Although there are many more important things than a perfect lawn, working towards that goal can bring you satisfaction and a sense of achievement. It can also provide a personal oasis where you and your family can relax. 

You may have to address some common lawn problems in order to get there. Don’t worry. There’s a solution.

How to Fix 7 Common Lawn Issues

1. My Grass is Too Thin

Harsh weather, games like tag and roughhousing with your dog can all lead to thinned grass. It looks like it is time to over-seed. After mowing your lawn, turn the mower to the lowest setting and rake it. Next, add the product to your spreader, following the instructions on the label. 

After watering your lawn for approximately 2 weeks, you can resume mowing once your grass is at the correct height. This will depend on your type of grass. How To Overseed A Thin Lawn has more information.Think about getting a spreader as well.

2. My Lawn Is Bare

You might want to try a different approach if your grass is not in good shape but still has some bare spots. Scotts(r), EZ Seed(r), Patch & Repair, or Scotts(r), Sprouts(tm) can help you get those areas back to life.

EZ Seed(r), a unique blend of premium continuous release lawn foods, high-performance seed and super-absorbent growth material, is Scotts(r). Use a rake to loosen the soil and spread the seeds according the package directions. Water daily until the new grass seedlings reach 2 inches in height. Then you can treat them like any other lawn.

You can start the growing process right in your bag with Sprouts(tm). Add 3 cups water to the bag, wait 3 days, then spread the already-growing grass on any bare areas. Follow the label instructions and you will see grass growing in a matter of days. (Blown away, we know!)

3. My lawn has ugly brown spots.

This one is a bit more complex, but it’s possible that there could be many things that are causing the spots. There are many possible causes, including grubs and fungus, foot traffic, weed death, and dog urine. Before you start spraying or spreading a product, identify the problem.

• You may have grubs if critters such as raccoons or skunks are digging in your yard. To learn what to do, see section 4.
• Spots from dog urine can have brown centers and green outer rings. If you have tall fescue, use Scotts(r), EZ Seed(r), Dog Spot Repair Sun & Shade or Scotts(r), EZ Seed(r).
• Fungus can cause patches of yellow-colored or straw-colored grass in irregular shapes and sizes. You can fight the fungal disease by applying Scotts(r), DiseaseEx(tm), Lawn Fungicide. This will kill a number of fungal diseases for as long as 4 weeks. Follow all label instructions.
• A product such as Scotts(r), EZ Seed(r), Patch & Repair can be used to treat brown spots or areas caused by foot traffic.

4. I Believe There May be Grubs on My Lawn.

You should take immediate action if you find more than a few C-shaped, fat grubs when you dig in your soil. Here’s how the life cycle works: The beetles appear in the early summer and feed on the plants. After that, they lay eggs in the soil. In late summer, the eggs hatch as grubs and then go to work eating grass roots and plant roots. 

This cycle can be stopped by treating the lawn before the eggs hatch. Apply GrubEx(r), in the spring or early-summer. Fill your spreader with the appropriate amount of product, and then water it to activate it. 

5. Dollarweed, Dandelions, Oxalis and Crabgrass are all Weeds that can be a Problem for Any Lawn-caretaker

Dollarweed, dandelions, oxalis and crabgrass are all weeds that can be a problem for any lawn-caretaker. For crabgrass problems, see the next section. But for all other weed issues, this is what you need to know. Maintaining the health of your grass can prevent the problem from ever happening. 

Follow these mowing tips and give your lawn the right amount water. You should also fertilize your grass frequently. Scotts(r), Turf Builder(r), Weed & Feed3* can be used to feed your grass while controlling weeds. Scotts(r), Spot Weed Control For Lawns is also available if you only have a few.

6. Crabgrass Can be a Problem

. There is no doubt about that. It is best to prevent it from ever growing. To prevent crabgrass sprouting, use Scotts(r] Turf Builder(r] Halts Crabgrass Preventer and Lawn Food* early in the spring. This will protect your lawn, as well as keep it healthy throughout the season. Crabgrass is already a problem. Stop it cold using Scotts(r), Spot Weed Treatment for Lawns. This kills crabgrass right down to its root without causing damage to the lawn.

7. My Lawn Has Yellow Streaks

This is not to be a bad thing, but it means that you have probably applied fertilizer incorrectly. It happens to all of us. To ensure complete coverage, you should walk slowly back and forth with your spreader. You may notice yellow streaks in grass that has not been fertilized. This can contrast with the lush, green grass next to it. To make sure that your lawn grows green, you will need to improve your application technique.

You don’t need to spend a lot of time maintaining a beautiful lawn. You can take care of your lawn as best you can and identify any problems before they become serious. What will you see? The result? A lush green oasis that you will love to spend time in.