| i mowed our lawn last week and I noticed that it turned yellowish. What caused it to happen and what should I do? Did I cut the grass too short? |
| It is possible that your scalped your lawn by cutting it too low. If so, it will recover in a few weeks. Or, it may be time to have your lawn mower blades sharpened. When the blades are dull they rip the blades rather than cut them cleanly. This injury causes the blades to turn yellow. So, check the blades before you mow again. Other causes for yellowing grass are weather, a need for fertilizer, or overwatering. If you have a cool season type turf and your weather is getting warm, it might be that the winter grass is going dormant. Or, you may be overwatering and keeping your lawn too wet. If your turf has not been fed since last fall, it may be time to feed it now. Use a fertilizer such as Scotts Turfbuilder (or any brand of 21-7-14 or similar ratio of NPK). Apply in amounts as recommended on the label. If your lawn is thin and needs reseeding, wait until this spring when the weather warms. If your turf is over 4 years old or if it gets lots of foot traffic, the soil may be compacted and will benefit aerating prior to overseeding. Rent a core aerator, go over the entire lawn, and leave the plugs on the lawn to dissolve in rainwater or water from the sprinklers. After aerating, overseed and then spread a thin layer of compost or sand over the top of the seeds. The compost or sand will work its way into the holes left by the aerator and will help loosen the soil which will help the roots of your grass grow healthy and thick. Hope this information covers all the bases! Best wishes with your lawn. |
