A patchy lawn can be frustrating, particularly when you are mowing, feeding and watering it but some areas still refuse to thicken up.
The temptation is often to add more lawn fertiliser. Sometimes that helps. But if the underlying problem is in the soil, repeatedly feeding the grass may not solve what is actually causing the patches.
Healthy grass starts below the surface, so the first step is working out why the lawn is struggling in the first place.
1. Compacted soil
Compaction is one of the most common reasons a lawn struggles.
Children playing, pets, garden furniture, regular foot traffic and even mowing can gradually compress the soil beneath the grass.
When soil becomes compacted, there is less space for air and water to move through it. Grass roots can struggle to develop properly and water may sit on the surface rather than moving into the soil.
You may notice thin grass along paths people regularly walk, around swings, beside patios or in heavily used parts of the garden.
Aerating the lawn can help physically relieve compaction, but it is also worth thinking about the condition of the soil itself.
2. Poor drainage and prolonged wet weather
Lawns across Ireland and the UK frequently have to cope with long periods of wet weather.
Waterlogged soil contains less available air, and grass roots can struggle when the soil remains saturated for extended periods.
If one part of your lawn regularly remains wetter than the rest, look at drainage as well as lawn feeding.
Improving the soil structure and encouraging healthy biological activity can form part of a longer-term lawn recovery plan, but severe drainage problems may also require physical intervention.
3. Dry or water-repellent soil
The opposite can happen during dry weather.
Some soils become very hard and dry, while others allow water to run straight across the surface rather than soaking evenly into the root zone.
This can create patches of stressed or discoloured grass even when you are watering regularly.
Rather than applying a little water every day, deeper watering can encourage grass roots to grow further into the soil.
4. The grass has been cut too short
A very short lawn may look neat immediately after mowing, but repeatedly cutting grass too low can weaken it.
Grass needs leaf area to produce energy.
Scalping the lawn can expose the soil, increase moisture loss and make it easier for weeds or moss to establish.
During periods of stress, allowing the grass to stay slightly longer can make a considerable difference.
5. Nutrients aren't the whole story
Grass needs nutrients, but simply adding more fertiliser isn't always the answer.
Soil structure, organic matter, moisture, soil biology and nutrient availability all affect how well grass grows.
A lawn is part of a living soil ecosystem, with fungi, microbes and organic matter all playing a role below the surface.
This is why two lawns can receive the same fertiliser and still respond very differently.
Before adding another treatment, ask what condition the soil underneath the lawn is actually in.
6. Heavy wear
Sometimes the cause of a bare patch is much simpler.
Football goals, paddling pools, trampolines, dogs running the same route and children playing in one area can all damage grass.
Where wear is the main problem, give the area time to recover and consider moving garden equipment periodically.
Very damaged areas may need overseeding.
7. Seasonal stress
Lawns naturally look different throughout the year.
A lawn coming out of a wet winter may look thin and tired. During summer, drought stress may cause yellow or brown patches.
That does not necessarily mean the grass is dead.
Before reaching for a quick fix, consider what the lawn has been through over the previous few months.
Start with the soil
A greener lawn is not just about feeding the grass you can see.
It is also about supporting the soil underneath it.
Humusoil Lush Lawns is designed as a soil-focused lawn treatment containing humic acid, seaweed and beneficial soil microbes.
Rather than treating lawn care purely as a question of adding fertiliser, the aim is to support the environment in which the grass roots are growing.
If your lawn is looking thin, patchy or tired, start by identifying the cause rather than simply adding more fertiliser. Look at drainage, compaction, wear, mowing and the condition of the soil underneath. A healthier lawn usually starts below the surface.