Grass Turning White: Possible Reasons and How to Fix Them

Introduction

This goes without saying that we all want our lawns to look green. Not one person in this world wants their hard work wasted, and their lawn grass turning white. However, there are occasions when it happens and most of the time the reasons are mystified. 

Well, let’s demystify it then. In this article, we are talking about all the probable causes as to why your lawn grass might be turning white and what you can do to fix it. Let’s get on with it.

What Kind of White Are We Talking Here?

So, when you say white what are you actually trying to imply! It’s time to get down to business, folks. Break out those rubber gloves and put your hands in the dirt. Look closely at the grass blades. Is it sort of clear white webbing? Is it a powdery residue? 

The characteristics of the white portions on each grass blade are going to dictate what actually is going on (or going wrong) with your lawn. We need all the deets.

Snow Mold

If you are in the Northern parts of America the chances of your lawn grass developing snow mold are particularly high. This is because the primary reason for snow mold is a prolonged winter. If the snow lasts too long on the grass, it hurts the grass blades. 

The grass blades start to turn white, mostly through a white webbing forming on top of the outermost layers. 

Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is a grass disease that has plagued many over the years. It holds true to its name. The disease causes powder-like formation on top of leaves, and more specifically grass blades.

Many grass species have proven to be resistant to powdery mildew however it is a pretty common case in forage and turf grasses.

Powdery mildew demands weather conditions directly opposite to snow mold. This means you need particularly shaded and dry summers. Lawns and turfs in direr areas are more prone to powdery mildew. 

Causes for Grass Turning White

Now, if you can rule out those two possibilities and still see some white spots, it could be because of poor grass health. Let’s run through a few reasons why that may be happening, shall we?

Too Much Shade?

Shade is important for grasses like forages and turfs. But, too much shade and you’re killing your tiny weedlings. If you are noticing particularly big patches of white, colorless, or bone-colored grass around the base of bigger trees it might be due to shade.

Grass Too Long?

A particularly strong culprit for white grass is not cutting your grass timely. Your grass needs to be cut to a certain length depending on the grass type and this cutting needs to happen every other week.

If the grass type in your lawn grows particularly faster, you may even cut it every 10 days. Some people choose to leave the grass cuttings on the lawn itself so it can become compost. But, if you’re grass is the clumping type or more clustered in general, this might not be a good idea.

Are You Watering Your Lawn Enough?

The biggest reason for poor grass health is dehydration. If your lawn is parched and dry there is no way the grass can do well. Ask yourself these questions-

• Do I have a watering schedule?
• Do I follow the schedule like I should be doing?
• Is the watering schedule suitable for the grass type I have?

Possible Remedies for Grass turning White

Now that we have run through all the probable causes and the two monster diseases that may be a culprit to the white grass on your lawn, it is time for some remedies.

There is always the industrial route where you do a soil test, figure out what your soil is lacking in terms of minerals and nutrients, and try to substitute that. This will technically improve the grass’s health but it is also going to be a lengthy and expensive process.

So before jumping to grass medics, let’s look at some possible remedies-

Proper Watering

We cannot stress this enough. Most of the time a white patch of grass, or a balding lawn will bounce back fairly quickly and on its own if you provide it hydration. Figure out a watering schedule that suits your grass type, then make alterations to it to fit your schedule.

You should have a lawn care routine that works around your day. This way it won’t ever feel like a chore and you will not be tempted to skip watering.

Create Air Flow for Healthy Greens

Sometimes a little breeze might do the trick. Especially for cluster grass and the more dense type of weedlings, creating airflow can be a huge game-changer. Try it!

Remove Shade to Stop Grass From Turning White

If you have a rather large tree shading your grass, consider cutting off the low-hanging branches so it can’t affect big patches of grass. If possible you may even want to remove the trees entirely. 

Preventing Grass Turning White

Okay, now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk prevention. The best way to keep your grass from going white or being affected by water and waterborne diseases in having the perfect lawn care routine. If your grass is turning white, it is indicating that you have been slacking off.

Mow High and Mow Regularly

It is highly recommended that you keep your grass blades tall. If you’re cutting them too short, you may accidentally cause balding in your lawn. And scalped patches are the ones that get affected by diseases and fungi the easiest.

WATER! WATER! And, MORE WATER!

Set a timely watering schedule for you. Have your family help you out. Swap watering duty between the members of the family – make a fun activity out of it.

Consider Reseeding

Most of the time it is the older grass that becomes less resistant to heat and weather changes. In that case, we recommend you consider reseeding. If not your entire lawn, consider reseeding patches that tend to get affected quickly and frequently.

Conclusion

In the end, we all know how much effort it takes to maintain a healthy green lawn. For the new homeowners, it can especially prove to be a struggle. But don’t beat yourself up over it. Follow a healthy, flexible routine and ask for people’s help and you will see your lawn has become lush green in no time!

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