It’s a common saying that the grass is always greener on the other side, however, gardeners have learned not to trust this phrase in favor of choosing better gardening methods! Gardeners who would like a greener lawn should begin by taking a closer look at their lawn and its care routine, including how to identify nutrient deficiencies and overwatering. Here’s how to spot nutrient deficiencies in your lawn, and how you can make the right adjustments to get to the greener side.
How to Identify Nutrient Deficiencies in Your Lawn
Monitor Your Lawn’s Health
Healthy lawns are green, but also vibrant and filled with signs of smaller life. A healthy and green lawn is the ideal you’re trying to reach. A nutrient deficiency shows in everything that becomes the direct opposite of a green and healthy lawn.
Monitor your lawn’s health, and notice any immediate or seasonal changes. If your lawn isn’t happy with its nutrients, you’ll see it.
Keep a Lawn Schedule
Keep a lawn schedule that records essential facts about your lawn and its care including:
- Watering
- Seasonal changes
- Planting
- Restoring
Everything that you’ve added, removed, or changed regarding your lawn should be recorded in your lawn notes.
If you’ve made a major change and spotted your lawn’s health improving or declining, these notes will make it easier to remember what you did to fix it the last time.
The First Signs to Identify Nutrient Deficiencies In Your Lawn
The first serious signs of nutrient deficiency in your lawn are likely to show in color or shade. Before lawns go brown or sections die off, there’s a subtle change in the greenness of the lawn. However, you’ll have to watch your lawn often to see the change happening.
If grass begins to wilt at the tips, you should also adjust the nutrient level (or sometimes watering) until you see better results or immediate change.
More advanced nutrient deficiency can show through brown patches or dying grass.
Nutrient Deficiency: The Advanced Signs
Lawns can die off, or go brown in sections – examine two parts of the lawn for the answer to why, and pay special attention to the tips and roots. Soil should be nutrient-rich without enough other components (such as nitrogen) that could burn your grass at the roots or tips.
Advanced signs of nutrient deficiency will show through an unhappy-looking lawn first, and later through patches dying off. Gardeners will also notice that nature’s critters (including ants and birds) will avoid a dying lawn.
Be careful of overwatering any parts of the lawn, which can also sometimes lead to browning or dying patches in the grass. Adjust your watering schedule accordingly before making any drastic changes to the nutrient level.
Interveinal chlorosis is another indicator of nutrient deficiency of iron or magnesium. This is the yellowing of grass between the veins of the grass while the vein stays green.
The good news is that once you learn how to identify nutrient deficiencies in your lawn, most lawn issues are fixable. Usually, using the right amount of fertilizer combined with just the right amount of water.
Can I Fix My Lawn?
Even lawns with an obituary can be brought back to life with some care and nutrient changes. One of the first recommended expert fixes for lawn health is to include fertilizer – and by doing this, you’re repairing the grass at the roots by introducing the right nutrients to the soil.
- Amino acids and protein are essential in the growth and health of your lawn. They can increase drought tolerance and increase nitrogen content in the soil.
- Phosphorous and potassium are needed to support root growth. Adding these to your fertilizer encourages healthy root development.
- Nitrogen deficiency can occur when soils can not meet the demands of the turf. Organic matter improves soil structure and helps a lawn absorb nutrients better.
How Fertilization Can Fix Your Lawn Health
Fertilization can fix your lawn’s health, and good results can show within just a few days of introducing the right mixture. However, most gardeners aren’t sure when to include fertilizer – or how much.
Successful lawn fertilization introduces balance, without tipping the scales towards too much of one thing: for example:
- Too much nitrogen can burn the lawn, causing much of your hard work to die off.
- Nitrogen deficiencies can cause lawns to turn a pale green color.
Start with less, and assume that the level can be adjusted later. It takes less effort than using too much, and having to start from scratch with a lawn transplant!
Apps for Lawn Health
If you’re bringing your lawn into this century and want to spend less time on scheduling, there are some great apps out there that can be used to monitor and adjust your lawn’s care routine.
PictureThis, MyLawn (Scotts), and a simple app called Check puts the gardener back in control of what their lawn wants – and it saves even the most forgetful gardener’s lawn from ruin.
Why are you still doing things the old-fashioned way?
Nature’s Helper – Lawn Fertilizer Service Omaha
Ready to transform your lawn into the envy of the neighborhood? Contact Nature’s Helper, Inc. today for expert lawn fertilization services tailored to Omaha’s unique climate. Our team of professionals is dedicated to providing the highest quality care, ensuring your lawn remains healthy and vibrant all year round. Don’t wait—schedule your consultation now and take the first step towards achieving the lush, green lawn you’ve always wanted. To request service or schedule a free installation estimate, contact us online or call us at (402) 334-2625.
