What your lawn is trying to tell you

Lawn expert explains 5 common lawn issues and how to fix them 

We’d all love to have the kind of lush, green lawn that makes the neighbours jealous – but unfortunately nature often has other ideas. Bad weather, fungi and lawn care mistakes can leave your grass looking less than perfect.

Luckily, the lawn maintenance experts at Toolstation have some advice for deciphering what your lawn is trying to tell you: 

“If your lawn isn’t looking tip top, it’s possible it’s trying to tell you something. Changes in colour and texture are often signs that something is wrong. The good news is, many of these issues have simple solutions.”

Spongy

“A buildup of thatch of more than a couple of centimetres is often the cause behind lawns that feel spongy under foot and aren’t growing particularly well. This can be rectified by scarifying the lawn. This involves using a spring-tine rake or scarifier to remove the moss from around the base of the grass plants.”

Reddish tint

“If your lawn has taken on a reddish tint, it’s often a sign of a fungal disease called red thread, especially after a period of warm, wet weather. To treat red thread, apply a high nitrogen fertiliser to your lawn.”

Yellow with white tips

“If your lawn appears slightly yellow with white tips, it could be that your lawnmower blades need sharpening. The white tips indicate that the mower is tearing the blades of grass, creating frayed edges. As a rule of thumb, mower blades should be sharpened after every 25 hour of use.”

Dry, bleached spots 

“Dollar spot is a disease caused by a fungus called Sclerotinia homoeocarpa. It causes distinctive small, circular patches of dead grass that are bleached white or straw-coloured. It’s often a sign that you’re not mowing your lawn regularly enough, or that it needs a boost of nitrogen.”

Yellow or brown bald patches 

“Unsightly yellow or brown patches that are almost devoid of grass are often a sign that your mower height is set too low. Effectively, this causes parts of your lawn to become scalped. This can be avoided by adjusting the height of your lawnmower.”