There are a few potential causes of badly damaged grass that will require different methods to fix. The most common causes of significant grass damage include heavy foot traffic, pet urine spots, drought, disease, and grubs or insects. Whatever the cause, it is important to properly diagnose the issue in order to select the right solution. With some time and care, even badly damaged grass can be nursed back to health.
What causes grass to become badly damaged?
Excessive foot traffic – If there is a lot of activity concentrated in one area, such as near a swingset or along a frequently used walking path, the constant compression from feet can damage grass. The blades get pressed into the soil and may turn yellow or brown and eventually die off, leaving bare patches.
Pet urine spots – Dog or cat urine contains high levels of nitrogen, which can burn grass when concentrated in one area. This causes yellow or brown dead spots to develop.
Drought – During times of drought when grass doesn’t get enough water, it can start to turn brown and die. This typically happens in large patches rather than just a few spots.
Disease – Certain fungal diseases like brown patch, dollar spot, or gray leaf spot can affect grass. This causes discolored patches and thinning turf.
Grubs or insects – Grubs feed on grass roots leading to damaged and dying grass. Other insects like chinch bugs suck juices out of blades leading to yellowing.
How can you diagnose the cause of grass damage?
Pay attention to the pattern and location of the damage. Look for signs like:
– Irregular paths of dead grass from foot traffic
– Circular yellow spots from pet urine
– Large irregular dried out areas indicating drought issues
– Random diseased patches
– Evidence of pests like grubs when you dig in the soil
You can also have your grass analyzed by your local extension office if the cause is unclear. They can examine samples and identify any disease or pest issues.
Identifying the cause is key so you know how to properly treat the issue.
Fixing Grass Damaged by Foot Traffic
One of the most common forms of localized grass damage comes from concentrated foot traffic in an area. Constant trampling of grass blades prevents photosynthesis and causes the grass to die off, leaving dirt in its place. Fixing this type of damage requires some reseeding and fertilization to help the new grass establish itself.
Step 1 – Loosen the Soil
Use a shovel, rake, or gardening claw to gently loosen up the compacted soil in the damaged areas. You want to break up any hardened layers just enough to allow new roots to penetrate and water to percolate down. Be careful not to overly disturb healthy grass at the edges.
Step 2 – Remove Dead Grass and Debris
Clear away any dead or overly damaged grass blades and debris like sticks or stones from the area. This prepares the seedbed.
Step 3 – Apply Starter Fertilizer
Use an all-purpose starter fertilizer high in phosphorus, which helps encourage root growth and establishment. Follow package directions for correct application rate. Work the fertilizer into the top 1-2 inches of loosened soil.
Step 4 – Plant Grass Seed
Select a grass seed mix that matches your existing lawn grass type, whether cool season grasses like fescue or warm season varieties like Bermuda. Follow spacing instructions on package for sowing seed. Gently rake over the planted area to cover seeds with soil.
Step 5 – Water Daily for 2-4 Weeks
Keep the reseeded patches consistently moist by watering daily for 10-15 minutes for 2-4 weeks until new grass is established. Reduce frequency as grass comes in. Avoid foot traffic until turf thickens.
Step 6 – Let Grass Grow Tall
Once established, let grass grow slightly taller than normal for your first mowing – around 4 inches. This helps shade and protect the crowns of the developing turf. Gradually reduce height back to normal.
Step 7 – Overseed in Fall
Damage can sometimes leave thin turf even after reseeding. Overseeding the area again in early fall will thicken it up before winter dormancy. Use a seeding rate half of original amount.
With proper fertilization and consistent watering, reseeding trampled areas should restore your lawn’s appearance in 4-6 weeks. Minimizing foot traffic until turf is established is key.
Fixing Pet Urine Damage Spots
Pet urine can create unsightly brown spots and patches in an otherwise healthy lawn. The nitrogen and salts in urine essentially “burn” the grass when concentrated in one area. Fixing this lawn damage requires removing affected grass and soil, neutralizing the nitrogen, and reseeding.
Step 1- Remove Dead Grass and Soil
Use a shovel to dig out dead grass and soil from urine damaged spots. Excavate down 2-3 inches to ensure all affected areas are removed. Dispose of the grass and soil in the garbage – do not compost.
Step 2 – Neutralize the Soil
Spray the excavated area thoroughly with an acidic solution like vinegar or lemon juice to neutralize excess nitrogen. Concentrated lime or gypsum can also be worked into the soil to neutralize salts.
Step 3 – Add New Topsoil
Refill the hole with new, high-quality topsoil. Avoid using soil from other parts of your lawn. Level and slightly compact the new soil.
Step 4 – Apply Starter Fertilizer
Sprinkle an all-purpose starter fertilizer over the new soil patch per label rates. This provides nutrients for establishing new grass. Work it into the top 1-2 inches.
Step 5 – Plant New Grass Seed
Select grass seed that matches your lawn type and sow at recommended rates across the bare spot. Gently rake over the seedbed.
Step 6 – Water Consistently
Water daily for 10-15 minutes keeping soil moist but not soaked for 2-4 weeks until new grass is growing strongly. Gradually reduce watering frequency.
Step 7 – Train Pets
Keep pets off newly planted areas until grass is established. Consider training dogs to urinate in designated spots to avoid future issues.
With some work, even heavy pet urine damage can be overcome. The key is removing all affected grass and soil, neutralizing excess nitrogen, and consistent watering as the new grass emerges.
Fixing Drought Damaged Lawns
Insufficient water during hot, dry periods can lead to large dead patches and extensive thinning in an otherwise healthy lawn. Fixing drought damage requires steadily remoistening the soil, aerating for better water penetration, fertilizing, and overseeding to fill in bare spots.
