After a cold beginning to spring, Ohio saw tons of rain in a short period of time. Flooding conditions persisted in many cities, with lawns saturated to the point where any maintenance was impossible. After all that rain, followed by a period of drying out, Cleveland and Columbus lawns are now doing some weird things, becoming hydrophobic and going to seed. In today's blog we'll take a look at each of these phenomenon, and how you can combat them.

Hydrophobic Effect

As lawns go a period of time, lawns become water-resistant, repelling water instead of absorbing them. This effect can lead to your grass turning yellow and going into a state of "shock."  While we go through this dry spell, after all that recent rain, you may notice your lawn turning a bit yellow. The key to fixing this problem is a long soak, followed by a normal watering schedule. (To Download a Watering Guide, Click Here)

Lawns Going to Seed

Another problem that we see in Cleveland and Columbus lawns are "seed heads" popping up everywhere. The short, wet spring warm-up kicked mother nature into overdrive, and speed-up your lawns reproductive cycle. However, even though you see a lot of "seed-heads," it does not mean that your lawn will reseed itself. These seeds are "non-viable," meaning that they will not germinate.

The Problems "Seed-Heads" Cause

1. Stalks Cause Dull Blades which May Cause Disease: When bluegrass goes to seed, the normal grass blades become ridged and tough in texture. This causes quite a beating on your grass blades, causing them to dull quickly. Dull blades can then lead to grass "ripping" instead of "cutting," leading to plant stress and lawn disease in the warmer months.

2. Tough to Distinguish Between Poa Annuaa: When bluegrass goes to seed, it is very tough to distinguish from poa annual, a light-green color weed. This annual weed can spread quickly throughout your yard, and cause discoloring throughout the entire turf. The photo at the top shows the difference between a normal grass blade, a blue grass seed head, and a poa annuaa seed head.

Looking More Tips & Tricks? We've Got You Covered

Spring presents all sorts of challenges for homeowners when dealing with lawns and landscapes. That's why we've put together a perfect companion that will help you through the process with the best Spring tips and tricks for your lawn and landscape. The best part of this guide is that it's yours, absolutely free by just clicking on the link below.