5 Lawn Problems You Want To Avoid

One of the risks of doing your own lawn maintenance is causing damage in the course of providing ordinary care. The following are some of the most common issues caused by DIY lawn maintenance.

1. Fertilizer Burn

Too much fertilizer isn't a good thing for the lawn. Nitrogen in particular can cause major damage to lawn grass. If you notice brown spots after fertilizing, then chances are that the fertilizer was either applied unevenly or that some was spilled out on the lawn. There may even be all over browning if the fertilizer was applied at too high a rate. 

2. Low Height

Cutting the grass too short isn't a good way to reduce lawn mowing needs unless the goal is to kill the lawn. When a lawn is cut too short, there is not enough leaf surface remaining to keep the grass healthy and lush. Ideally, grass length should be 2.5 to 4 inches tall. Anything shorter increases the chance of lawn stress. Further, the lawn should be cut often enough so that there is never a need to cut off more than a third of the grass blade length. 

3. Dull Blades

Lawnmower blades must be sharpened regularly, which is generally about twice per season for an average lawn. Dull blades won't slice cleanly through the grass but will instead tear up the top of each grass blade and cause browning or even death. The grass also won't cut to an even length, so it will look ragged and unattractive even if browning isn't an issue. 

4. Flat Grass

Flattened-out grass can be confusing if it is a problem right after mowing when length shouldn't be an issue. Mowing the lawn in the same pattern every single week is the likely cause, as this will eventually push the blades over so they begin to grow in the direction of mowing. Varying the mowing pattern is a must if you want to avoid flat grass. This means mowing in horizontal rows on week one, vertical in week two, and diagonally in week three before starting the rotation over again in week four.

5. Ruts

Ruts and bumps in the yard can have many causes, but the lawnmower is often the root cause. Ruts can be caused by walking the same path over and over again, but it's more likely to be caused by pushing the lawnmower along the same path week after week until the wheels wear ruts in the ground. Mowing when the ground is wet will make the situation worse. 

Contact a lawn maintenance service for more help if you notice these issues on your lawn.