Common Lawn Problems

This is similar to a dandelion, the leaves are long and have white pimples, it is rough to touch, digging up the root can be difficult due to the deep root system. It can be annual and biennial. You won’t find this type of weed in a well maintained garden but are likely to show up in neglected lawns and can grow in most soil types. Joe’s weed control can help take care of this stubborn problem weed. 

Flowers: June to September

The daisy is a perennial weed and if not treated will come back year after year. The most common weed of them all, with white petals surrounding a yellow centre. In fact, we’re not even sure we had to include a photo but we did anyway. They spread with underground runners. They’re nice for the children to make daisy chains but picking from the stem bases unfortunately won’t get rid of them and they’re low growing plants which means they will tolerate close mowing making it particularly difficult to get rid of. Scarifying can help get rid of them and overseeding will help the grass be the more dominant plant when the turf grows back ensuring it is thick and healthy and regular weed controls can help keep the weed at bay. 

From French word ‘dent de lion’ meaning ‘lion’s tooth’ because of the shape of the leaves and the sharp-toothed edges. A very good weed for health benefits and is often used in medicines for infections and digestive symptoms. Even better the root can be used as a coffee substitute. They are a common perennial, love fine turf and grassy pastures. Dandelions have a taproot which goes deep into the soil, it forms a basal rosette that smothers the grass and kills the grass underneath. It is best to treat them quickly before their roots go too deep. If you are hand weeding them out, you need to remove all of the root, if you don’t it will regenerate into another plant and grow back. They’re smart weeds and can adapt to mowing regimes meaning they grow beneath mowing height and if the grass is left to grow tall they will simply grow taller in these areas. A specially selected Joe’s weed control will help tackle your dandelions. 

Herb in the buttercup family, it has bright yellow flowers like the buttercup and glossy dark heart-shaped petals. It is a perennial which means it can come back year on year if left untreated, if you choose to dig this weed be sure to be careful when picking out to avoid any seeds spreading and put in the garden waste bin rather than composting. Joe’s weed control can help take care of this weed. 

Flowers between January and April

Ragwort is a tall weed which can grow up to 90cm high, large flat clusters of yellow flowers similar to daisies. A single plant has thousands of seeds and they can be easily spread. Ragwort is mildly poisonous to humans, but can cause liver poisoning in horses and livestock. There are 19 different types and flowers from July through to October. It can be treated with weed control to help get rid of the weed, it can take up to 4 weeks to see any results, so patience is required. 

A grassland plant, found in lawns, on tracks, at the edges of fields and roadside. The seeds have their own ‘gel’ retaining water, therefore being a superior weed and can grow in dry soils when other species can not. It will even sit in the soil for months or years waiting for the perfect conditions to come. When it grows it has oval flower heads shaped like an egg producing white stamens balancing on their thin stems and the leaves are shaped like spears and grow long (up to 25cm). 

Flowers: April to October

Selfheal is a member of the mint family and is a common weed on all types of lawns throughout the UK. It can be found on all types of lawns and will tolerate both dry and moist soils. This perennial weed spreads by creeping runners which root at intervals and as such it can quite happily grow and enjoy life in closely mown areas of turf. Selfheal leaves come in oval-shaped pairs and can have a smooth or slightly hairy surface. In areas where the turf is closely mown the leaves can have a purple tinge to them. Selfheal flowers purple from June to October, and again have a pair of leaves underneath them.

Speedwell can survive in all soil types but it particularly enjoys moist, nutrient-rich soils and can tolerate low mowing. It is important to remove clippings whilst mowing the lawn, failure to do so helps this weed to spread. Scarification may prove beneficial in reducing numbers, however, if the infestation is more widespread a chemical weed killer will be needed for treatment. Speedwell is a difficult weed to control. Joe’s range of professional herbicides will always be more effective than those available for amateur gardeners.

Yarrow, also known as ‘Milfoil’, is a perennial weed common on all types of lawns in the UK, however, it particularly thrives in nutrient deficient, dry and sandy soils. Yarrow is often an indicator that your lawn is suffering from a lack of nutrition! Yarrow leaves have a fern-like feathery appearance and give off a fragrance if rubbed or crushed. If present, small white flowers can be visible from June to October. It has deep fibrous roots to withstand extremely dry conditions and it spreads by creeping stems which root at intervals.

Year after year many people treat, kill and remove moss from their lawns only to see it return again. Unless you correct the underlying conditions that cause this problem it will keep returning. Moss can be tackled in a variety of ways. One of the more effective methods is through Scarification where the cause of the moss is addressed by removing the surface thatch on which the moss is growing. Check out our SCARIFICATION page for more details.

