6 Reasons Why Your Yard Has Soft Spots in It

Soft spots in the yard can make the soil spongey and unhealthy for the grass. These spots can lead to a patchy lawn, ruining the vibrantly green grass. Knowing why your yard has soft spots can help you manage and prevent them. Furthermore, it can keep your grass looking and feeling great.

Your yard has soft spots in it because of these reasons:

• Spongey soil
• Rain after a drought
• Excessive amounts of thatch
• Worms in the dirt
• Moles in the soil
• Snow-covered grass

In this post, you’ll find out why your yard is covered in soft spots and how to reverse the damage. You’ll also learn how to prevent soft patches and why they’re typically bad for the lawn.

Spongey Soil

Spongey soil is caused by all sorts of problems, including:

• Too many rainy days in a row
• Fungus, mildew, mold, and bacteria in the soil
• Watering the soil during times of high humidity
• Loose topsoil that hasn’t been compacted
• Overwatering the lawn

How to Fix

You shouldn’t water the grass after it rains, especially if there’s too much rainwater in the soil. Wait until the soil isn’t wet, then mow the lawn to two inches tall. This short length promotes quick evaporation, removing most of the moisture from the soil.

Additionally, you could aerate the soil with aeration boots and other spiked tools. Aerating the lawn pulls moisture from several inches below the surface. It also improves your lawn’s drainage and prevents mold and fungus from forming.

Rain After a Long Drought

Long droughts often dry and crack the soil. If it rains after a long dry period, there’s a good chance the soil will get patchy, spongey, and form soft spots in the yard. The rain can also cause the cracked dirt to become porous and fall apart. Avoid walking on the damp soil to prevent divots.

How to Fix

Follow these suggestions to prevent this from happening:

• Water the grass daily, especially during a drought to prevent the soil from getting too dry.
• Mow the lawn and aerate the soil to increase evaporation and remove moisture to get rid of the soft spots.
• If there are missing patches of grass in the soft spots, till the soil and overseed it with grass seeds.

Dead Grass and Thatch Layers

Gardening Know How claims too much thatch and dead grass on top of the lawn can cause soft spots. These spots form when the thatch layer isn’t removed because it traps moisture below the surface. Too much thatch can also prevent the soil from getting enough oxygen and sunlight.

How to Fix

Try these tips:

• Don’t go too long without cutting your grass. Your grass shouldn’t ever be longer than four inches.
• Rake the dead grass before reseeding the soil. This step will prevent too much thatch from leading to soft spots in the lawn while limiting the root growth.
• Put a grass bag on the back of your mower. It’s important to remove the grass clippings from the lawn when the soil is soft. It prevents the clippings from covering the soil and stopping moisture evaporation.

Worms in the Soil

Worms love to come to the surface when it rains. The saturated soil makes it harder for them to breathe. These worms create dozens of holes in the grass, which loosens the dirt. The loose dirt causes holes in the lawn and create soft spots. The good news is that worm castings have several benefits.

How to Fix

Worm castings are great for your lawn, but too many worms can loosen the soil and make it spongey. You can get worm castings at a local gardening store without keeping the worms in your yard. I suggest using a natural pesticide to make it safe for pets and other bugs.

Add Monterey Worm and Caterpillar Killer to the soil to get rid of worms and other bugs. This pesticide is safe for bees and other flying bugs. You can use it on the vegetables and fruits in your garden without worrying about making them inedible or limiting their growth.

Moles Digging in the Yard

Moles love digging in soft soil where they can burrow and hide. According to Northeast Nursery, most moles leave behind soft spots and piles of loose dirt next to their burrows. You can identify the burrows of moles and other pests, then use various tools and sprays to get rid of them.

How to Fix

If there are moles in your yard, it’s important to remove them as quickly as possible. Here are your two best options:

1. Contact a pest control service. Make sure they’re licensed to safely remove the pests without causing damage to your yard.
2. Get a mole pest repellent. Stick the NIKAND Mole Repellent Stakes in the soil. These stakes create small vibrations powered by the built-in solar panels. These gentle vibrations are too subtle for you to notice, but the moles will leave your yard quickly. They’re also effective against other ground-dwelling and burrowing animals.

Snow on the Grass

Snow won’t kill grass seeds, but it can damage the soil and cause soft spots in the yard. These spots form when the dirt is wet for too long. Much like the previous example of too much rain after a long drought, the heavy snow will erode the soil after a short time.

How to Fix

Keep these suggestions in mind:

• Scoop or brush the snow off of your lawn if it’s high enough to cover the tallest grass blades.
• Use a snow blower to heat and remove the snow from the yard.
• Cut the grass to between 2 to 2.5 inches before it snows to increase aeration and evaporation.
• Aerate the soil once it dries after it snows to prevent puddles.
• Treat and get rid of snow mold as soon as you can (snow mold is caused by mold under the snow and frost).

Note: Avoid using salt on the lawn. Although it gets rid of the snow, rocksalt can damage the soil, roots, and more.