My lawn used to be beautiful. Now it looks awful. Help!

Photo by Markus Spiske

A Homeowner's Plea: My lawn used to be beautiful. Now it looks awful. A lot of the grass has disappeared. Exposed soil is hard like a brick. Help!

Answer: Common problems include fungus diseases, incorrect pH, poor fertilizing and lawn mowing practices. Your local county extension agent should be able to help you identify fungus, correct pH and suggest better fertilizing. If you're bagging your clippings, stop it. You may be removing topsoil and organic matter. Set your mower to a greater cutting height; 2-1/2 to 3 inches is good for most grasses. Short leaf blades will eventually starve the grass. When mowing your lawn, remember that the most important thing is not how short it's cut, but how evenly it's cut. These are but a few possible factors to consider, but should be a good place for you to start.

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