• Poor surface drainage – A wet or damp lawn surface encourages fern and tufted type mosses
• An infertile lawn – Any lawn deficient in essential nutrients is prone to having a weak and thin coverage of grass, leaving it open for moss invasion
• Mowing the lawn too short – Mowing the grass too short causes the grass to become weak and inviting moss to invade. (see our mowing advice section of ‘Ask Joe’ for more information)
• Too much shade – Shaded lawns suffer from frequent moss problems due to the lack of sunlight resulting in a thin sward
• Drought – During dry summers it is important to irrigate to avoid any loss of grass resulting in a thin sward
• Acidic conditions – Moss prefers acidic conditions

Ant hills can disfigure lawns they usually appear in summer and are especially prevalent in damp conditions. They can be dispersed by brushing the soil when conditions are dry. Most ant species build underground nests. Worker ants dig tunnels and chambers in the soil and as the colony grows, workers add more tunnels and chambers to the nest. As such, over time if left untreated the lawn may become uneven. Ants can also damage roots which may cause yellowing of the grass

Ant colonies can grow to be quite large:

• Their nests may reach 6 meters below the ground
• A group of nests may cover an area as large as a tennis court
• Millions of ants may live in these nests

The Chafer Grub is the larvae of the May Bug and will again cause widespread damage to lawns. In some cases, the roots of a lawn can be so seriously damaged that the turf can be rolled up like a carpet.

Other than the appearance and health of the turf deteriorating, a good indication of the existence of both leatherjackets and chafer grubs is the congregating of birds on the lawn, digging into the turf to feed on the pests. Unfortunately, this is not a satisfactory control method!

Worms are good for the lawn, they are a natural aerator, allowing the soil breathing room. They can however cause casts on the lawn’s surface, these need brushing before mowing as they will cause the soil to become a compact mound which will be harder to get rid of.

Fusarium, sometimes called snow mould, is a common cause of brown patches on lawns, particularly in Autumn or during mild Winter spells. The disease is sometimes very noticeable after thaws of snow, when it is given the common name of snow mould.

Fusarium is one of the most damaging diseases for turf grasses and can be difficult to control. The disease is first noticed as small patches of yellowish dying grass that later turn brown, increase in size and often merge together.

Red Thread can leave patches of turf in a ‘straw-like’ brown condition, which gives the entire lawn an all-over mottled effect, which looks unsightly.

This disease is often seen on lawns in the UK from mid-Summer through to Autumn time and it can develop on all lawn types. It is a fairly minor disease that in most cases does relatively little damage, but can drastically spoil the appearance of a lawn. It is spread by spores within the air.

A more common name is dog vomit fungus. 

The spore producing structures can show up quite quickly, sometimes as fast as overnight. A depletion of nutrients is a common trigger (very common in hot summers).

The spore-producing structures may develop throughout the year, but are found most commonly in late summer and autumn. You’ll be pleased to know it does not attack the plant and no control is required, it can quickly go as easily as it came. If really unsightly you can jet wash the area to remove the spores.

A fungal disease caused by a number of different fungi. This doesn’t directly attack the grass plant which it is growing on, but the presence of the fungus on the leaves blocks out the sunlight and can reduce the growth of the plant.

Lichens are neither plant nor fungus but a combination of both. They are very unattractive and generally will only live on patios, driveways, paths, garden furniture and fencing. They can be treated with a hard surface cleaning treatment from Joe’s.

We know they look better in a chicken pie but the mushrooms on your lawn are a good sign of a healthy lawn. They will usually appear in warm, humid conditions and likely disappear after a few weeks or when weather conditions change. They don’t have a root system as such, so they won’t affect the grass by competing for nutrients.

So why are they good I hear you ask…

• You pick them off close to the base (wear gloves) 
• Mow short with a mower which collects grass in order to stop them from spreading 

Or read our blog about why and how you should remove shrooms

However please note, if they do start to make circles in the lawn, known as fairy rings these can be a problem and you will need expert advice on how to treat them. 

To prevent mushrooms from growing then you must monitor the conditions of your lawn regularly, scarifying will help as it will remove a layer of thatch.

White Spindles or ‘Fairy Fingers’ are an uncommon species of fungus. Found throughout Britain and Ireland. It is often associated with older lawns which haven’t been reseeded or treated with fertilisers and moss-killers.

Due to the small height of the spindles, this fungus can be overlooked. Once the ‘Fairy Fingers’ have finished flowering, they usually disappear, they have no long-term damage to your lawn. In fact, it means that your lawn contains healthy nutrients for this fungus fruiting species!

Thatch is a common problem that forms over time. The thicker the layer, the more it can suffocate your soil from getting the water, air and nutrients it needs. It can also welcome diseases and insects to your lawn, so it is important to remove the layer of thatch or at least most of it.

Forming a spongy layer on your turf, thatch makes it difficult to mow properly. Thatch causes the grass to grow unevenly and the spongy texture means that the wheels can sink into the ground, creating an uneven surface.

If the layer of thatch is thin, you can use a scarifying rake to minimise the problem. Fully removing a thick layer of thatch requires the use of an expensive scarifying and aerating machine. This is something you can buy yourself, or you can hire a professional lawn care hero (like us!) to do it for you.