Troubleshooting Common Lawn Problems Related To Lawn Care In San Diego
Property owners in San Diego wish to keep their lawns healthy and green. However, lawn care in San Diego is a tedious and never-ending process. Despite the continuous attempts for lawn maintenance, gardeners miss a few things. Their mistakes and environmental stress make the lawn susceptible to damage and common lawn problems.
7 Common Lawn Problems and Solutions
Although all mistakes are not within their control, they can deal with common problems if they know the right solutions. They can manage their lawns by eliminating these issues. However, most gardeners take lawn service in San Diego, so they are unaware of them. They don’t know what troubles their yard and disrupt its productivity. However, the information is important for the safety and well-being of their lawns. In this blog, we will talk about the topic and list the most common lawn problems and their solutions.
1. Uneven Grass Growth
Uneven grass growth is inevitable in any lawn. Even after proper maintenance, you cannot keep it away. The issue occurs if the particular area doesn’t receive adequate sunlight, water, and nutrients. It happens when trees, walls, or objects block the sun and prevent the sunlight from reaching those areas.
These deficiencies lead to poor and uneven growth, whereas other areas receive enough sunlight and grow well. The gap widens at the time of grass mowing and mulching. This gap offers a free space for weeds, diseases, and pests to develop and thrive. Hence, it is important to control uneven growth to avoid damage.
Solution
Prune your trees from time to time to thin out the canopy and promote better sunlight penetration. Use different varieties of shade-tolerant turf grasses or ground covers. Apart from these solutions, you can spread a layer of gravel or perennial blade to combine with shady areas. At last, focus on proper lawn maintenance in San Diego while keeping the land requirements in mind.
2. Weed Growth
Invasive weeds like dandelion, lesser trefoil, black medick, chickweed, yarrow, buttercups, daisies, etc, often grow over the grass. Weeds multiply if they receive adequate moisture and an ideal environment. They weaken the grass plants, making them vulnerable to pest infestation, fungi attack, and diseases. Despite the attempts, weed growth is hard to avoid, but you can take treatments to eliminate the growth on time.
Solution
Mow the lawn regularly and maintain the ideal grass length. Follow a proper irrigation routine according to weather conditions. During a dry spell, try to irrigate the lawn in the morning to prevent weed growth. Leave grass clippings, and add fertilizers and organic herbicides to eliminate existing growth. You can take lawn treatment in San Diego premises if the growth has gone out of control.
3. Bare Spots
Foot traffic, improper mowing, grub infestation, poor soil conditions, pet urine, and fungal diseases give birth to bare spots. These empty spots uncover the ground, making the yard look bald and patchy. Bare spots are more susceptible to weed and moss growth compared to the areas.
Solution
Reseed the bare spots using organic and toxin-free seeds to stimulate new growth. Dig up the bald spots at least 6 inches deeper in and around the area. Add a layer of fertilizers and compost, and maintain ideal soil moisture until the new seeds start sprouting. You can also try deep watering the area in sloped areas.
4. Brown Grass
The brown grass stands out in the green yard, affecting its outlook and beauty. Lawn grass turns brown when roots fail to absorb nutrients and water from the soil. Apart from it, unstable soil pH is among the root causes of the problem.
Solution
Diagnose the cause behind the brown grass growth. It can occur due to environmental factors such as lack of water or too much sunlight exposure. Pest infestations, lawn diseases, and environmental stress are some other reasons. If the cause is environmental stress, then adjust your watering and mowing habits. Follow a proper routine, install shading to limit sunlight exposure, and focus on lawn maintenance in San Diego. Fertilize your lawn, aerate the soil and keep your grass healthy.
5. Pet Damage
Pet damage can gravely impact a lawn. Dogs, cats, and other animals dig, trample, urinate and defecate on the lawn grass. These activities damage the soil and release Nitrogen and Ammonia, leading the lawn to bare patches and dead grass. It also encourages weed and pest growth.
Solution
Fence off the area to restrict pet entry inside the lawn. If that’s not an option, then clean the lawn if your pet urinates or defecates on it. It will prevent the buildup of Ammonia and Nitrogen that harms the soil.
If your pet has a habit of digging, then try to discourage them and fill the holes with soil or sand. Apart from it, follow an effective routine for lawn care in San Diego, regularly fertilize and aerate the soil
6. Lawn Rust
Lawn rusts are a type of fungal disease growing on the surface of grass blades. They cause unsightly yellow-orange powdery spots on lawns. This fungus is particularly active during warm, and wet weather and grows after getting adequate moisture. Rusts weaken grass plants and reduce turf density, allowing other sources to damage the lawn.
Solution
To control rust, keep the lawn well-hydrated, especially during dry spells. Properly fertilize your lawn to maintain healthy turf. Mow the grass at the correct height and avoid cutting below three inches. Apply organic fungicides to control the fungus growth or take professional lawn treatment in San Diego.
7. Lawn Moss
Lawn moss is a type of plant that develops in damp, shady areas and quickly spread across the yard. It is an undesirable plant that blocks the sunlight and chokes grass and nearby plants. Moss has shallow roots that thrive in wet, acidic soil. The plant can crowd early and takes food sources away from other plants and grass.
Solution
To control moss growth, improve the waste drainage capacity in your lawn. Ensure the soil is adequately drained because moss thrives in wet, soggy soil. You can try safe chemical treatments such as iron sulfate to eliminate moss. Add lime to the soil or overseed the area with organic grass seeds. Mow the grass frequently and remove dead moss. It will help keep moss growth under control.
How Can Lawn Doctor USA Help With Lawn Treatment In San Diego?
Lawn Doctor USA is a lawn care and maintenance company providing lawn service in San Diego, California. They have a team of experienced lawn care professionals who can help identify and treat issues affecting your lawn.
Lawn Doctor USA team uses a variety of techniques, from traditional treatments to organic options to ensure adequate growth & wellness. Their experts offer beneficial advice for lawn maintenance in San Diego.
Conclusion
Lawns quickly become overrun with weed growth, moss, rust, and other common problems. Hence, controlling common lawn problems is essential to promote healthy lawn growth. Taking a proactive approach to lawn care in San Diego can prevent these issues from frequently occurring on your lawn.
