A beautiful, healthy-looking lawn reflects the care and attention you’ve put into it. But there are times when you’ll unknowingly damage or even kill your yard. Don’t worry, most of us have been there. In this article, we’ll introduce you to 16 common lawn care mistakes you might be making that are accidentally damaging your turf.

1. Cutting the grass too short

Sometimes, lawn care might seem like a tiresome task, so it might be tempting to give your lawn a crew cut to stretch the time between mowings. Don’t. Resist the urge, because cutting the grass too short will essentially remove all the photosynthesizing grass blades. 

Cutting the leaf short eventually causes the grass to draw on its stored root energy for the nutrients it needs to grow. This majorly stunts root development, and your grass ends up starving. 

The right approach is to cut just one-third of the grass length at each mowing, no more than that. Proper lawn length also depends on the type of grass you have. For instance, you need to keep around 3 inches of fine fescue or Kentucky bluegrass in your yard. 

2. Watering at the wrong time

Another common mistake we make is watering our lawns at the wrong time of the day. Irrigating in the middle of a hot day causes much of the water to evaporate before it can sink into the ground to nourish the roots. Watering in the evening results in too little evaporation, allowing most of the water to sit on the grass all night and encouraging fungal growth. 

The best time to water your lawn is in the early morning to allow plenty of time for turf to absorb and utilize water. This way, you will give an entire day for the lawn to dry out and reduce the chances of diseases in your yard.

3. Over-fertilizing 

Your lawn needs nutrition, but overfeeding it can actually weaken it. As they say, too much of a good thing is bad. If you over-fertilize your lawn, it will slowly burn and leave brown patches. 

Over-applying fertilizer is even more harmful in sandy soils, as a good amount of it can easily seep through the soil and mix with the groundwater, streams, lakes, and wetlands. Lawn grass only requires a certain amount of nutrition, which also depends on the type of grass and the climate in which you reside. Other than over-fertilizing the lawn, you can also damage it by fertilizing it at the wrong time of the year. 

The right approach is to fertilize your lawn just twice a year, in the spring and the fall. Lawn Love also has comprehensive guides on how to, and how often, you should fertilize your lawn. 

If you’ve already over-fertilized your lawn, you need to do damage control. Water the lawn thoroughly to flush out the excess product. Soaking the affected areas daily can revive your lawn, but sometimes the remedy is to simply start over. Rake out the dead areas, aerate and reseed to stimulate new growth. 

If the lawn is decimated, consider re-sodding, or seek help from a lawn care professional from Lawn Love.

 

A fairly common mistake is not getting your soil tested before you fertilize. You could be using the best fertilizers in the world and not get any results because nothing can make up for poor soil. 

Your turf grass has an entire ecosystem working below the roots, and if it gets out of balance, you’ll end up with lots of problems. Fertilizing or overfeeding without knowing about your soil pH will seriously damage and burn your yard beyond repair.

The correct way is to have the soil tested before applying anything. This will tell you exactly what kind of nutrients the grass needs to flourish. This also helps determine the right products and quantities for the turf. Soil testing can also point out any other problems and deficiencies your lawn might potentially experience. Contact your local Extension office for help.

5. Mowing with a dull blade 

Dull mower blades tear grass leaves rather than slicing them cleanly. This stresses the grass, and leaves ragged ends, which leaves grass vulnerable to disease and decay.

Why? Because a dull, ragged cut forces grass to use most of its energy on rebuilding the torn and lost tissue. Poor cuts cause moisture to wick up quickly from the frayed leaves and open them up for pathogens to enter and dry them out.

You can tell that your lawn mower blade needs sharpening if you start to see white tissue from the grass blades after you mow. Or, the grass will look brown on top after a day or two.   

The correct approach is to regularly sharpen your mower’s blades (a couple of times a season) and keep them clean. Or, switch to a new one if needed. Properly sharpened blades are important for a healthy lawn, no matter what the weather conditions are. Grass that you cut with a sharp blade increases photosynthesis and reduces water loss. 

6. Mowing when the grass is wet

The smell of a freshly mown lawn after rain is intoxicating, but mowing your lawn while it is still wet can lead to some serious problems. Damp grass can clog the lawn mower and is also harder to cut because the blades bend. Grass clippings clump up rather than spread evenly as you mow, causing thatch buildup.

You might also invite lots of diseases and weeds by mowing grass wet. That is because a freshly cut, damp grass blade becomes highly susceptible to disease-carrying organisms. 

The right time to mow your grass is to wait until it has dried out. It helps your lawn mower make straight cuts and doesn’t leave ruts in your yard. 

7. Watering too much

Another common mistake that damages a lawn gradually is to water it daily. Even if the weather is hot and you water the lawn rather lightly, you can make the root system weak and shallow by watering too much. It then becomes a vicious cycle where these weakened grass roots need to be watered constantly to stay healthy.

A weak root system makes your lawn more susceptible to diseases and insect damage. Watering every day or on alternate days for a few minutes and making the grass dependent or needy is simply a waste of time and water. Overwatering does more damage than underwatering your yard. 

The best way to water your lawn is to do it heavily just once or twice a week. Deep watering allows the water to slowly penetrate the soil and builds better tolerance for dry conditions. It also reduces weed growth. 

An important part of understanding the needs and maintaining your grass is to know the species. Some grass species don’t need watering as much as others do. You can check a detailed story on Lawn Love about when and how to water lawns with different types of grasses.

