time. Grass will go dormant to protect itself. There is not much you can do about this one, as it will come out of dormancy when it feels like it is the ideal season.
Can Yellow Grass Turn Green Again?
Thankfully, yes, you can! You don’t have to completely rip up your lawn and replant all of it to get that grass green again! Here are a few of the big things that make a difference:
- Nitrogen Concentration
- Disease and Watering
- Nutrients
Nitrogen Concentration
To the areas that have shown to have high levels of nitrogen concentration, water deeply to wash off the excess nitrogen. Continuing watering these areas like this every week.
Keep in mind as you are doing the deep soak of the plants to remove the nitrogen, you are also removing the good nutrients that the plants need to thrive. Make sure you replenish the grass with a fertilizer to help give it the nutrition it needs.
Disease And Watering
Research different types of diseases that may be attacking your lawn. As I mentioned before, it is most likely going to be a fungal infection. You can treat the infection with a fungicide.
When applying the fungicide, ensure you are watering at a good time, such as in the morning, to ensure that the fungicide does not evaporate. It also helps with the watering as well, as it helps prevent the moisture from evaporating off of the grass.
Another little note, make sure you mow your lawn and clear up all of the debris. This helps aerate the soil. It never hurts to give the bottom of your lawn mower a quick bath after you have applied the fungicide to help prevent respreading the infection over the newly treated lawn.
Nutrient
This one might require a bit of work on your end. To determine which nutrients the lawn is begging for, you will have to do a bit of soil testing. Soil testing kits are sold at most of your local lawn and garden stores.
After you have determined which nutrient(s) your lawn needs, all you have to do is supplement your lawn with them! Keep an eye out for the back of the bag, though; it may require specific applications, maintenance, or frequency instructions.
How To Avoid My Grass Turning Yellow Again
Proper maintenance of your lawn is key to preventing you from having to jump through these hoops again. Make sure you have done your research on the particular type of grass that you have. Your research should include knowing what pH levels, basic nutrient levels, and how much water it needs to thrive.
If you are a dog lover and your lawn is turning yellow because of their urine, there are solutions besides getting rid of the dog! You can always train your furry friend to urinate somewhere else. Still, if that is not an option, there are urine neutralizers that have been proven effective. If you cannot use the urine neutralizers or train your dog to urinate elsewhere, ensure you rinse off the areas where they relieve themselves in a timely fashion.
Another maintenance tip is to make sure you mow at the right time, water deeply, supply the right amount of fertilizer, and remove excess grass clipping appropriately. This way, you can lay on your grass without the rough scratch of the yellowing patches!
Since we started chatting about maintenance, I also want to mention that you will also have to give your lawn a little love in the fall. Once fall hits, rake your grass to help prevent suffocation from all the leaves littering your yard.