Why does my grass have different shades of green?
Is your lawn showing different shades of green despite being laid out at the same time? Many folks attribute dark green grass to signs of good health and feeding, but when it turns lighter or pale, the alarm bells go off.
If your lawn is each of both worlds, there are several reasons why this can happen. Read carefully as this article outlines several factors that might be afflicting your garden.
Why does my grass have different shades of green?
The Lawnmower Effect
First, do not panic. It might actually be a scientific phenomenon caused by you and your lawnmower. Have you ever wondered why the grass on a football pitch appears to be split between the light and dark green hue?
Well, this is caused by the lawnmower traveling in different directions when cutting the grass. If the blades fall in different directions, the angle of the reflected light is scattered, resulting in a difference in depth.
This might be the scenario on your lawn and is no cause for worry.
Uneven Spread of Water
Lack of water can cause the grass to appear dry and pale. It could be that something is wrong with the irrigation system, the sprinklers do not overlap well or there is one clogged.
On the other hand, excess water causes grass roots to rot and then turn lighter. If this is the case, simply improve the soil structure with a specific substrate for meadows, and establish a drainage network if it is a very large area.
Due to excessive moisture in the soil, rot develops, which can kill the seeds even before germination. To prevent this from happening, before sowing, treat the seeds with fungicides, then the destructive effect of rot will be reduced.
Alternatively, you could aerate it. If the lawn shows symptoms of suffocation due to excess water or poor surface drainage, small holes must be opened in the surface of the earth to get the air to penetrate to the roots of the lawn (about ten centimeters) and fill them with sand.
Lack of Nitrogen
The simultaneous appearance of both slow growth and paleness in color indicates a lack of nitrogen. To counter this, it is best to use liquid fertilizer, but in the lowest concentration possible from the range indicated on the package.
For example, if a package weighing 0.5 kg is recommended to be applied on 5-10 m2, then its contents should be distributed over an area of 10 m2.
Note: the recommendations are valid only if you observe this deficiency in the spring. In the fall, fertilizing with nitrogen-containing agents is strictly prohibited.
Compaction
Over time, grass generates a large number of dead roots at its base, which end up creating a compact waterproof fabric, which prevents proper aeration. If you have had a lawn for a while, this might be the reason behind this eyesore.
It can be avoided by ‘scarification’, a task that is usually practiced at the end of summer and winter. It consists of a superficial scratching of the ground with a specific tool. This process should always be done on a freshly mowed meadow without traces of waterlogging.
Fungal Diseases
The fungus appears as isolated spots that are increasing, but they are very varied and, therefore, difficult to manage. It is best to consult with a specialist in your garden center or ask your well-versed neighbor about the appropriate treatment to stem this nuisance in the bud.
Excess Chemical Fertilizer
An overdose or poor distribution of mineral fertilizer with excess nitrogen causes burns and yellowing. If you have gone over the dose, water copiously. We have full guide on how to use fertilizer on your garden.
Inappropriate Organic Compost
If you are tilted towards organic compost in place of fertilizers, inexperience might be the reason behind your lawn’s lack of lushness.
When applying, spread the compost evenly and try not to use badly decomposed manure mulches, as this can burn the meadow and fill the garden with unpleasant odors and uneven color.
Poor Seed Germination
The origin of this discrepancy can most often be attributed to poor seed germination. However, other reasons are also possible:
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For example, if the soil was improperly dug up and the subsoil was turned upwards, then in some places of the lawn, fertile land may be absent. This is where the seeds will die due to lack of nutrients and give your lawn an uneven coloring.
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The harmonious development of seedlings can be suppressed by extreme weather conditions (e.g. drought or heavy rains).
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If the sown land is not covered with a net, then the crops can be pecked out by birds.
Lack of Sunlight
Is there a tree or fence beside the part of the grass lacking in color? Then this might have obstructed the grass’s path to getting vital rays from its number source of energy, which is even more vital to their coloring.
Blackleg
One of the reasons for an uneven appearance might be blackleg, a disease of stem cuttings that turns grass yellowish-green. Blackleg most often develops with thickened crops or during periods of excessively wet weather. Of all lawn grasses, bentgrass is the most sensitive to this disease.
Blackleg pathogens can infect both above-ground and underground parts of young plants. The source of infection is plant residues in the soil (or on its surface). If urgent measures are not taken, the disease will quickly spread throughout the lawn.
To curb this, water the stain and the area around it and ruthlessly, no don’t be nice, remove diseased plants.
Building debris or animal feces buried in the ground can give rise to a yellow-greenish spot on the lawn since the chemical composition of their waste products is destructive to any plants.
Weeds
That part of your lawn whose color doesn’t seem to be unanimous with the rest of the grass might actually be a parasitic weed and not your plant in actuality.
Weeds can turn out to be one of the most serious troubles, but only if you do not know how to competently resist the attacks of these green aggressors.
First, when laying the lawn, it is necessary to remove all visible roots of perennial weeds. Then, gradually and very carefully, open the area of the future lawn and remove the previously invisible roots, but now appeared on the surface.
Ideally, wait a couple of days and repeat this procedure. And only after that sow the area with grass.
How to Give Your Grass An Even and Consistent Green Color
No matter how many guesses or hypotheses you make, you might never be able to determine the cause of different shades of green on your lawn. Thereby, it is important to seek the most effective ways to give your grass a more even green that your neighbors will be jealous of.
While it is necessary to treat your grass when it is damaged, your best bet is to prevent it from getting damaged. For this, regular maintenance is necessary.
Lawn Mowing
The first step to avoid an uneven-colored lawn: mowing. It allows the grass to grow better, stronger while maintaining its lush green.
For this operation to be effective:
Mow at least once a week, or even every 4-5 days if you have time.
You should mow your lawn throughout its growing season, that is, the time of year when it is actively growing. This period extends from February-March to October-November and can be shorter or longer depending on the region and the climate.
Be careful, your lawn will take on a pale tint if the sharpening of your mower blade is bad.
A badly sharpened blade cuts irregularly, even tearing some blades of grass. This degrades the leaves and causes a yellow-greenish color, which gets worse when the weather is very dry.
To remedy this, simply sharpen your blade and then continue mowing regularly. The grass should recover its color.
Lawn Aeration
Do you know that when humans are suffocating their faces turn pale? Well, this is also the case with grasses.
To solve this, simply aerate the soil. This helps prevent the soil from settling, which can suffocate the grass. To do this, you can:
Use an aerator roller
This is a tool bristling with spikes that dig into the ground, making small holes that allow it to better receive the air.
This roller is especially useful if you have a large area of lawn. It saves time and spares you unnecessary effort.
Use aerator pads to attach to your shoes:
Equipped with spikes, they allow you to aerate your lawn simply by walking. These skates are rather reserved for small surfaces.
Lawn Scarification
Scarification involves removing dead grass stagnant on the ground (also called felting), to rejuvenate the lawn:
To perform this operation, you will need a scarifier:
The Electric variant is best for large surfaces, while the more affordable manual better suits smaller surfaces.
This tool, equipped with teeth, loosens the dead parts of the lawn from the ground which suffocates the living leaves. After completion, it is then necessary to pass a rake to collect the waste.
Only one operation per year is sufficient, and its use is useless for the first 2 or 3 years. Thank you for reading Why does my grass have different shades of green?
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