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Landscaping Ideas For Areas Where Grass Won’t Grow

tree-and-shrub-fertilizer

What To Do When Grass Won’t Grow

Do you have a stubborn patch in your yard that just won’t grow any grass? Don’t worry! Chances are there’s something else you can grow in its place. We know how frustrating it can be to try to make grass grow, which is why we rounded up a couple of our favorite alternatives to cover those areas of naked ground. But first, let’s discuss what may be preventing your grass from growing. 

4 Reasons Why Grass Won’t Grow

Dead or barren grass could be due to a number of reasons, such as:

1. Lack of maintenance

Grass needs regular watering as well as key nutrients and fertilizer throughout the year. If your lawn isn’t getting the attention it needs, it may wither up and die. Mowing your lawn too short can also kill grass and prevent it from growing like it should. 

2. High acidity levels

Increased acidity levels in the soil may be stopping grass from growing as well. Ideally, the pH level of your soil should be around 6.5, however some grasses can tolerate lower or higher acidity levels. If your grass type isn’t tolerant of soil changes, it may not be getting the nutrients it needs.  Pro Tip: A yearly lime application can help reset the pH level of your soil. Click here to learn more about the benefits of a lime application. 

3. Lack of sunlight

While some grasses need upwards of eight hours of direct sunlight a day, most grasses need an average of six hours of sunlight a day. If your grass is located primarily in the shade, it may be preventing proper growth.  

4. Frequent foot traffic

Frequent activity on your lawn, whether by guests, children or pets, may be stripping the nutrients from your yard. Without proper nutrients, your lawn simply won’t be able to grow.  With professional lawn care, your lawn should be able to heal over time. However if there’s simply no hope, you may be desperate for a solution to the dead patches of grass in your lawn. If that’s the case, we have a few lawn ideas just for you! Take a look at these landscaping alternatives:

5 Landscaping Alternatives To Hide Areas Where Grass Won’t Grow

1. Synthetic Turf Grass

Synthetic grass is simply artificial turf that is made to look and feel identical to natural grass. Plus, it requires much less maintenance than regular grass. There are three types you can choose from:  Polyethylene turf grass is known for being soft, resilient and vibrant green in color. Nylon grass is strong, and can withstand high temperatures. Polypropylene grass, on the other hand, is the least expensive option, but not as durable or resilient as the other two.  While turf grass may seem like an expensive investment at first, it’s one worth making if your grass won’t grow. Turf grass is designed to last a lifetime, so you will definitely get your money’s worth! 

2. Grow A Garden

Use a variety of flowers, shrubs, and other plants to create a colorful and beautiful garden. Make sure you consider the height and weight of what you plant to ensure they are placed at the correct distance from each other. Otherwise, your plants may overpower one another and steal each other’s nutrients, leaving you in a similar situation! Perennial plants are easy to take care of and require low maintenance, so consider these types of plants when assembling your garden.  

3. Mulch It Over

Mulch is another favored option to cover the dead grass in your lawn. The benefits of mulch include moisture retention, weed control, erosion protection, heat retention and root system protection.  Mulch comes in a variety of materials, too, such as wood chips, shredded bark, sawdust, straw mulch, pine needles and rubber. Get creative with your landscape using mulch, and play around with the different textures and colors! Expert Advice: You may consider choosing rock or stone mulch instead of bark mulch. Both have their benefits and disadvantages, so take a look at this article before making your decision! 

4. Build A Pond

Ponds make for beautiful scenery, are low-maintenance and support a healthy ecosystem. Plus, they can help tremendously boost your curb appeal. When building a pond, use a fiberglass liner or concrete—these require little maintenance. Make sure you dig deep when installing a pond, too, to prevent freezing water in the winters. Finally, border the pond with stones, rocks, or some type of boulder to create the perfect environment.

5. Install A Patio

Patios are attractive, low-maintenance, and provide a relaxing space to hangout and grill. There are many types of patios to choose from, such as concrete, wood, clay brick, gravel, flagstone and patio pavers.  While some are easier to DIY than others, you may want to consult a professional before installing your own patio. Plus, there are plenty of ways to get creative with your design, especially when it comes to concrete. A concrete or patio expert will be able to transform your lawn and cover those pesky dead grass spots. Then just add chairs and a firepit and you’ve got yourself a new outdoor oasis!

