Lawn Paths Are Stained With Rust

Q

The paths around my house are stained with rust. I don't use bore water but I still end up with these horrible orange rust stains. What is causing this and what can I do about it?

A

Rust stains will usually occur from Iron in the environment, which normally occurs when bore water is used on the lawns and garden, as you have mentioned.

Iron is also a minor mineral which is required by many different plants, including lawns, so it is often inside many lawn and garden fertilisers. These Iron levels are often increased in Winter Lawn Fertilisers.

When applying these fertilisers to lawns and gardens, it is often inevitable that overcast will occur from the fertiliser spreader, which will land on surrounding paths and paving.

As soon as water is applied to the lawn which also spreads onto the paving, the fertiliser will dissolve and release the Iron onto the paths to cause rust staining.

To prevent this from occurring, try not to fertilise just before rain is expected, and either blow the paths clean prior to watering the fertiliser into the lawn, or hose down all paths and paving directly after lawn watering.