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The Unexpected Consequences of Rain on Your Grass and How to Revive It

The Unexpected Consequences of Rain on Your Grass and How to Revive It

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Depending on the climate that you live in, there is a chance that a lot of rain could come your way. While a little bit of rain is always good for keeping the grass properly hydrated, there is also the chance that too much of it could wind up turning your grass brown.

We all want to have a beautiful, lush lawn that is that vibrant color of green. So, what do we do about it? Why is the rain turning the grass into that dull, ugly brownish color?

Why the Grass Is Turning Brown

Yard Flooded From Too Much Rain And Not Enough Drainage

There are a lot of different reasons why your grass may be turning brown. In this specific instance, it happens in the wake of a lot of rain. So, that likely means that the grass is getting overwatered due to all of the rain.

When the lawn is overwatered, it can lead to several other issues as well, but the main issue is that the grass is drowning. Too much water will kill the grass, leading to that dull, brownish color that can become prevalent after heavy rains.

That overwatering can also lead to fungal issues as well as rotting in the grass. When the temperature and moisture come together in just the right combination, it can lead to your grass clumping and sogging up. That can then develop into rot, which can easily turn into a fungal lawn disease.

Heavy rains can potentially lead to soggy and muddy lawns as well. When this is the case, if the heavy, wet areas are allowed to persist, it can create deformation in your land and damage it.

Have you ever stepped in a soggy area only to have your foot sink in slightly? Well, walking on a soggy patch of land can actually be potentially damaging to the growth.

If there are heavy rains in your area, try to keep from walking on it for a day or so until it can dry out. Your footsteps may not seem like a big deal, but they can be causing damage to your grass that will be extremely difficult to fix.

Finally, the excess rain could result in rapid weed growth. Weeds are an invasive plant with roots that quickly overtake anything in the immediate area. Extra moisture can cause different types of weeds to sprout, so keep an eye on any potential weed growth.

Break out the weed killer if you do notice this becoming an issue and make sure to kill them fast. Weed growth can be very difficult to control when they’re allowed time to bloom.

How to Save Your Lawn as a Result of Overwatering

Let’s say that the reason your lawn is turning brown is indeed due to the heavy rains. You can’t prevent the rain from happening, obviously, so that leads to the question of what to do to help the grass in the wake of those rains.

Sprinkler System Running In The Rain

The first thing is that you want to react to overwatered grass as soon as possible. There are a lot of factors to consider – how often do you water? Are the automatic sprinklers running for too long?

The key is to reduce the dosage. Generally speaking, the rains should not be enough to cause overwatering; it will likely be in tandem with your sprinkler time.

After determining the amount of time that your lawn is getting watered, it is then time to take the necessary steps to remedy the situation. The first thing that needs to happen is that the soil should be aerated.

You can either use a machine specifically crafted for this or simply use a garden fork to start creating small holes in the lawn. This depends entirely on your lawn size; larger plots should probably be done using a machine.

Another good idea is to dethatch the lawn. This is the process of removing any of the dead or decaying grass stems, shoots, and roots that could be inhibiting the rest of the “healthy” grass.

By dethatching, you remove that thick layer of material that is decaying so that all the proper components – water, nutrients, fertilizer, and air – can reach the lawn. Not only that, but dethatching will allow the lawn to drain a bit better as well.

Dethatching is also a good idea because that dead or decayed layer can make your grass particularly thick. When this is the case, those nutrients have a difficult time reaching the soil. When that happens, it can lead to fungi or bugs showing up in alarming numbers.

Which brings us to the next point.

What About Bugs?

Grubs In Yard Killing Grass And Turning It Brown

So, let’s say that you’ve taken the proper steps to level out the watering schedule and have dethatched the lawn and you still notice that there are yellow and brown spots all over your lawn. What is going on? Why is this happening?

The most likely culprit is bugs. When the grass is damaged and maybe even diseased, it creates an increased chance that you will have an insect problem. You can test this rather simply by grabbing your shovel and doing some light digging.

Not every bug that you see is a bad thing, but you need to know what’s there. Some of the bad bugs that you may notice include snails, mosquitos, brightly colored beetles, ticks, ants, Japanese beetles, and chiggers.

This is because all of them have the capability to spread disease that can damage and kill your lawn.

If making the aforementioned corrections doesn’t improve your lawn, try spraying with fungicides and pesticides. This is another reason why dethatching is such a good idea. It will help expose any other potential underlying issues that may be doing harm to your lawn.

If, after checking the water and bug problem, you still notice some dull spots, try fertilizing. The lawn may have had access to limited nutrients to this point and providing a fertilizer that is nitrogen-rich can be a great way to improve the health of the soil.

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