8. Watering too little

Going weeks without watering your lawn makes it hard for the grass to survive.

An under-watered lawn will turn gray, dry, and brittle. You might also see signs of heat and stress fungus called ascochyta leaf blight. Dry soil lacks beneficial microbial activity as these organisms need moisture to stay alive. 

The correct watering technique is to provide lawns at least an inch of water per week. This is usually enough for most grass types, but you need to take into account their respective watering requirements. Investing in a good sprinkler system can also help ensure a constant and measured water supply for the lawn.

9. Giving too much shade

While fences, canopies, and walls offer excellent protection and privacy, they can be harmful to your grass. Wide, old-grown trees on your property can also block sunlight for the grass below. 

All grass types do not require an abundance of direct sunlight in abundance, but all need some light, and too much shade can be a problem.

The correct approach would be to carefully plan the overall landscaping and choose the right planting method and shade grass species for your region. Cool-season grasses do better with shady conditions. Alternatively, you can also reduce the fence height, or install a different kind that allows sunlight to seep through. Trim tree branches to allow more light onto your lawn as well.

10. Disturbing the soil

The quality of your lawn depends so much on the condition of the soil. You can cause irreparable damage to your luscious lawn if you displace the soil once grass roots have established a foothold in it. This imbalance can even kill large trees and destroy full, healthy lawns. 

The right way to handle this is to get an expert’s advice and never attempt to add or remove soil. A difference of even a few inches can disturb the whole ecosystem. 

11. Walking on the turf 

Heavy foot traffic on your lawn can also kill your grass. Walking on grass compresses the leaves or blades, and if it’s too much, you will end up ruining the crown of the blade or damaging the upper grass roots altogether. The same goes for parking vehicles on the lawn.

Walking on soft soil can also cause ruts and compaction. Soil compaction then makes it harder for nutrients to reach down to the roots and eventually kills your lawn. 

The correct approach is to minimize traffic on your lawn. Do not use your yard as a parking spot in any case. If you’re expecting to have foot traffic on the lawn, you can perhaps fashion a cute, rustic walkway or path in it. But if you want to use your yard for play and gatherings, consider choosing a hardy type of grass that does well under heavy foot traffic. Lawn Love has a guide to hardiest grasses for high-traffic yards.

12. Cluttering the lawn

We’re all guilty of leaving those post-party messes untouched on the lawn after a fun friends-and-family gathering. But that kind of procrastination can lead to problems for your lawn. 

Leaving clutter, including tables, disposable plates, kiddie pools, chairs, etc., can compact the soil and hinder growth. The roots don’t get air, water, or sunlight, and eventually, poor growth and stress kill the grass. 

The right way to avoid this is to simply clean the lawn of such items so that the grass can breathe and grow freely. Also, avoid storing items in your yard.

13. Ignoring thatch

Thatch is a layer of accumulated debris, slowly decomposing roots, clippings, and grass stems that form at the top soil surface over time. This layer makes it hard for air, sunlight, and nutrients to reach the grass roots, practically choking your lawn to death. 

Excessive thatch formation is often an occurrence in over-watered or over-fertilized lawns and such lawns that are not aerated. A buildup of ¾ inches or more blocks the soil surface in a way that can harbor disease-causing bacteria and organisms. 

The right approach is to keep the lawn clean in the first place. In case of a thatch buildup, timely remove it and let the soil breathe. 

14. Throwing away lawn clippings

Most of us think grass clippings are waste, or that leaving grass clipping on the lawn can result in thatch buildup, but those are myths. In reality, tossing clipping after mowing is a big mistake. 

As these lawn clippings decompose, they can release up to 25% of the fertilizer that a lawn needs if you’re mowing it correctly. And taking these clippings away is simply denying your lawn a free source of nutrients. 

The right approach is to stop throwing away your lawn clipping and make sure that these clippings are sufficiently small. If the clippings are too large they can hinder growth and smother the grass underneath it. 

These grass clippings serve as a natural mulch for your beloved lawn. Lawn clippings also skillfully cover bare spots on the lawn and act as a natural weed killer as they restrain weed seeds from germinating on these bare spots. 

15. Mowing the same direction

It’s easier to mow in the same direction and follow a routine, week in and week out. When you repeatedly mow the grass in the same direction, you train the grass blades to grow at an angle. You might also create permanent tracks from the mower’s wheels, making your lawn unappealing.

The correct way to mow is to keep changing the mowing pattern. Mow in different directions every time. Go back to front, front to back, diagonal, etc. 

16. Letting pets go wild

If your dogs are used to urinating on the lawn, you might begin to see discoloration of the lawn. Generally, you will notice round patches with dead grass at the center and dark green grass encircling them. 

The salt in canine urine can cause permanent lawn damage in that area, while your pet’s scratching and running can tear up the turf.

The right approach is to remove or dilute the urine from whatever’s left of grass and the soil. Soak the area generously with water to clean it up. Don’t expect new grass to grow in this area after cleaning. Then you will have to replant the grass to fill up the circle. 

Homeowners can establish one specific area of the lawn for dogs to use, then train them to do so. You can dedicate a mulched area so your pups can have fun and go about their business without damaging the rest of the  lawn.

The Final Word

Lawn care mistakes happen, but knowing what to do – and what not to do – is the key to maintaining a healthy, green, lush lawn.

You can also tap into the expertise of our Lawn Love pros for help.

Main Photo Credit: ChandraRV | iStock