“The grass is always greener.” You’ve heard that old saying applied metaphorically to life circ*mstances. But we’re speaking literally about lawns. Why does some grass appear greener than others?
For homeowners, it’s upsetting to look out at your yard and see patches of various shades of green. What you really want is a uniform carpet of lush green grass, but often you get patches of lighter and darker greens. Why is that?
There are a number of factors that affect the color of your lawn:
The type of grass or grass species
Weather conditions
Irrigation and water supply
Soil health
Lawn pests and fungi
There are so many different species of grass, and each species has a different color. For example, in Ohio, the main species of turfgrass are
Kentucky Bluegrass
Fine Fescue
Tall Fescue
Perennial Rye
Each species grows at different rates and features blades of different shapes and colors. It’s possible that your lawn consists of a variety of grass species, which could be causing your lawn to have different shades of green.
But the differing shades of grass could also be due to the weather conditions and your irrigation practices. It’s no surprise that if you’re lacking rain and your lawn isn’t getting enough water, it will begin to wilt, turning lighter and lighter until it turns brown and dies. So if some parts of your lawn are lighter, make sure every part of your lawn is getting equal amounts of water regularly.
Perhaps the main cause of varying shades of grass is the Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium (NPK) ratio of your soil. Of these components, nitrogen is the element responsible for the levels of chlorophyll and, as a result, the shade of green. Grass that is lacking in nitrogen will be lighter than grass that has enough nitrogen.
The best way to determine if your lawn needs nitrogen is to perform a soil test in different areas of your yard. Make sure to include samples from areas where there are lighter and darker areas of grass. The results of the soil test will tell you what elements your lawn needs. Then you can find a fertilizer with the right ratios for your lawn.
NOTE: Fertilizing is important, but you don’t want to overdo it. Too much fertilizer can fry your lawn.
If you’ve ruled out different species of grass, irrigation, and fertilization, the last factor to check for is fungi. That’s right, the presence of fungi in your lawn can cause the grass to appear darker. The growth of fungi can be caused by organic matter laying under your lawn, like rotting wood. Fungi can affect the amount of water the roots of your grass are able to access, which can actually kill that section of grass. Fortunately, there are products on the market designed to kill this kind of fungus and save your lawn.
Sometimes the best thing to do is contact us. We are equipped to check the overall health of your lawn and soil, and can often apply treatments that will give you, or get you closer to, that uniform dark green lawn of your dreams.
Advanced Quality Lawn
Advanced Quality Lawn is a locally owned and operated lawn care company that is dedicated to helping our clients grow and maintain phenomenal landscapes. We use only the finest lawn care applications and the latest technology. All of our services are innovative and have been proven effective.
FAQs
Grass that is lacking in nitrogen will be lighter than grass that has enough nitrogen. The best way to determine if your lawn needs nitrogen is to perform a soil test in different areas of your yard. Make sure to include samples from areas where there are lighter and darker areas of grass.
Why is some grass greener than others? ›
There might be zones where the soil is much higher in quality than others and in these spots, the grass is going to be green and thriving. This sometimes occurs when a change is made to the yard. For instance, perhaps you had a swimming pool added and some excavation was performed.
Why does green grass appear green? ›
Grass appears green because Chlorophyll absorbs light at two wavelengths, both red and blue, while reflecting green.
What is the reason that the grass is green? ›
Grass is green because of the presence of chlorophyll throughout the leaves and stems. Chlorophyll is a pigment that allows plants to capture energy from the Sun in order to power the process of photosynthesis.
Why do we think the grass is greener on the other side? ›
The notion that the grass is always greener is thought to be a repercussion of what's known as "Focusing Illusion," which is a way that our brains get mixed up by thinking certain parts of our lives are more important than others based on where we've placed our focus.
What makes your lawn greener? ›
Nitrogen is especially important for getting beautiful green grass. As with other aspects of lawn care, when you apply fertilizer depends on your lawn type: Cool-season grass generally needs fertilizer at both the beginning of spring and fall. Warm-season lawns need more frequent fertilizer.
Is the grass greener on the other side answer? ›
The grass isn't always greener on the other side. The reality is, the grass is rarely greener on the other side, but it is always greener where you choose to water it. Take care of your own grass.
What causes grass to turn bright green? ›
Like many plants, grass produces a pigment called chlorophyll when exposed to light. This bright pigment absorbs blue and red light, reflecting green light back to your eyes. That's why the right amount of sun is important for green grass!
Why does grass change color? ›
Everyone knows that grass is green, but did you know that your lawn can change its color slightly throughout the year? The color of grass depends on the environmental conditions – how much sun and rain it gets and what the soil is like.
Why is some grass green and some yellow? ›
The lawn is lacking the required nutrients
Iron deficiencies are typically the cause of yellow spots, especially in spring. This occurs when plant or organic matter with a high carbon content is added to the soil.
We have this tendency of making comparison and feel the other person is in a much better state then us or the other thing is much better than what we have. Instead of accepting and appreciating the things and people we have in our life, we always find a way to look at the things or people that are not available to us.
Where does the grass is always greener come from? ›
The phrase dates back to the Greek poet Ovid, who lived in the first century B.C. The original saying was, “The harvest is always richer in another man's field.” The proverb as we know it comes from an American folk song written by Raymond B. Egan and Richard A. Whiting in 1924.
What does the same grass but greener mean? ›
idiom saying. something that you say that means that other people always seem to be in a better situation than you, although they may not be: I sometimes think I'd be happier teaching in Spain.
Why is my grass not as green as my neighbors? ›
Water too often, and it encourages shallow, needy roots. Water less often but deeply, and roots will grow deeper and healthier — and your grass will be greener. Consider installing an irrigation system. Unlike hoses and sprinklers, an irrigation system distributes water exactly where your landscape needs it.
What makes some areas greener than others? ›
Perhaps the main cause of varying shades of grass is the Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium (NPK) ratio of your soil. Of these components, nitrogen is the element responsible for the levels of chlorophyll and, as a result, the shade of green.
