Posted on February 2nd, 2023
There are many reasons that a healthy lawn may lose its color. A scorched lawn endured summer heat and humidity. Brown patches result from too much moisture or nitrogen, among other reasons.
You can turn your lawn green again almost overnight. Many people turn to turf colorants when their lawn issues cannot be resolved easily. However, is painting your lawn a good idea? Is it bad for your grass? Below, we’ll discuss a few scenarios and considerations for using turf colorant.
Brown patches are one of the most common lawn concerns that most people face. Brown patches are caused by disease but may also be caused by the following:
These are just a few of the reasons why your lawn may be experiencing brown patches. Before you consider turf colorant, it’s important to discover the specific challenge that your lawn is facing. Is a neighbor allowing their dog to use the restroom all over your yard? Are there barriers preventing sunlight from reaching your grass? Is the lawn infected with pests and fungus or has a poor pH balance? Unless the issue is resolved first, it will get worse.
Most cities and counties have ordinances that require pet owners to clean up after their pets. It may be a good idea to post helpful signs or consider putting up a small fence to keep dogs out of your garden or lawn. You can also use landscaping measures, such as bushes, to help keep out dogs.
Many types of mold and fungi can affect your lawn’s vital health, resulting in brown patches. If you mix one tablespoon of baking soda with a gallon of water, you can use this solution to spray areas affected by mold and fungus. Spray it every three days, and it should work for most mild afflictions.
Do you have overgrown trees and bushes? It may be time to have a lawn care service come out and refresh your property by cutting back on the overgrowth. Cutting back interior tree limbs can help sunlight penetrate thick tree canopies.
Some barriers, such as trees not on your property or tall buildings, can’t be dealt with regarding poor sunlight. However, if your neighbor’s tree is growing over into your lawn and presenting a hazard. It’s reasonable to request a tree trimming service to take care of it.
Clemson University advises testing your soil pH in the fall to plan for future gardening. Tips for raising your soil’s pH levels include using wood ashes in the soil, but be careful not to damage germinating plants. Aluminum sulfate and sulfur may be used to lower soil pH, but it’s advisable to rinse the material off of plant leaves to avoid damage. Sulfur must convert to sulphuric acid in the soil, which can take months, so many prefer to use aluminum sulfate.
Painting your lawn would cover up brown patches, but it would be a temporary fix. If you can’t discover the issue on your own, it’s best to consult with a lawn care professional.
If your entire lawn is brown, there are two reasons that your lawn went dormant: summer heat and winter dormancy.
Summer heat is one of the top reasons that lawns turn completely brown. If you live in particularly hot and humid areas, your lawn may be more prone to turning brown. However, you may not know that you should cut your lawn higher as the summer heat increases.
A short-trimmed lawn is more likely to get scorched while a short lawn is more likely to stay green. In the summer, your lawn also requires more water. A general rule of thumb is to give your lawn half an inch of water every three days.
Summer is a time of all things vibrant and green, so many people prefer to paint their lawns during this season. Yes, you should paint your lawn with turf colorant, if that’s your preference.
Depending on the climate you live in, winter usually means shorter and colder days, and this change makes a lawn go dormant and brown. Most types of grass turn brown, but it does depend on the grass variety as severity.
To avoid a brown lawn, overseeding with a winter rye seed variety is one piece of advice my lawn pro will give you. As well, be careful with aeration in the winter as certain grass varieties take a long time to recover since it’s not a growth period.
Aeration is a vital aspect of lawn care, and households should have it down once a year. It just depends on when you choose to do it. A lawn can make it through a year without dormancy if you allow it to retain moisture and grow deeper, stronger roots.
Continuing to weed, mow, water, and fertilize your lawn according to the season will help with lawn recovery. Hibernation is a natural part of your lawn’s cycle, but if you don’t want to stare at a brown lawn, you should paint the lawn. Turf colorant is a safer option in this case.
Is lawn paint safe for pets and children, especially if they are constantly using the yard for play and exercise? Yes. In general, lawn paint is pet-friendly and child-friendly, as well as safe for the environment.
Are your own pets frequently urinating on the lawn and contributing to brown patches? Your best bet is to go ahead and paint the lawn. Turf colorant can also act as a preventative measure against future damage.
The only rule of thumb here is to avoid the lawn until the turf colorant has dried. It can take as little as an hour for it to dry or up to 24 hours in humid weather.
Painting your lawn can be a nonhazardous way to keep your lawn looking sharp and green throughout the year. If you have a birthday party or wedding, you want your photos to look beautiful, so it makes sense to turn to lawn painting as a resource. Most golf courses paint their grass year-round, after all.
Turf colorant is rain-proof. As long as it has dried within the last 24 hours, the color will not run or fade.
Once the paint has dried, you can walk on the grass.
Lawn paint can hide brown patches and make a dormant lawn vibrant again. However, it cannot fix any issues with pests, fungi, poor pH balance or poor sunlight.
When applying turf colorant, remember to be careful where you spray it since it will stain whatever it touches.
No, turf colorant is beneficial for the environment in many ways. You will see a large reduction in the amount of water used, as well as gas for mowing. You’ll use less fertilizer. Many turf colorants are made with organic coloring agents and natural ingredients.
Lawn paint lasts up to an average of three months, but its longevity depends on what’s happening to and on your lawn. Colorants can’t be washed off, but they can be worn away or mowed off. They can fade out over time. Typically, a combination of these three factors is what makes lawn paint less vibrant.
However, when quality lawn paint is made from organic and natural materials with a focus on sustainability, the staying power of turf colorant is truer and healthier for the lawn.
When selecting the best hue for your lawn, you must look at the lawn you’re starting with—what’s its color and condition? How much turf colorant is needed for even coverage? Consider if the lawn is completely brown and dormant or if you are just coloring over some brown patches. This will determine how much turf colorant you will need.
The idea is to build upon the existing green of the lawn, to paint into its vibrancy and depth. Colors may be more blue-green for cooler seasons. For a brown lawn making it through drought conditions, a warmer hue turf colorant should be considered. The more the leaf blade is covered, the more pronounced the vibrancy is overall. Approaching colorants this way allows you to achieve a more natural look for your lawn.
Selecting the best turf colorant for grass type is one of the top questions that Turf Unlimited receives. As you can see, the process can be as nuanced as caring for your lawn. Painting lawns is an art that requires technique and experience. If you’re curious about turf colorants and how they may bring out the vibrancy of your lawn this season, please contact us.
