Inadequate care and maintenance results in patchy, unhealthy grass.
Keeping your grass healthy with frequent mowing, watering, weed control and fertilizing results in a lush, green lawn. Even with your best efforts, however, grass sometimes succumbs to illnesses or other conditions, causing it to turn yellow and die. Accurately identifying the problem ensures proper treatment and gives clues on avoid repeated problems with the same issue in the future. Does this Spark an idea?
Diseases
Some diseases, such as Rhizoctonia yellow patch, occur in wet, cool conditions. Others, such as summer patch, appear during hot weather. Both are fungal diseases. Other fungal diseases that cause yellowing and dying grass include dollar spot and Fusarium patch. Rust sometimes causes these symptoms as well, with grass appearing yellow, orange or brown. Providing adequate maintenance to avoid stressing your particular grass species and applying fungicides as needed prevent or control these diseases.
Insects
Yellowing grass occurs as a result of insect infestations, particularly by insects that feed on roots or suck plant sap from grass blades. Grubs and pearl scales are two examples of pests that feed on roots, while sap-sucking insects include mites, leafhoppers and chinch bugs. Proper treatment varies depending on your grass species and the particular insect, but generally includes insecticide treatment followed with watering to help chemicals reach all parts of the grass, including the roots. Some insects, such as ground pearls, do not respond well to treatment. Replacing the lawn with new sod works best in these situations.
Dormancy
Grass naturally goes dormant at some point in the season, depending on species and location. Choose a grass that grows well in your area for best results. Avoid using most warm-season grasses in Northern locations, as they will go dormant earlier in the fall and remain so longer in the spring. The same holds true for cool-season grasses planted in warm locations. Without intensive maintenance and watering, these grasses will go dormant during the hot summer months, leaving you with a yellow, dead-looking lawn.
Considerations
Keep your lawn well-maintained to prevent diseases and insect infestations. Adequate watering, nutrient-rich well-draining soil and proper mowing height all contribute to a dense, lush lawn. Consider taking a sample of your lawn or any insects found to your county extension office for help if you experience difficulty identifying the cause of your yellowing, dying grass.
Tags: dying grass, feed roots, fungal diseases, grass species, insect infestations, that feed, that feed roots