Step 1 – Gradually Remoisten Soil
Start watering again but avoid flooding a severely dried lawn all at once. That could shock the turf. Instead, provide 1-2 hours of water in early morning for several days, gradually increasing duration to remoisten soil down 4-6 inches.
Step 2 – Aerate Compacted Areas
Use a core aerator to punch holes across hardened, compacted areas. This allows better water penetration and oxygen circulation to roots.
Step 3 – Apply Fertilizer
Fertilize stressed grass with a high nitrogen product like ammonium sulfate to stimulate growth and recovery. Follow package instructions for application. Avoid over-fertilizing.
Step 4 – Overseed Bare Areas
Once soil is remoistened, overseed thin or bare patches with a matching grass seed variety. Use half the density of a new seeding. Gently rake over for good soil contact.
Step 5 – Maintain Proper Watering
Going forward, water grass 1-2 times a week for 45 minutes to an hour. Adjust for rainfall. Proper watering is key to preventing future drought damage.
Step 6 – Use Soil Additives
Consider amended the soil with compost or manure to increase moisture retention. Slopes may benefit from a natural erosion control like coir rolls.
With careful remoistening, fertilization, overseeding and proper ongoing watering habits, lawns can recovery well from drought. Prevention is ideal, so maintain 1-2 inches of water per week for healthy grass.
Fixing Disease Damaged Grass
Fungal diseases like brown patch, dollar spot, or gray leaf spot can cause unsightly patches of dead or thinning grass. Fixing disease damage requires identifying and treating the specific disease as well as improving lawn health and resistance.
Step 1 – Get an Accurate Diagnosis
Have your lawn examined by an expert to identify the exact disease affecting it. Many fungal diseases cause similar symptoms, so a correct ID is essential for proper treatment. Contact your local county extension office.
Step 2 – Treat the Disease
Use a systemic fungicide specifically labeled for the disease. Fungicide application rates and timing will depend on the product. Strictly follow all label directions.
Step 3 – Improve Air Circulation
Prune trees and shrubs to open up air flow over the lawn. Dense shade and poor circulation create a favorable environment for fungal diseases.
Step 4 – Rake and Remove Debris
Rake up any fallen leaves, needles or debris from the lawn. This removes spore sources and improves sunlight penetration.
Step 5 – Adjust Watering Habits
Water early in the day so grass dries out by nightfall. Avoid frequent light watering. Follow proper fertilization guidelines to encourage healthy growth.
Step 6 – Overseed Bare Spots
After disease is under control, overseed areas that are thin or bare with turf-type grass seed matched to your existing variety. Maintain proper soil moisture to aid germination.
Prompt disease identification, correcting lawn care practices and overseeding are keys to restoring lawn health after fungal disease damage. Prevention through proper cultural practices is ideal.
Fixing Insect Damaged Lawns
Underground pests like grubs, billbugs, or surface feeders like chinch bugs can leave lawns riddled with dead patches and thinned grass. Correctly identifying the culprit, treating with appropriate insecticide, and overseeding are needed to fix insect damage.
Step 1 – Verify the Insect
Truly confirming chinch bugs, grubs, or other pests requires scouting for live specimens or signs of their damage. Contact an entomologist for proper identification if unsure.
Step 2 – Apply Targeted Insecticide
Once the pest is accurately identified, use a lawn insecticide specifically labeled for controlling that insect. Treatment timing and application method can vary.
Step 3 – Improve Lawn Health
Healthy lawns better withstand and repel insect invasions. Raise mower height, fertilize appropriately, aerify compacted areas and water deeply but infrequently.
Step 4 – Overseed Bare Spots
After pests are eliminated, overseed thin and bare areas with a turf-type grass seed matched to your existing lawn variety. Keep soil moist for seedling establishment.
Step 5 – Continue Monitoring
Keep observing grass for any return of damage symptoms and respond promptly if infestation resumes. Some pests require ongoing preventative treatments.
With proper identification and treatment of the invading insect pest along with overseeding, lawns can recover fully from insect damage. Prevention through maintaining optimal lawn health is always the best remedy.
Conclusion
No matter what caused your grass to become badly damaged – excessive foot traffic, pet urine spots, drought, disease or insects – the basic recovery process involves identifying the cause, correcting the underlying issue, overseeding to fill bare spots, and improving maintenance going forward. With some effort most lawns can bounce back from significant damage. Paying close attention to lawn health will help avoid many problems in the first place. Proper mowing, fertilizing, irrigation and soil practices go a long way toward preventing issues. But even well cared for grass can sometimes become damaged. By following the steps outlined for diagnosing and correcting the specific type of damage sustained, you can get your lawn looking lush, green and healthy again.
General Tips for Restoring Badly Damaged Grass
– Always accurately diagnose cause before attempting repairs
– Loosen, aerate and amend soil as needed
– Remove dead material and debris
– Select quality seed matched to existing grass
– Use starter fertilizer to aid establishment
– Keep new seedlings consistently moist
– Gradually reduce watering as grass matures
– Overseed again in early fall if needed
– Improve maintenance practices going forward
Common Causes of Significant Grass Damage
| Cause | Symptoms | Repairs |
|---|---|---|
| Excessive foot traffic | Irregular dead patches | Loosen soil, reseed, starter fertilizer |
| Pet urine spots | Circular yellow/brown spots | Excavate affected soil, neutralize, replace soil, reseed |
| Drought | Large irregular dead patches | Gradually remoisten, aerate, fertilize, overseed |
| Disease | Scattered dead patches | Identify disease, treat with fungicide, overseed |
| Insects | Thinned, dying grass | Confirm insect, apply targeted insecticide, overseed |
