How to Get Dark-Green Grass on Your Lawn

A weed-free and dense lawn is always a pleasure to see. But it won’t look well enough unless it has the right grass color.  And it all starts by knowing why this doesn’t happen and how you can achieve it.

Learning how to get dark green grass on your lawn will be a difficult job. Yet it doesn’t have to be that much of a hassle.

Remember that dark-green leaves come from both healthy grass and a dense lawn. So that’s what you have to focus on – growing a healthy, thick, and dense lawn.  Here we’ll go over every piece of info you need to know about this and more. Care to learn? Then come and find out!

Understand Why the Grass Isn’t Dark Green Already

Getting to that darkish green look will not happen overnight. And before you start following the right steps to make it this vibrant color, you’ll have first to make sure you’re doing it right. For that, here, we explain some of the reasons your grass may not be of the color you want:

Dry Grass

One of the most common causes of grass to not be as green as expected is when it’s dry. This mostly happens when you are not pouring sufficient water over, which causes the grass to turn yellowish.

If you are not watering your grass daily and sufficiently, then it will likely become dry. And that will discolor the grass in patches or in its entirety.

This is even more common in dry periods or areas. For example, in areas such as Texas that are close to deserts, the grass is more likely to turn yellow or brown without proper irrigation.

So, if you see your grass turning light or brownish, there’s a high chance you aren’t watering your lawn enough.

Poor Mowing

Keeping the grass short is essential for its health and appearance. However, doing it wrong may eventually have the opposite effect.

And this mostly occurs when the mower cuts more grass than needed. For the right result, only about one-third of the lawn should go away after mowing. If the mower cuts the grass too short, it will probably damage the vegetation and produce discoloration.

The same happens with blades that are too large or dull. Those are often pretty damaging to the grass and cause several issues that could either kill the grass or just discolour it.

Pests and Diseases

If you aren’t well-versed in grass diseases and pests, you probably don’t know much about the different things that could happen without proper care. But still, this is something that happens more than people know about.

Among common diseases and pests, we can name pythium blight, Rhizoctonia blight, fusarium blight, gray leaf spot, and others. They all cause discoloration in the grass and sometimes end up killing it entirely.

These diseases tend to spread really fast and sometimes attack other types of vegetation, including weeds and other plants. You could always use fertilizers and grass-friendly herbicides to try killing the disease. But frequently, you’ll have to replace the grass for a new one altogether.

Constant Stepping Over

Either pets or people stepping over the grass every day can cause discoloration as well. Worst case scenario, this will cause the grass to die entirely and sometimes disappear and leave yellow or earth patches.

This is pretty common, and it’s the main reason many public lawns have a small sign for “Don’t step over the grass!”

Keeping the feet away is always the best option here. Some people like their green lawns so they can enjoy stepping over with the family, friends, pets, and so on. However, it’s always recommended to keep feet away from grass to keep it as green and dense as possible.

Chemical Issues

Pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides are among the most useful products to keep the grass thriving. But using too much can also be harmful.

Using too much fertilizer, for example, will very likely cause discoloration. Also, using too much pesticide or herbicide will create patches and stripes of discolored grass on the lawn.

The same happens with petroleum-based products such as oils and degreasers, humans or pets wastes like urine, alcohols, vinegar, and even cleaning products can all have adverse chemical effects on the grass.

That’s why it’s always a superb idea to keep all of these products away. And if you need to use herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers, do it carefully to prevent adding too much.

Wrong Grass Species

Not all grass species will spread with the most vivid green shade. In fact, most species are not really dark or even green. That’s why you should always make sure you have the right type of grass before expecting it to become dark green.

The darkest of species for warm seasons is Bermudagrass. It grows all around the US very aggressively, and it’s one of the easiest to plant. You have a similar effect with Bahiagrass, even though it is lighter in color.

Other options are Centipedegrass and Carpetgrass, both offering a dark green color as well but mostly turning into an apple-like shade. They are not as aggressive as Bermudagrass or Bahiagrass but will proliferate with proper fertilization and watering.

As the last options, there are Kentucky bluegrass, chewings grass, Creeping Red grass, and Hard fescue grass. They aren’t the greenest of them all but will grow aggressively, which could make it easy to plant in your lawn.

