Bald Spots on Lawns
- Bald spots may develop on your lawn for a number of reasons. Some of the causes are treatable, while others are not. If lawn pests are the source of the bald spots, you'll have to research specific treatments for control of that particular pest, and you may have to treat more than just the spot. Bald spots may also be located in an area unfavorable to grass growth, or it may be located in a high-traffic area.
- You may be able to reseed a bald patch. The key is to loosen the soil and protect the area from pets and foot traffic until the grass grows to a healthy height. Reseeding is not an option for a location that simply does not favor grass growth, such as areas in deep shade, at the base of a shade tree, or in very high-traffic areas that continually struggle to grow grass.
- Ground covers are an appealing alternative to turf. Many are drought tolerant, or xeric, requiring very little water, and they may be able to handle foot traffic better than traditional turf grass. Turf is often not native to the area in which it's forced to grow, but there are many hardy, native ground covers that could easily replace turf grass in an area that doesn't favor its growth. You might also consider putting in a patio with flagstones or patio pavers instead of growing anything at all.
- If you aren't familiar with proper lawn care techniques you could be damaging your lawn. Frequent, shallow watering and too much mowing will stress your grass and eventually kill it. Connect a sprinkler or a sprinkler system to a timer and water the lawn deeply and infrequently. Mow your lawn only when it needs a trim. Keep the grass around 3 to 4 inches tall. This will keep the soil cooler and the grass greener, requiring less water. Leave grass clippings on the lawn --- they will supply beneficial nutrients to the soil.