Unless it’s summertime and there’s a drought, dead grass is your yard’s way of telling you something is wrong. But the question is, what’s causing it? If you have a dead tree stump in your yard, there’s a good chance that’s the source. Here’s how that dead stump could be causing your dead grass and how you can remove it.
Decomposition is Causing Lack of Nitrogen
When a tree stump dies, microorganisms and fungi start decomposing the stump. As they do this, they use nitrogen in the soil. When the stump is fully decomposed the nitrogen will be returned to the soil, but until then you might notice spots of dead grass that have been deprived of nitrogen. The lack of nitrogen results in dead grass. To fix the patches in your yard, you can add more nitrogen to the areas of dead grass or attack it at the source and remove the dead stump.
Your Dead Tree Stump is Attracting Pests
As a tree stump decomposes it becomes the perfect home for pests. Insects, snakes, rodents, and other common critters prefer damp, dark, and cool places to build their nests. They can find that and more within a dead tree stump. A yard that is infested with pests is more likely to have dead grass.
If you notice patches, trails, or strips of dead grass around your property it’s likely the pests are tunneling underneath and feeding on the grass. One way to combat this is to attack the source and remove the stump. You can also apply pesticides around the area or burn citronella candles to deter pests. For a more natural approach, you can also add plants to your yard that repel insects. These plants include citronella, chrysanthemums, lavender plants, and more.
