Pests/Diseases/Weeds

Common Lawn Issues

A resource to help you learn about the unique challenges and issues facing your lawn in New England. If you want to learn more, contact your Account Manager today!

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Weeds

Weeds can harm your lawn by competing for vital resources like water, nutrients, and sunlight, hindering healthy grass growth.  Their presence can create an uneven appearance in the lawn and make it less visually appealing.

Clover

Clover is a low-growing, nitrogen-fixing plant that can be beneficial for lawns, but some people consider it a weed. Its presence can lead to a more vibrant and healthy-looking lawn, but it can also compete with grass for resources, leading to thinning or patchy areas.

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Crabgrass

Crabgrass is an annual weed that sprouts from seeds in the soil during the warmer months of the year. It can quickly invade and take over a lawn, creating an unsightly appearance and depriving grass of sunlight, water, and nutrients. Crabgrass can also create bare spots in the lawn during the winter months when it dies off, leaving the lawn vulnerable to erosion and other issues.

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Nutsedge

Nutsedge is a type of weed that grows quickly and can be difficult to control, forming a dense network of roots that can outcompete grass for resources. Its presence can lead to thinning or patchy areas in the lawn and an uneven appearance.

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Bent Grass

Bentgrass is a fine-textured grass that is often used on golf courses and other high-end lawns. Its dense, low-growing habit can create a uniform, carpet-like appearance, but it requires frequent maintenance and can be susceptible to disease and other issues.

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Native Grass

Native grasses are species that are naturally found in a particular area and are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions. They can provide many benefits for lawns, such as requiring less water and fertilizer and supporting local wildlife, but they may not have the same appearance as more traditional lawn grasses.

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Oxalis

Oxalis is a broadleaf weed that can quickly spread in a lawn, forming dense patches of leaves and small yellow flowers. Its presence can create an uneven appearance in the lawn and make it less visually appealing.

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Spurge

Spurge is a low-growing weed that can spread quickly and create dense mats of leaves and small pink or white flowers. Its presence can lead to thinning or patchy areas in the lawn and an uneven appearance.

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Purslane

Purslane is a succulent weed that grows low to the ground and can quickly spread in a lawn. Its presence can create an uneven appearance in the lawn and make it less visually appealing, and it can also compete with grass for resources.

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Insects

In New England, insects can pose a significant threat to lawns by feeding on grass roots and foliage, causing unsightly damage and potentially stunted growth. Common lawn pests in the region, such as grubs, chinch bugs, and sod webworms, can lead to patchy, discolored, or thinning turf if left unaddressed.

Grubs

Grubs are pests that feed on grassroots, causing significant damage to lawns. They can cause the grass to turn brown, become spongy, and ultimately die off if left untreated.

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Chinchbugs

Chinchbugs are small insects that feed on grass blades and inject toxins into the plants, causing the grass to wilt, turn yellow, and eventually die. Their feeding activity can lead to significant damage to lawns, especially during hot and dry periods.

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Sod Webworm

Sod webworms are the larvae of small, brownish-gray moths that feed on grass blades and can cause significant damage to lawns. Their feeding activity creates irregular patches of brown, dead grass and can lead to the formation of bare spots in the lawn.

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Diseases

Diseases can wreak havoc on New England lawns by attacking grass roots and blades, leading to unsightly discoloration, thinning, and even death of the turf. Common diseases, such as dollar spot, red thread, and brown patch, thrive in damp conditions and can rapidly spread if not promptly treated, undermining the health and appearance of the lawn.

Snow Mold

Snow mold is a fungal disease that appears on lawns in the spring after snow melts. It can create circular patches of dead, matted grass and cause discoloration of the turf. Proper maintenance and prevention measures can help reduce the likelihood of snow mold outbreaks.

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Red Thread

Red thread is a fungal disease that appears as pink or red threads on grass blades, causing the blades to become discolored and weak. It can create patches of thin, weak grass and make the lawn look unsightly. Proper maintenance and prevention measures can help reduce the likelihood of red thread outbreaks.

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Dollar Spot

Dollar spot is a fungal disease that creates small, circular patches of dead grass with a silver dollar-like appearance. It can occur in both warm and cool seasons and can spread rapidly. Proper maintenance and prevention measures can help reduce the likelihood of dollar spot outbreaks.

