It’s normal for turf grass to turn yellow in winter dormancy, but that seasonal color change can also hide signs of nutrient deficiency. Here’s how to tell the difference.
Bare Areas in the Lawn
One sign of nutrient deficiency is bare spots in the lawn. These spots can be seen even when the grass is dormant. They’ usually indicate that your lawn lacks phosphorus, which supports the growth and strength of the grass roots.
Dry or Brittle Grass
Grass that’s dry and brittle even when it gets adequate rainfall might be potassium deficient. Potassium is the mineral that helps your lawn bear up under stressors such as diseases and spells of drought and high heat. One problem with dry grass is that sometimes it’s normal in the face of a drought. One way to tell if it’s the result of a nutrient deficiency is if only some parts of the lawn are dry while the rest of the lawn is normal. Contact your lawn professional to learn more.
Purple Grass Blades
Purple grass blades are normal during the growing season. They’re a problem in mature lawns. Grass that’s just been planted may be naturally and healthily purple. But in an established lawn, purple blades are another sign that the grass lacks phosphorus. Ironically, a lawn that turns deep green all of a sudden may also be suffering from phosphorus deficiency. After the flush of deep green, the grass starts turning purple.
The Grass Doesn’t Grow
Some types of turf grass have been bred to grow slowly or not grow very tall. However, if you have a lawn that needs regular mowing to keep from becoming unruly, there may be a problem if it stops growing. Stunted grass may result from a deficiency in several nutrients, including calcium, nitrogen, iron and phosphorus. Again, contact a professional to find out what’s causing the problem.
Interveinal Chlorosis
This is a fancy term for yellow and green striped grass blades. It’s a sure sign that your grass is nutrient deficient, and the nutrient that’s lacking is most often iron. A lack of magnesium and manganese can also striped grass blades.
Pale Grass
This can be best seen during the growing season. It’s one of the most common signs that your grass is lacking in nutrients. In this case, the nutrients are usually nitrogen and sulfur.
If you think your grass is lacking in nutrients, give an expert a call. For services such as lawn fertilization, contact our professionals at Princeton Turf Care in Lawrence Township, NJ.
