Signs your yard needs a landscaper, and signs it just needs time

Updated November 10, 2026 · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

How do you know a yard problem is worth paying to fix?

Look for a cause, not just a symptom. Penn State Extension's advice on renovating a lawn starts with correcting the primary causes of lawn deterioration, and it lists the common ones: drought, heavy shade, extreme soil acidity, weeds or insects, disease, thatch, improper mowing and grasses poorly suited to the site. The Department of Agriculture makes the same point from the other side: not all lawn problems can be solved with fertilizer. Each sign below points to a cause, and some point to doing less, not more.

Does water stand in the yard or run toward the house?

Start here. Penn State says a finished grade should carry surface water away from buildings, ideally sloping away from the foundation by 1 to 4 feet over 100 feet, and should be free of low spots where water can collect. Homes built into a hillside need drainage swales.

Watch the yard in a rainstorm, as Penn State suggests when siting a rain garden. Note where water flows, where it pools and how long it stays. Ground that stays waterlogged is a drainage problem; a low spot that drains within a day may suit a rain garden. Water moving toward the foundation is a grading problem to raise with any landscaper you call.

Is the lawn thin, patchy or full of weeds?

Find out why before you reseed. Penn State's list of causes covers most of it: shade, acidity, compaction, poor mowing and the wrong grass. A soil test settles the acidity question. Penn State says most turfgrasses prefer a pH of 6.0 to 7.0, and that lime should be applied only on a soil test recommendation.

Mowing is a common culprit. Penn State says most lawns should be mowed at 2 inches or above, and the Department of Agriculture advises not removing more than 1 inch of blade at a time. A lawn scalped every week may need a higher mower, not a landscaper.

Does the turf feel spongy?

That can be thatch, the layer of partly decomposed stems and roots between the grass and the soil. Penn State says thatch restricts the movement of air, water and nutrients, and that it should be removed only when it reaches an inch or more. Cut a small wedge and measure. Under an inch, it is not a reason to dethatch.

Does the sod lift like a carpet, or are animals digging?

Those are the signs of grubs. Penn State says Japanese beetle grubs feed on roots in May and June and again from late August to early October, that infested turf can be rolled back like a carpet, and that birds, skunks, raccoons and moles dig up grub-infested lawns. The Chester County Master Gardeners add that moles tunnel after grubs and are most damaging in late summer. If you hire someone to treat grubs, Penn State says the applicator must hold the state's category 7 lawn and turf certification.

Are invasive shrubs in the beds?

Many older plantings include plants Pennsylvania now treats as noxious weeds. The Department of Agriculture's Class B list, of plants widely established and not feasibly eradicated, includes Japanese barberry, burning bush, Callery pear, several privets and Amur and other bush honeysuckles. The state's Invasive Replace-ive Program says homeowners and commercial landscapers may not realize the harm these plants do to nearby natural areas. Finding them is a reason to plan replacements, not an emergency.

Is there a sticky film, black mold or egg masses on the trees and patio?

That points to spotted lanternfly. Penn State says the insect's honeydew grows sooty mold that can stain decks, patios and vehicles and kill plants beneath dense groups, and that egg masses, laid from September to December, look like a gray-brown mud-like smear on trees, stone and outdoor furniture. Penn State is also clear that the insect is primarily a nuisance in home landscapes and that not every tree needs treatment.

Is mulch piled against the tree trunks?

That is a sign of past bad practice, not of a new need. Penn State says properly applied mulch is two to three inches deep and kept off the trunk, and that mulch volcanoes hold moisture against bark, starve roots of oxygen and can cause girdling roots. If every spring's refresh has added a new layer on top of the old, the fix is to rake it back, not to buy more.

Has a patio sunk or a paver path rutted?

Settling is repairable. The Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association, a trade body, says settled pavers can be lifted, the base re-leveled and the pavers relaid, while cracked poured concrete usually has to be cut out and replaced. A sunken area near a downspout is also a drainage question.

Which signs mean wait?

A brown lawn in a dry summer. Penn State says a lawn may not need mowing in drought until growth resumes after rain, and its calendar says some work should be delayed in severe drought or heat. The EPA's WaterSense program puts typical needs at about an inch of water a week, rain included.
Leaves on the lawn. Penn State says shredding them into the lawn is better than removing them, and a thin layer is good for it.
A few lanternflies. Penn State says low numbers may not need treatment.

For what you can handle yourself, see doing it yourself or hiring. For timing, see how often and when, and for prices, the cost guide. Local businesses are on the landscapers directory page.

Sources

Lawn Establishment, Penn State Extension
Lawn Management through the Seasons, Penn State Extension
Choosing a Qualified Pest Management or Lawn Care Company, Penn State Extension
Homeowners and Applicators, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
How to Make a Rain Garden, Penn State Extension
Large Garden Pests (Chester County Master Gardeners), Penn State Extension
Controlled Plant & Noxious Weed Lists, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Pennsylvania Invasive Replace-ive Program, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Spotted Lanternfly Management Guide, Penn State Extension
Mulch Volcanoes Are Erupting Everywhere!, Penn State Extension
Pavers vs. Concrete: Myths, Facts, and What Homeowners Need to Know, Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association
Leaves Are Treasure, Not Trash, Penn State Extension
Watering Tips (WaterSense), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency