Why Your Lawn Has Different Shades of Green and What to do About it (2024)

If you’ve ever looked out at your lawn and observed that the grass is different colors, you aren’t alone. It’s actually quite common for a lawn to have different shades of green. However, that’s not to say that it’s something you like. Uniformity of color is important to a lot of people when it comes to having a lawn that they’re proud of.

In this article, we’ll talk about why some grass is light green and some is dark green—and what you might be able to do about that color variation.

Help! My Grass is Different Shades of Green

First and foremost, you want to understand why the lawn has different shades of green in the first place. Only once you figure out why there is variation in its color can you start to do something about fixing it.

Why Your Lawn Has Different Shades of Green and What to do About it (1)

We’ll talk about the various reasons why this occurs but keep in mind that quite often, it’s more than one of these issues occurring at once. The reason why your lawn has different shades of green in the front yard might be entirely different from the reason why it has various shades in the backyard. Or even in the same area, multiple issues could be at hand.

Here are some common culprits.

There are Various Grass Types Growing

Here in North Texas, most of the yards that we work on have multiple grass types growing. It’s quite common for homeowners to start off with one grass type, realize it’s not performing optimally in certain areas, and then add something new. This can make the lawn stronger and perform better in trouble spots (such as shade), but it can also lead to it being a lawn that has different shades of green.

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The Lawn Conditions are Varied

It’s important to remember that a lawn likely doesn’t have uniform conditions throughout the entire property. 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.

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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. If lower quality soil was added into the dug-up areas, it might have lost nutrients.

Drainage Concerns

If the grass is different colors in different spots of the lawn, it could also be related to a drainage or irrigation issue. If water isn’t properly draining in certain parts of the yard, the soil can become waterlogged and it can prevent oxygen and nutrients from getting down to the root zone.

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Similarly, some yards have septic systems and many homeowners notice a difference in grass color over the septic system area. Sometimes very bright green grass over a septic tank can actually indicate early signs of trouble with the system and is worth looking into.

Irrigation Issues

Irrigation leaks can also lead to changes in grass color. If some areas of the property are receiving more water than others, this can mean that some grass is light green and some is dark green.

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It’s also possible that an irrigation system was not installed properly. If you don’t have good head-to-head coverage, there could be areas of the lawn that aren’t receiving enough water. This sometimes leads to circular areas of greener grass.

Improper Fertilization Can Affect Grass Color

Since lawn fertilization is what helps to make grass green, if some grass is light green and some is dark green, it may be that it’s not properly fertilized. This sometimes happens if homeowners buy a bag of fertilizer and just toss some down in the yard. It is possible that you may not get good, even coverage from high-quality products.

But it could also be that your lawn care company is cutting corners or skimping on materials.

You Have Grassy Weeds

There also happens to be a lot of grassy weeds in North Texas which grow in clumps and make your lawn appear as it has various shades of green in it. This can certainly contribute to it appearing that the grass is different colors.

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What to Do When Your Lawn is Different Colors

As we mentioned, it is very likely that you have not one, but multiple issues at hand if your lawn is different colors. The key is to properly diagnose what’s going on so that you can implement the best solution. That solution will obviously be dependent upon what’s causing the differences in color.

It is highly beneficial to have a lawn care professional make the diagnosis so that you get the right solution underway. This is where it is ideal to hire a company that handles multiple property services so that you ultimately end up with the right answers.

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If you bring in a lawn fertilization company for a lawn that isn’t uniformly green, they’re just going to try to fix it with fertilizer. Or, if you bring in a company that solely handles irrigation, they’re going to tell you it’s an irrigation issue.

But if you bring in a company that can handle it all: lawn fertilization, irrigation, drainage issues, weed control, and more—then they’ll be able to accurately diagnose exactly what’s going on and get the proper solution underway.

Partnering with a Lawn Care Professional

We understand that lawn problems like this can be frustrating, but with the right lawn care professional on your side, you can feel confident that the issues will be appropriately resolved. Soon, you can get your lawn back on track without having to worry about what’s causing problems.

You’ll gain peace of mind that your lawn is getting everything that it needs to perform its best and you’ll be proud to show it off as the best lawn on the block.

Are you ready to feel confident your lawn is getting everything it needs at your Flower Mound, Highland Village, or Lewisville, TX home? Get a free quote and then enjoy the best property on the block without the worries!

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Image Source: zoysia grass, st.augustine grass, compost,

Why Your Lawn Has Different Shades of Green and What to do About it (2024)

FAQs

Why Your Lawn Has Different Shades of Green and What to do About it? ›

If your grass turns a lighter shade of green, this can indicate that it's not receiving enough nutrients, water, or sunlight. You can help it perk up with a proper watering regimen and with Weed Man's premium, proprietary fertilizer, specially blended to give your lawn a consistent and prolonged supply of nutrients.

