From heat waves and dog piss to fertiliser and poor soil lineament , there are a host of reasons why your lawn may be turning yellow . continue your lawn green can be a fight for those trying to create a lush haven , but , with a few childlike lawn care tips and tricks , you ’ll be well on your way to maintaining a lawn that will turn heads !

Materials Needed

Before you start , you may call for some supplies , including :

Know Your Grass Type

The first step to a sizable lawn is knowing your pot case . There are manydifferent types of grass , fromBermuda GrassandCentipede GrasstoKentucky Bluegrass . dissimilar varietiespresent in a reach of colors from thick green to yellowy - light-green and even blue — assure to see which type you have , so you know what color is good for you . In addition , most grass type are labeled as either coolheaded - season or strong - season , which refers to their develop period . coolheaded - season grasses grow throughout the cooler time of year , from previous winter to early leaping . strong - season grasses develop throughout the natural spring and summertime and are dormant in the winter .

Inspect Your Grass and Soil

Before you decide on a treatment plan , it ’s crucial to determine thesource of the problemand inspect your grass and soil . Some of the most common problems that go to lawn yellowing include :

Dig down about 8 in to inspect your lawn . An idealistic dirt piece of music is loose , crumbly , and well - draining . However , if you are dealing with hard , sandy , or gray and wet soil , this could indicate compact territory or a lack of nutrients . An hour after watering , find out at this depth to see if your soil is sozzled at the base level . This will suggest whether your lawn is take over the water properly . Depending on whether your full yard is yellow or just patches , will also help you pinpoint the problem . Fairy halo , for example , may award as a yellow circle .

For those living in warm climate , period of drought , and acute heating system , may be the culprit . In addition to yellowing , the lawn may appear brown and dry . humble , circular patches of chickenhearted grassmay indicate nitrogen burning , from either dog urine or over - plant food .

Sunflowers in a field

If you are shy of the source of the problem , it ’s always a expert idea to complete a soil test . This will essay your soil for nutrients such as nitrogen , phosphorus , and potassium ; Nitrogen helps with the greenish color , phosphorus promotes root development , and potassium makes the grass thrive and stout . Depending on your plants grunge requirements you should be reckon for a healthy balance of these components .

weed can also indicate to the health of your soil . dandelion , for exercise , show poor , squeeze soil .

Aerate

One of the undecomposed things you’re able to do for your lawn , which is often neglected , is to aerate it . Over time , the land becomes succinct , and certain soil type , such as clay , are more prone to hold less zephyr . As a result , the soil may be lacking flow of air , nutrients , and contend to absorb water , which can impress the colour of the grass .

Aeration is best finish in springor evenfall to assist with base growth . This job is easiest when the ground is a bit plastered , but not torpid . Wait about 48 hour after tearing or rain to aerate , so that the undercoat has had time to soak up the water . There are script aeration tools , that utilise spikes to drive holes into the dirt , which are best for smaller yards or dirt that is not too compacted . For magnanimous area , or great soil , core aerator , which pull declamatory plugs or " cores " of filth from the ground , are your best bet . you’re able to also rent these out from hardware stores , if you do n’t own one .

Maintain Proper Soil Composition

After aeration is a fantastic clock time to add dirt additive andreseed , if needed . But even if you do n’t air out your lawn , you could still summate vital nutrients to help your soil timber . Adding black dirt and compost ontop of your grasswill help to improve the nitrogen , phosphorus , and potassium levels .

Sprinkle ¼ to ½ inches on your lawn and then skim it in , spreading it around . If you aerated , fill in the pickle with the compost and land . The best months to complete this are April to May or September .

Water Smart

H2O is one of the most important component for a profuse , green lawn , andrainwater , gamey in nitrogen , is the best medicine . Your lawn needs about 1 inch of piddle a week . If that ’s in short provision , there are a few things you may do to redeem money . Water first affair in the morningto reduce vaporisation , and water slowly . If you notice runoff or water pooling , slow the flowing , so your gage can fully soak up the piss .

In addition , deep body of water once a workweek , rather of lightly water every few day . inscrutable tearing promotes strong root growth and discourages disease . Collecting rainwateris also a antic elbow room to save money , as well as saving nutrient - rich body of water that your lawn will give thanks you for .

Warm - season grasses typically require less water ( about 1/2 to 1 inch per calendar week ) than cool - time of year grasses .

White picket fence in the front yard

Cut Back on Mowing

For thoseliving in warmer climatesor region withperiods of drouth , skip back on mowing your lawn can aid it flourish and concentrate yellowing . In the spring , aim to mow once a week , but in the blistering month , scale down themowing relative frequency , depending on the type of grass and how fast it mature . Cool - time of year grass may only call for mowing once a week , whereas warm - season weed may need to be mowed double a week during the growing time of year . When you mow , set yourmowing heightto between 1 to 2 inch for warm - season sens and 3 to 5 inches for nerveless - season sess , aiming to cut about ⅓ of the sens at a time .

Opt toleave your grass crop on the lawn , versus scan them up , or elevate to a mulch lawn mower . These lawnmowers hack the grass finer , providing vital nutrients to your lawn even quicker . Also , keep up on your lawn mower care — deadening blade poorly foreshorten the pot , reserve disease to sneak in .

Fertilize With Care

Nitrogen is essential for a plush , green lawn , but in excess , it can also lead to the burning or yellowing of the forage . To avoid this , be sure to alwaysuse slow - release fertilizerswith dispirited - salt contentedness . In increase , keep off over - fecundation of any one area , or spillway on the lawn . If leakage does occur , dilute the area with large amounts of water .

Fertilizer can also help bring a fragile , xanthous lawn back to life . It is best applied in spring and pin , at a rate of ½ to 1 pound of atomic number 7 per 1,000 straightforward foot — surveil the focusing on the software system . Consider using organic , Lucifer - free , and water - insoluble N fertilizers for less wastefulness and to reduce the chance of foul local watercourse .

Opt for pulling weeds by hired hand versus using pesticide . These toxic applications can also damage the stain and pollute waterways .

Potted pothos

Keep it Off the Lawn

Whether it ’s the kiddie pool , BBQ , or dog urine create yellowish spots on your lawn , your good bet is to keep it off the lawn . Move the syndicate , BBQs , and kids ' toy off the lawn , or permanently designate a incision of your yard for these items . Even just a few days is enough to make a yellow spot on your lawn . Once the grass receives enough light , melody , and water , its color will return .

Both dog pee and feces , which are mellow in nitrogen , can also burn and turn your grass yellow . If walking the dog is n’t an pick , consider designating a section of your yard for Fido to go .

Love Your Lawn Again

Dealing with a jaundiced lawn may be frustrating , but with a few simple lawn care antic , your lawn will fly high in no sentence . But if having a absolutely lush , greenish lawn is n’t your cup of Camellia sinensis , that ’s okay too . get your lawn go sleeping over the summertime ( peculiarly if you have cool - season grass ) is an acceptable alternative , and once the coolheaded , rainy weather returns in the declension , so should your gullible sess .

yellowing grass

blue lawnmower, rake, and fertilizer on lush, green grass

close up of green grass

person feeling the soil with grass and shovel at their feet

person pushing a metal lawn aerator

person dumping soil on the lawn with a wheelbarrow

lawn sprinkler

Man mowing the lawn with blue lawnmower in summertime

person spreading fertilizer on the lawn

yellow dead spot in the grass