Then you have perennial and annual ryegrass, both very resistant grass species that grow throughout the year. Yet, they aren’t as dark green as other options but pretty easy to grow.

Season or Environment

As you should know by now, not all species grow in the same seasons or with the same environmental factors. For example, Bermudagrass and Bahiagrass are hot-season species that won’t grow green enough with too much shade or temperatures below 55-degrees Fahrenheit.

Centipedegrass and Carpetgrass are more like mild season options, so they grow well in cold areas, but high and draught places keep them brown and discolored.

Kentucky bluegrass, on the other hand, may grow effectively in cold and hot seasons with proper improvements. But it needs lots of watering, especially in the driest and hottest seasons or else it will rapidly lose its color.

Make Your Grass Dark Green with These Tips

Whatever type of grass you have and the reason for not growing the color you want – here we’ll explain how to make it possible. Taking into account the previous factors and coming with a prepared mindset, these steps will help you achieve the dark-green color you want on your lawn:

Plant the Right Grass

The first to consider, now that you are sure of what you want for your yard, is to have the right grass mixture.

Yes, you want the seeds of the right species for your lawn. Something like Bermudagrass or Manilagrass will sprout very dark green vegetation on your lawn. Other options such as Bahiagrass or Kentucky bluegrass will be lighter but still effective.

The whole purpose of picking is to know which one will fare more efficiently in your area. Some species don’t grow in cold seasons, while others don’t thrive in warm ones. So, picking a mix of two or three different grass may always be the best idea. Try to focus on using more seeds from the species that fits your needs the most.

Using Proper Fertilizer

Once you know what grass to pick for your lawn, it’s time to choose the ideal fertilizer. This is probably the most crucial factor of all when growing dark green lawn. So, pay attention when picking.

The first thing to know is that nitrogen in vast quantities always makes it easier for grass to grow fast. And the less phosphorous it has, the better.

But make sure you pick something that releases nutrients and minerals slowly. You won’t like something that drowns your grass, but something that nourishes gradually and effectively.

Then you’ll only have to pick the right season to fertilize according to the species. Most of them need fertilization from spring to fall. So, they stay healthy in winter and grow next spring strongly.

Pick and use the right fertilizer, and your green grass will probably grow much healthier, denser, thicker, and darker.

Never Forget to Hydrate

Water is food for plants. It’s no mistake that plants use water to absorb all the nutrients in the earth, so it is essential to always water your grass the right way.

For the best result, you should water your grass daily. But you should always try to soak at least 6-inches of soil every time you do so. This will keep the ground humid and the grass absorbing nutrients all day long, every day.

In the long term, hydrating your plants will keep them healthier and stronger. But most importantly, it will keep them greener and darker.

Just remember that some species need less water than others. Yet, you will still have to do so every day.

Mow Grass Properly

Grass grows almost anywhere and everywhere, but it can also be pretty fragile if you don’t cut it correctly.

It is essential that the blades of your mower are sharp enough, so the mower doesn’t damage the grass. And of course, always use mowers with completely functional engines. Some motors may not be working too well, and they could cause inconsistencies in the blade movement that cuts grass the wrong way.

Just make sure your mower works effectively, and that’s it. Don’t let the grass grow for more than one month. And every time you mow it– keep the cuts no more than one-third of the grass height.

Take all this into consideration when mowing, and you’ll keep your grass as dark and green as needed.

Clean and Protect the Grass

Every time you see clippings, thatches, or dense patches around your grass – get them off. The same applies to weeds or unwanted vegetation that’s not grass.

We recommend using a rake to take out everything you don’t want. All unwanted vegetation, especially weeds, can cause your grass to lose color. Sometimes, they may even kill it.

The same happens with garbage and other things that you could pour on it. Try to avoid anything that’s not either water or sun rays to touch your grass. Even walking over the grass should be one of your prohibited things to do.

Once you start taking care of your grass this way, you’ll prevent tons of issues that could cause discoloration. In the long run, your lawn will look greener and darker.

Grow Your Dark-Green Grass Today!

Learning how to get dark green grass is not a hard job as long as you take the right precautions and steps. You just need to know it’s all about persistence and knowing that your grass needs constant care.

In the long run, you can achieve the greenest and darkest grass there is. But always remember it all comes down to many factors, so consider them before taking any path.