5 Reasons Your Grass is Thin – and What to Do About It

Why settle for less-than-lush? Here’s how to fix sparse lawns.

Is Your Lawn Looking Bare in Spots? Here's Why

Thin, patchy grass is one of the most common complaints from homeowners in Cumberland, Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth, and Scarborough. Whether you’re dealing with full sun, dense shade, heavy foot traffic, or poor drainage, sparse lawns are often the result of compounding issues — not just neglect.

Luckily, once you identify the cause, fixing it is usually a matter of the right technique, timing, and materials — especially when you source solutions from trusted Southern Maine lawn and garden centers.

Reason 1: Compacted Soil is Suffocating Your Roots

The issue:
In areas with heavy foot traffic — like backyards in Falmouth’s coastal neighborhoods or Cumberland’s shaded lots — soil compaction limits airflow, water penetration, and root development. Your grass can’t thrive if it can’t breathe.

What to do:

• Core aerate in the fall (or spring if missed)

• Follow with overseeding and topdressing with compost

• Avoid walking on wet soil to prevent further compaction

🛒 Where to get supplies:

• O’Donal’s Nursery – Gorham

• Highland Farm – Scarborough

Reason 2: Too Much Shade, Not Enough Grass Type

The issue:
Standard turf mixes struggle in shady zones near tree lines or on the north-facing sides of homes — common in Cape Elizabeth’s forested properties and older Scarborough neighborhoods.

What to do:

• Use a shade-tolerant seed blend with red fescue or creeping fescue

• Prune back overhanging branches to increase light

• Avoid mowing too short — taller grass photosynthesizes better

Pro Tip:
Shade-friendly grass still needs at least 3 hours of dappled sunlight per day to thrive.

Reason 3: Poor Soil Health or Wrong pH

The issue:
If your grass is thin despite watering and mowing, your soil may be nutrient deficient or too acidic, which is common in coastal areas like Falmouth Foreside and Cape Elizabeth’s rocky soils.

What to do:

• Get a soil test through the University of Maine Cooperative Extension

• Apply lime if pH is low (ideal is 6.0–7.0 for turf)

• Feed with compost or organic fertilizers to replenish nutrients

Where to buy:

• Broadway Gardens – South Portland

• O’Donal’s Nursery – Gorham

Reason 4: Mowing Too Low and Too Often

The issue:
Scalping the lawn — mowing below 2.5 inches — weakens the grass and opens up the soil to weeds, heat stress, and drying winds. This is especially damaging in exposed areas in Scarborough and sun-facing lawns in Cumberland.

What to do:

• Raise your mower blade to 3–3.5 inches

• Mow when the grass is dry, never removing more than 1/3 of the blade

• Alternate mowing patterns weekly to reduce soil wear

Reason 5: Lawn Was Never Properly Established

The issue:
Whether due to cheap seed, poor soil prep, or rushed installation, many new lawns in subdivisions across Scarborough or Falmouth start off weak. Without proper rooting and density, they decline within a few seasons.

What to do:

• Topdress and overseed yearly for 2–3 years to build density

• Use coastal-adapted seed blends for Southern Maine

• Water deeply after seeding and avoid mowing until 3–4 inches tall

Seed to use:
Fine fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass blends suited for cool, moist climates — all available at local nurseries like Highland Farm or O’Donal’s.

Conclusion: Lush Lawns Start with Smart Diagnosis

If your lawn is looking more like a straw mat than a lush carpet, don’t give up — and definitely don’t just throw more seed at the problem. Diagnosing the real issue — whether it’s shade, compaction, or pH — is the first step toward a beautiful, thick lawn.

By using the right seed, improving soil conditions, and following regionally smart practices, you’ll transform your thin lawn into a healthy, low-maintenance landscape that fits the unique conditions of Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, Falmouth, and Scarborough.