Why Does Your Lawn Feel Like a Sponge?
That bouncy feeling underfoot isn’t normal. It’s usually thatch buildup — and it’s quietly causing problems you can’t see yet.
Symptom overview
What This Looks Like
If your lawn feels soft and bouncy underfoot — like walking on a mattress — the culprit is almost always excessive thatch. This spongy layer traps moisture, blocks nutrients, and creates the perfect environment for disease.
Possible causes
What Could Be Causing This
Thatch Buildup
Thatch is a layer of dead stems, roots, and debris between the green grass and the soil surface. When it exceeds half an inch, it feels spongy. Zoysia and bermuda in Middle Georgia are especially prone to heavy thatch buildup.
Overwatering
Chronically overwatered lawns develop a saturated, spongy feel. The soil stays so wet that it never firms up, and the excess moisture contributes to thatch accumulation by slowing decomposition.
Grub Damage (Early Stage)
Grubs feeding on roots create a layer of turf that’s detached from the soil. The lawn feels spongy because you’re walking on a mat of grass that’s no longer anchored. This is an early warning sign before the grass turns brown.
Learn moreFungal Activity in the Thatch Layer
Thick thatch stays moist and creates ideal conditions for fungal diseases like large patch and pythium. The sponginess itself is the thatch, but the real danger is the disease pressure building inside it.
Learn moreDiagnose it
Narrow Down the Cause
Is the entire lawn spongy or just certain areas?
Uniform sponginess across the lawn points to widespread thatch buildup. This is especially common in zoysia lawns that haven’t been dethatched or aerated in several years.
Localized sponginess could indicate grub damage in specific areas or drainage issues creating saturated zones.
Can you see a thick brown layer between the green grass and the soil when you look at a cross-section?
That brown layer is thatch. If it’s more than half an inch thick, it needs to be reduced through dethatching or core aeration.
If there’s no visible thatch layer, the sponginess may be from saturated soil or subsurface grub damage.
Do you water your lawn more than 3 times per week?
Overwatering is likely contributing to the spongy feel and promoting thatch accumulation. Cut back to 2 deep waterings per week.
If watering frequency is reasonable, focus on thatch management and check for grubs.
Still not sure? A professional lawn assessment takes the guesswork out of it.
Get QuoteSeasonal timing
When This Is Most Common
A spongy lawn in Middle Georgia is most noticeable in spring and summer when the grass is actively growing and thatch is at its thickest. The best time to address thatch through dethatching or core aeration is late spring to early summer, when warm-season grasses can recover quickly.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a spongy lawn bad?
Yes. A spongy lawn means there’s a barrier between the grass and the soil. Water, fertilizer, and air can’t reach the roots effectively. It also creates ideal conditions for fungal disease and makes the lawn more susceptible to heat stress.
How do I fix a spongy lawn?
Core aeration is the most effective solution for most lawns. It pulls plugs of soil through the thatch layer, breaking it up and allowing it to decompose naturally. For severe thatch (1 inch+), vertical mowing or power dethatching may be needed first.
How often should I aerate to prevent thatch?
We recommend aerating warm-season lawns in Middle Georgia once per year, ideally in late spring or early summer. Zoysia lawns with heavy thatch may benefit from aeration twice per year until the thatch is under control.
Does thatch come from leaving grass clippings on the lawn?
No. Grass clippings decompose quickly and don’t contribute significantly to thatch. Thatch comes from stems, stolons, and roots that break down slowly. Removing clippings actually removes nutrients that help feed the soil biology that breaks thatch down.
Related problems
Other Lawn Problems to Consider
Take action
Stop Guessing and Start Fixing
Every lawn problem has a solution. Get a professional diagnosis and targeted treatment plan from Attaboy Lawn Care.