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Brown Patch

Brown patch is a fungal disease that thrives in warm, humid conditions and can create large patches of brown, dead grass. It can occur in both cool and warm seasons and can spread rapidly. Proper maintenance and prevention measures can help reduce the likelihood of brown patch outbreaks.

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Fairy Ring

Fairy ring is a fungal disease that appears as circular rings of dark green grass with a circle of dead or dying grass in the center. It can create unsightly patches and can be difficult to control. Proper maintenance and prevention measures can help reduce the likelihood of fairy ring outbreaks.

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Summer Patch

Summer patch is a fungal disease that appears as brown, dead patches of grass in the summer months. It can occur in lawns that are stressed or have poor drainage and can spread rapidly. Proper maintenance and prevention measures can help reduce the likelihood of summer patch outbreaks.

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Stresses

Stresses such as heat, drought, and excessive moisture can significantly impact the health of a lawn, leading to a range of issues including wilting, browning, and weakened root systems. While drought conditions can cause grass to become dormant and susceptible to disease, excessive moisture can promote fungal growth and create an environment conducive to pests and diseases.

Heat

Heat can cause stress on lawns, especially if they are not well hydrated, and can lead to discoloration, wilting, and damage to the grass. Extended periods of high heat can also make the lawn more susceptible to disease and insect infestations.

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Drought

Drought can have a severe impact on lawns, causing the grass to turn brown, wilt, and become dormant. It can also lead to the development of bare spots and make the lawn more vulnerable to disease and insect infestations. Proper watering and maintenance practices can help mitigate the effects of drought.

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Moisture

Excess moisture can create favorable conditions for fungal diseases to thrive, such as snow mold, brown patch, and fairy ring. It can also lead to the development of moss and algae, which can make the lawn more slippery and unsightly. Proper drainage and maintenance practices can help prevent the accumulation of excess moisture in the lawn.

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Abiotic

Abiotic factors can inflict considerable damage on a lawn by creating inhospitable growing conditions and stressing the grass. These environmental stressors may lead to weakened root systems, reduced nutrient uptake, and increased vulnerability to pests, diseases, and further damage from other environmental factors.

Dog Damage

Dog damage can create unsightly patches in lawns, including areas of dead grass, discolored spots, and areas where the soil has been dug up or compacted by dogs. Dog urine can also cause yellow or brown patches of dead grass due to the high concentration of nitrogen.

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Vertebrate

Vertebrate damage, such as from moles, voles, and gophers, can create tunnels and raised areas in lawns and can uproot or damage grass roots. This can lead to thinning or patchy areas in the lawn and an uneven appearance.

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Traffic/Compaction

Traffic and compaction can cause damage to lawns by compacting the soil, making it difficult for water and nutrients to reach the roots of the grass. This can lead to thinning or patchy areas in the lawn and an uneven appearance.

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Ice

Ice can create stress on lawns, especially when it forms on top of snow or grass. It can cause the blades of grass to break and create thinning or patchy areas in the lawn. Ice can also cause damage to the soil and create favorable conditions for disease and insect infestations.

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Plow Damage

Plow damage can create unsightly patches in lawns, including areas of dead grass, discolored spots, and areas where the soil has been compacted or uprooted. It can also lead to the development of bare spots in the lawn, making it more vulnerable to erosion.

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Dull Mower Blades

Dull mower blades can tear the grass blades instead of cutting them cleanly, creating a jagged edge that can make the lawn more susceptible to disease and insect infestations. It can also create an uneven appearance in the lawn and lead to thinning or patchy areas.

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Fertilizer Burn

Fertilizer burn can occur when too much fertilizer is applied to the lawn, causing the grass blades to burn and turn yellow or brown. It can also create thinning or patchy areas in the lawn and make it more susceptible to disease and insect infestations.

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Herbicide Burn

Herbicide burn can occur when herbicides are applied incorrectly, causing the grass blades to burn and turn yellow or brown. It can also create thinning or patchy areas in the lawn and make it more susceptible to disease and insect infestations.

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Fuel Burn

Fuel burn can occur when gasoline or other fuels are spilled on the lawn, causing the grass to die and creating unsightly patches. It can also create an unpleasant odor and potentially harm the environment.

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