Why is my grass two different shades of green? ›

Since lawn fertilization is what helps to make grass green, if some grass is light green and some is dark green, it may be that it's not properly fertilized. This sometimes happens if homeowners buy a bag of fertilizer and just toss some down in the yard.

How to fix a lawn with different types of grass? ›

Your best bet is to tear it up and reseed or sod. First do some research to see if some of the 'grasses' you're seeing are in fact weeds. Then try a weed control application. Give it a couple of weeks and then 'top seed' your lawn with the type of grass you have the most of.

How do I make my grass evenly green? ›

  1. Test Your Soil. Roots depend on healthy, nutritious soil to grow green and lush grass. ...
  2. Fertilize Your Lawn. A big part of knowing how to make your lawn greener is choosing the right fertilizer. ...
  3. Kill Weeds and Unwanted Insects. ...
  4. Use Grass Seed. ...
  5. Water Your Lawn. ...
  6. Aerate Your Lawn. ...
  7. Replace Lawn Mower Blades.

How to get rid of light green patches of grass? ›

You might discover grass grown in shaded areas can be lighter in color. In order to fix light green grass due to lack of sunlight, you can try removing the cause of shade by trimming trees, or you might want to switch to a grass type that prefers shady areas, such as tall fescue, fine fescue or perennial ryegrass.

What fertilizer makes grass dark green? ›

Iron Turns It Blue-Green

Iron helps in the production of chlorophyll and nutrient and oxygen transport throughout the plant but for you and me, looking for the visuals, it pushes a deeper, darker blue-green color. Milorganite has higher iron content compared to most fertilizers on the shelf.

What color green is healthy grass? ›

Dark green grass is typically your lawn's healthiest shade, but that ideal color will depend on the varieties of grass used in your lawn.

How do I make my grass all the same color? ›

Fixing a multiple-colored lawn is impossible to do barring a full renovation. You can't selectively kill lighter colored cool season grasses without killing everything. To thicken up thin patches you could do an aggressive fall fertilizer program and/or overseed the patches.

What can I do about my uneven lawn? ›

Topdressing with quality topsoil or compost could be your best solution for minor problems. Cut the lawn or affected area very short before topdressing. It'll be easier to see the area and level the topsoil. Apply no more than ½” at a time and gently level it without completely covering the grass.

When to overseed a lawn? ›

Late summer or early fall is the best time to overseed lawns. Soil and atmospheric temperatures are most favorable for optimum seed germination and growth. With adequate moisture, fertilizer and sunlight, the new seedlings will be well established before cooler fall weather sets in.

What is the best solution for green grass? ›

Tips for a green and healthy lawn
  • Feed your soil. ...
  • Mow high; set the mower blade at two inches. ...
  • Water infrequently and deeply. ...
  • Fertilize sparingly, if at all, without added phosphorus. ...
  • Prevent weeds. ...
  • Kick-start a damaged lawn. ...
  • See these additional resources:

What fertilizer to use to thicken grass? ›

When overseeding your lawn, a starter fertilizer such as Pennington UltraGreen Starter Fertilizer 22-23-4 helps promote vigorous root growth for the fast establishment of new grasses. For established lawns, Pennington UltraGreen Lawn Fertilizer 30-0-4 provides the nitrogen your lawn needs for thick, green grass.

What is the best yard fertilizer? ›

Top Rated Lawn Fertilizer
  • Milorganite. Slow release 32-lb 2500-sq ft 6-4-0 Organic All-purpose Fertilizer.
  • Sunday. 42.3 5000-sq ft 22-0-2 Fertilizer.
  • Greenview. 36-lb 10000-sq ft 24-0-6 Weed & Feed Fertilizer.

Why is some of my grass light green and some dark green? ›

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.

How do you fix green grass? ›

Consistent watering is crucial in turning your brown, lifeless lawn into a vibrant carpet of rich green. Grass seed must have consistent moisture to germinate and establish healthy roots, so respect this critical step. Water your lawn daily so the soil stays consistently moist. If needed, water twice a day.

How do they get different shades of grass? ›

Light and dark lawn stripes are created by the way sunlight reflects off the grass. Stripes coming toward you will appear darker green; stripes mowed away from you will appear lighter green.

What are the dark green clumps of grass in my lawn? ›

What is that? The thick blades of grass seem healthy; in fact, they're a deeper green than the surrounding turf, and they grow faster, too. But they look out of place among the finer grass blades in the lawn. The coarse, dark green, thick blades of grass in your lawn are Tall Fescue.

Why does the grass look 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 is the lime green grass in my lawn? ›

If you are seeing a strange light green grass in the lawn, you are probably seeing foxtail or crabgrass. These are considered grassy weeds (different than broadleaf weeds like clover and dandelions).

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