Healthy landscaping requires the right balance of nutrients and water. If you’re one of the many homeowners whose greenery looks less than lush, it could be because you’re giving your shrubs and lawn too much care. Read on for three symptoms of overwatering that you shouldn’t ignore.

3 Symptoms of Overly Watered Landscaping

1. Brown Patches

Landscape contractors report that overwatering is among the most common ways to damage your lawn, shrubs, and trees. You can often tell at a glance if you’re guilty of overwatering. If your landscaping has prominent brown patches, you’ve likely oversaturated it, depriving the soil of the oxygen it needs to support healthy root growth. Shallow roots won’t keep your grass green, especially during the summer months. Another surefire sign of chronic overwatering—necrotic ringspot lawn fungus—is characterized by yellowish or grayish circular patches. Once you’ve identified overwatering as your problem, you can bring the green back by letting the soil dry out completely before watering again.

 2. Compacted Soil

If your plants, trees, and grass show signs of mold, root rot, shallow roots, or an insect infestation, the culprit may be compacted soil due to oversaturation. To achieve a healthy dousing, lawn care professionals recommend cutting back on the number of days you water and increasing the length of time per watering session instead. You’ll not only promote healthy greenery but also reduce your water use.

3. Limp, Blistered, or Stunted Leaves

If your trees, shrubs, and plants are drowning, they’ll let you know. Leaves will be soft and limp. Too little water will make leaves turn dry and crunchy. Overwatering can also cause blisters and lesions to form on leaves. If the water pressure inside a leaf’s cells becomes too great, its cells burst and the leaf dies. Finally, if you notice that your plants, trees, and bushes are growing slower than expected and that they’re yellowing, there’s a good chance you’ve overwatered them. Check soil moisture regularly, either with an inexpensive moisture meter or by pushing your finger a couple of inches into the soil.

A Kick in the Grass Lawn Service is St. Louis County’s full-service landscape contractor and lawn care expert. Their licensed and bonded landscapers are ready to handle all your lawn care needs—mowing, trimming, fertilizing, irrigating, and aerating. They also design landscapes, remove leaves and snow, and clean gutters. For a free estimate, contact them online, or reach them by phone at (314) 471-6186.