Lawn maintenance 101: Why is my grass growing in clumps?

A well-maintained lawn is a beautiful thing to behold, and because of the wonders it does for curb appeal, homeowners go to great lengths to ensure their lawns look impeccable.

However, every so often, homeowners see their lawn grasses growing in clumps instead of evenly. In this short read, we’re going to discuss why grasses grow in clumps, and what you can do to prevent it from happening.

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Common reasons why is my grass growing in clumps

If you are an avid gardener and take pride in keeping a healthy lawn, we’re sure seeing the grass clumping is proving to be an eyesore. However, before we get into how to prevent lawn clumps, let’s begin by identifying the reason for the phenomenon.

There are a few reasons why your lawn grass is growing in clumps instead of evenly. Here are some of the most common ones.

1. You may have grassy weeds mixed up with your turf.
2. You may be watering your lawn more often than the soil can absorb water, making the soil and moisture conditions cause the clumping.
3. The grass variety you have planted on your lawn may grow in clumps easily.

Types of clump grasses

Here are some commonly found varieties of clump grasses in the USA.

Zoysia

Zoysia is a drought-tolerant grass that is best suited for our Southern states. This warm season grass has a deep root system and requires only between half an inch to one inch of water a week.

Rough bluegrass

Rough bluegrass is a cool season grass with a beautiful green color that is particularly hardy and even grows well in shade. With irrigation and fertilizers, this variety will grow profusely and aggressively take over any other turf grass.

Bentgrass

This is a low-growing and dense type of grassy weed that is often used as putting grass but can ruin your lawn. It is particularly hardy and spreads really quickly, taking over your lawn before you know it.

Once this happens, using a non-selective herbicide may be the only way to get rid of it.

Tall fescue

Tall fescue is a hardy, drought tolerant grass with a dark green color and a fine texture that grows in practically any environment. Commonly used as turf and as grazing grass, tall fescue grows well even in the shade and needs only around an inch of water a week to thrive. 

How to prevent your lawn from clumping

Here are some handy tips to help you prevent your lawn grass from growing in clumps.

Never mow too low

While mowing the lawn with the blade settings at the lowest setting may reduce the frequency with which you need to mow your lawn, it also stresses the lawn out and causes clumping. It is always ideal to mow your lawn with the blades raised by around ½ an inch.

Aerate your lawn

Closely packed and hard soil can cause clumping because of its inability to absorb sufficient water. This dry soil condition can be dealt with by aerating your lawn.

Follow it up with fertilization

Fertilization is very important after a lawn has been aerated. However, the type of fertilizer you will need to use depends on the type of grass you have planted. In case you are unsure of which fertilizer to use, contact a lawn care professional or your local gardening store for advice.

You may need to consider reseeding

Sometimes, the reason you may have grass growing in clumps only in certain places while the rest of your lawn remains bare may be because of a lack of seeds. Reseeding your lawn should help you get a fresh, lush, and even lawn. 

Stick to a lawn maintenance schedule

Sticking to a seasonal lawn maintenance schedule is very important. Knowing why your lawn has grown in clumps, addressing the root causes of the issue, and most importantly, being willing to seed your lawn afresh and start over if needed will make sure you have a rich and beautiful lawn all year long.

Read more: How to get rid of crabgrass

Written by Narayan Shrouthy. August 3, 2022

Narayan is a content writer for Kukun. With experience in both content writing and editing, Narayan mixes his writing and love for reading with his passion for music. As an active musician, He aims to be a key player in Kukun's content experience.

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lilian_morgan@outlook.com(@lilian_morganoutlook-com)

Aerating the soil for the grass sounds very complex

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