When Scott Cam laid new turf in his backyard it looked fabulously lush and green. Now, only two months later, the lawn is struggling to grow. It’s thin, full of weeds and ugly bare patches. Scott asked Don for advice on fixing the problem.
Bare patches
Don pointed out that the bare patches are in a shaded area where the kids love to play. Lawn grasses need sunshine, so they won’t grow in shady spots. When the shade is only partial, it’s worth trying a shade-tolerant turf like ‘Sir Walter’ or ‘Palmetto’, but they would need excellent drainage and regular feeds to do well. Foot traffic would also need to be kept away from the shady area. The real solution to bare patches in a shady spot is to get rid of that section of lawn. Don recommended removing the thinning grass in the kids’ play area and putting down some decomposed granite (about $60 per tonne) instead.
Scalped lawn
Part of Scottie’s problem is that he has been mowing too closely or ‘scalping’ the lawn. This results in extra maintenance and a poor quality lawn. When cut too close the grass begins to die off, leaving bare patches to be inhabited by weeds or pests and disease. Mowing too close removes leaf growth, which generates the food for the plant to grow. This in turn reduces the amount of energy the grass can absorb from the sun, and growth slows down. Close mowing also results in shallow roots so the grass cannot absorb moisture deep in the soil, making the grass less drought tolerant. For a healthy lawn set the mower blades high so the grass – especially warm season types – is never cut shorter than 35mm (1.5 inches). Between 40 to 50mm is the minimum for cool season grasses.
Top Lawn Tips
Raise the mower blades to encourage lush growth
Aerate with power aerator
Apply a slow release lawn food
Water as much as conditions permit
Repair bare patches with runners or sow seed