Maintaining a lawn isn’t easy. If you don’t take precautions, there are many things that can destroy your lawn. Below are 10 things that commonly destroy lawns – and how to protect your lawn against them.

Shade

Grass needs sunlight to grow. If a lawn is too shady, grass won’t survive. When building new structures or planting new trees in your garden, you need to be careful of casting a permanent shadow on your lawn. Some types of grass like fescue are still able to grow in areas with limited sunlight and could be an option in shady gardens.

Drought

Another important thing that grass needs to survive is water. During periods of drought, it’s important to keep your lawn watered. You can do this manually with a hose, or you can install sprinklers to automatically water your lawn. Certain types of grass need more water than others. It’s also important to consider the soil – water can drain more quickly in sandy soil, and such soil therefore needs a greater amount of watering.

Waterlogging

While lawns need water, too much water can also be bad. When soil becomes waterlogged, roots are starved of oxygen and plants die. Clay soil lawns are most likely to suffer from waterlogging and may need to be regularly aerated. Drainage systems like french drains and soakaways can also prevent waterlogging. It’s worth noting that some types of grass can grow in soggy soil, but are generally considered ornamental grasses rather than lawn grasses due to their texture.

Weeds

Various invasive plants can take over lawns if you are not careful. Common lawn weeds include plantains, thistles, chickweed, dandelions and buttercups. Invasive grasses like poa annua weed can also take over your existing grass, leading to differently coloured clumps of grass. You can help prevent a lot of these weeds by applying a pre-emergent herbicide at the end of winter. Individually hand-pulling weeds at the beginning of Spring can also prevent them from spreading (don’t wait until there are loads of weeds all over your lawn).

Pests

There are many bugs that can destroy lawns. Chafer grub and leatherjacket infestations can lead to huge patchy sections of lawns. Ants can also destroy lawns by forming nests. It is possible to use pesticides to get rid of these bugs. This could include chemical pesticides or organic pesticides. Other pests like moles can also be a problem and require their own deterrents.

Dogs

Maintaining a lawn with dogs isn’t easy. Even if you’re able to train your dog not to dig, your dog may still damage your grass simply by running and rolling around. Dog urine can also kill off grass – especially if they have a favourite pee spot. You may be able to stop a dog destroying your lawn by choosing a hardy grass and by pouring water or special fertilizers over areas your dog urinates on.

Chemicals

While some chemicals are designed to help your lawn (such as herbicides, pesticides and some fertilizers), using the wrong chemicals on your lawn can have the opposite effect. Non-selective herbicides kill every type of plant, and should only be used to spot-treat weeds – not as a liberally applied pre-emergent herbicide. Chemicals used to clean patios, clean decking or seal fences can also contain chemicals which may destroy lawns – so be careful when using these products.

Over-mowing

Cutting your grass too often and too short can weaken it. It may also make it easier for weeds to infiltrate your lawn. How often you should mow your lawn depends on several factors including the type of grass and the current weather/temperature. Do your research in order to make sure that you’re not mowing too much. Avoid cutting your grass below 2.5 inches.

Leaves

In fall, leaves may accumulate on your lawn. These leaves need to be removed as they can stop the sunlight getting to your lawn, killing off the grass beneath. You can rake away leaves or use a leaf blower. Leaves are worth keeping and using as compost, or placing on plant beds where they can be used as mulch.

Snow

Snow can also be bad for your lawn if it sits there for too long. While snow insulates your lawn and provides moisture, it can compact soil and increase the risk of snow mold if there are still leaves on it. It’s worth aerating a snowy lawn to prevent compaction and making sure any leaves are removed to prevent snow mould from setting in.