Correcting Unsightly Patches of Ground Cover and Lawn

Most gardeners tend to have the opposite problem—invasive groundcover sprouting up in its characteristic way. Grass species tend to be aggressive—as determined as weeds to sprout up and color the world green. Some gardeners, however, are faced with the patch problem—areas of the lawn or sections of groundcover that wither and wilt in the face of weather, disease, insects or the like. If a lawn or other groundcover cannot heal itself, there are some fixes gardeners should apply to restore their lot to its former glory.

Spring is typically the time of the unsightly brown patches spotting lawn after lawn. In northern climates, ice brings chaos to grass and formal lawns leaving them looking ragged and on the brink of despair. Yet with few more weeks of warmth and sunlight, grass usually bounces back looking as fresh as ever, its hardy nature buoying up the landscape. But upon close examination, there are occasions when areas of the lawn lose the ability to revive themselves. Some bare patches in the lawn might be due to other kinds of weather damage, disease and infestation from various pests.

Before a solution can be found, try to assess the area looking for the source of the problem. In the case of insect infestation, you will certainly want to be sure the creatures don’t spread to healthy sections of the lawn. Sometimes the spot is simply caused by overcrowded plants and poor nourishment. In any case, getting to the root of the problem will allow you to plan your solution strategy.

One solution calls for the removal of the sickly and struggling plants. If weed infestation is a problem, be sure to remove them as well. Then, you can replant to grass or transfer some specimens from another area. Another common fix for problem patches is to give the area a good dose of fertilizer which may help your struggling plants fight off the weeds and obtain their fair share of nutrients. In some cases, it may be necessary to try a similar, but different grass species. Traditional lawn-lovers may balk at this notion, but a combination of grasses may be equally attractive and a hardier type of groundcover may be more adaptable to problem areas.

When replacing groundcover with new plants, it is a good idea to start them with some liquid fertilizer. Be sure to give them plenty of water until they are well established and beginning to thrive in their new location. Compost is preferable to chemicals and will help get groundcovers like candytuft and lavender off to the start they need. Some types of groundcover require no kick-start; thyme, lily-of-the-valley and mint are aggressive growers and will find few obstacles to tackle as they fill in your patches. Be sure to give your plants room to grow as you space them or you will find that you must thin them out down the road.

If you continue to have problems with your current groundcover or traditional lawn or simply don’t have the gardening time it takes to repair these patches as they occur, consider a new groundcover—a hardy type with a great reputation as plants with good behavior traits. There are many excellent varieties to consider.

Moss phlox produces pink, purple or white flowers in the spring with continual evergreen foliage. A lovely variety, it is a great choice for difficult gardening areas such as slopes. Given a sunny location, your phlox should thrive under normal conditions.

Stonecrop also prefers a sunny spot and it will tolerate dry soils well—even spreading and filling in your scraggly patch.

For a shady area, consider growing hostas—shy away from variegated species that are slightly touchier. Hostas can grow quite wide with their large leaves; they can easily mask a problem area and are popular for their well-behaved qualities.

Other good choices in of groundcover for patch-prone areas include: rock speedwell, lavender, pachysandra, herbs, cranesbill, candytuft, astilbe, sundrops and daylilies.

A healthy lawn is ever a joy to behold for gardener and guests alike. However, sometimes a touch situation may force you to think out of the box a little bit. If you can repair the patches and keep your traditional lawn in tact, so much the better. But if you find yourself struggling, consider other types of ornamental grasses that are equally lovely, but possibly better suited to your soil or other conditions.