For more DIY outdoor design ideas, read our blog:

DIY Outdoor Design Ideas To Transform Your Lawn

Need Help? Ask Killingsworth!

At Killingsworth, we’re going to make sure your yard looks perfect. You choose the alternative and we’ll be here to help you determine the first step! Plus, we can use our expert experience to determine the cause of your dead or barren grass, and offer a specialized solution to rejuvenate grass and help it grow once again.  When your grass needs help, don’t hesitate to call our team of lawn care specialists. With over 26 years of experience, we can tackle just about any lawn care obstacle! Schedule an appointment today!

Landscaping Ideas For Areas Where Grass Won’t Grow

Bedbug inspection

How to Know if Your Hotel Has Bedbugs

Upon entering a hotel room, do you typically reach for the tiny toiletries, take a leap onto the bed, or perhaps start by inspecting for bed bugs? Knowing what to look for is essential. Anticimex Carolinas Service Manager Christian Tweed has shared valuable insights on identifying bed bugs in your hotel room and preventing them from hitching a ride back home with you. And if bed bugs do become an unexpected part of your vacation, remember that Clark’s Pest Control is here to assist!



Q&A with a Pest Professional


How do bed bugs get inside hotels?


Bed bugs are primarily hitchhiking insects as opposed to foraging ones, meaning that they get carried around on people’s clothes and belongings. Someone with an active infestation in their home can easily bring bed bugs to their hotel, but they can also be picked up during travel (airplanes, taxis, and rideshare services) and brought to a hotel room.


What do people misunderstand about bed bugs in hotels?


From a probability standpoint, all hotels will deal with bed bugs at some point in time. If you think about a bed bug’s method of travel, there’s literally nothing a hotel can do to stop them from being carried in. What I have realized is that luxury hotels are more likely to have an aggressive response to dealing with a bed bug case once it’s identified as they tend to have a higher quality of service and a reputation to protect. While this isn’t always the case, it has been my experience more often than not.

Got bedbugs? Call Clark’s at 866-781-4991 today!

What do you recommend travelers do when they get to their room to check for bed bugs?


Most hotel headboards hang directly on the wall. I start my inspection here before even looking at the bed itself. I have found bed bugs, their exoskeletons, and the telltale black stains they leave behind around the edges of or in the crevices of headboards. If the headboard looks clean, move on to looking over the pillowcases and comforter for any signs or stains. You can dig into the bedding as deep as you want here, but I encourage people to look over the top layer of things at the very least.


What are some lesser-known signs of bed bugs in your hotel room?


The specifics of the black stains they leave behind, which as gross as it sounds, are just digested blood as that’s all that bed bugs feed on. If the stains are on a hard surface, they will be small dots as if left behind by an ink pen and will smear into a brownish gray when moisture is applied. If they’re on fabric, they will usually bleed along the fibers making a small diamond, square or X shape.


If there are bed bugs in your hotel room, can they travel home with you?


They absolutely can, however this is easy to prevent. While staying in a hotel, keep as much of your clothing and luggage off the beds as possible. Storing suitcases in the bathroom might sound odd, but it’s an effective method of prevention.

Don’t tackle bedbugs yourself, call Clark’s at 866-781-4991!

What should you do with your suitcase if you suspect your hotel has bed bugs?


When arriving home from a trip, leave your luggage in the garage or on a porch and bring your clothes in one load of laundry at a time. If the clothes are dirty, wash them like you normally would, if they’re clean then run them through the dryer for at least forty-five minutes. Once your suitcase is empty, vacuum over it meticulously (don’t forget to empty the vacuum when you’re done), or if you’re in the right climate, expose it to heat for a few days by placing it in your vehicle (parked in the sun) or for a few weeks in your attic.


The Clark’s Solution


If you brought bed bugs back to you home, Clark’s is here to help. Our Bedbug Control service is designed to eliminate bedbugs and create a safe, comfortable environment.


A Clark’s Pest Professional will do an inspection and recommend a plan of attack to get rid of bed bugs now and prevent them from hatching in the future. Call Clark’s at 866-781-4991 today for more information.



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