One of the most common lawn care frustrations faced by many homeowners is a series of dry patches and brown grass. These not only look bad, but they also affect the overall health of your lawn. Below are some tips to help you deal with these troublesome areas.

How to Treat Dry Spots in a Yard

1. Aerate the Soil

Often, the reason for dry patches is that the soil has become compacted and water-repellent. You can loosen the soil and allow more moisture to reach the roots by using an aerator. An aerator has long, sharp tines you plunge into the earth to create channels that let rainwater reach the lawn's root system. Some aerator tools have a long handle like a shovel, while others slip over your shoes and let you press holes in the ground with each step.

2. Water in the Morning

In other cases, dry environmental conditions cause brown spots. To combat this, water your lawn so that the soil is soaked with a 1/2-inch of water at least every two weeks.

During hot, dry weather, schedule morning lawn care and watering so the sun and the heat of the day don't cause the moisture to evaporate. Morning irrigation also helps prevent fungal growth by allowing the grass to dry before it gets cool at night.

3. Apply Gypsum

High sodium in the soil can be another cause of dry patches. Salt binds to moisture and prevents it from reaching the roots. This often occurs in areas where road or driveway salt has washed onto lawns. To counteract the sodium, apply gypsum, a calcium-based mineral that will release the salt and let it leach out of the root system.

To have a professional lawn care company help you diagnose and treat your lawn's dry patches, contact Going Green Lawn Services LLC in Fenton, MO. They are family-owned and -operated and serve the Greater St. Louis area. In addition to lawn mowing and irrigation, they also offer fertilization and tree trimming. Learn more about them at their website or call (636) 388-2883 to schedule lawn care.