Brown Patches on Your Lawn? 8 Causes and Solutions
Don’t let brown patches take over your lawn
Highlights
Brown patches can show up on your lawn if your grass doesn’t get enough sunlight.
Insect infestation can also lead to dead spots.
If the problem is pervasive, a lawn specialist can develop a treatment plan.
You’re surveying the pride and joy of your home—the yard—when you see it: a brown patch on the lawn. Don’t panic: There are several causes of unsightly brown patches that you can remedy with a few steps and help from a lawn treatment professional. Our guide can help you determine the cause of the brown patches and how to return your yard to mint condition.
1. Too Much Shade
For your grass to stay green, it needs regular sunshine to create photosynthesis. When oversized trees or pergolas cover your yard, it can become thin and weak, resulting in brown patches where the sun doesn’t hit. If overgrown trees are to blame, consider trimming trees back a few times a year to ensure enough sun shines through. Otherwise, you may need to turn to lawn aeration or fertilization to boost the nutrient value of your lawn.
2. Insect Infestation
The wrong insects can wreak havoc on your soil and grass, leaving behind yellow or brown patches of grass. If you take meticulous care of your lawn and follow a watering, fertilizing, and mowing schedule but still see brown patches, common lawn insects may be to blame. Some insects may be visible, while others are harder to identify by sight alone. The best option is to consult a lawn treatment specialist to identify an infestation and determine the best pest solution for your lawn to get back to a green state.
3. Lawn Diseases
Fungus doesn’t just grow in petri dishes for science experiments—it can also grow in your yard and lead to diseases that lead to patches of dead grass. The top lawn diseases that cause brown patches include dollar spot, brown patch fungus, and rust.
Although treating and getting rid of these diseases may sound daunting, you can tackle them with the right treatment. In most cases, applying fungicide and properly aerating and watering your lawn can address the issue.
4. Overfertilization
When it comes to fertilization, there can be too much of a good thing, which can cause brown patches of grass. Most fertilizers contain nitrogen, which helps give grass its green color. When you apply too much nitrogen to your lawn, it can damage the grass and result in dead spots.
Proper treatment techniques like avoiding application on hot days post-watering and measuring correctly work best to keep more brown patches from popping up.
5. Improper Mowing and Lack of Maintenance
Believe it or not, mowing your grass too short or too often can kill off your perfectly healthy yard, especially if your mower isn’t properly maintained. Overfilling the fuel and oil tanks can cause spillage that can lead to dead spots, as can refilling your fuel tank directly on your grass. To avoid dead spots caused by your mower, sharpen your mower blades regularly so grass doesn’t shred due to dullness.
6. Poor Soil Quality
Without healthy soil, your grass won’t be able to grow long, green, and lush. It also won’t be able to withstand harsh conditions in extreme seasons like summer or winter. If your soil lacks key nutrients, it won’t be able to nourish your lawn as intended, which is where a soil test comes in. A soil test can determine which nutrients are lacking so you can add them to your lawn and get your grass back to its natural state.
7. Dormant Spots
When winter rolls around and the sun starts setting early, it’s natural for your grass to become yellow and dormant to protect its roots and stay kicking. This process can happen gradually as the season progresses, but it can also be the result of a lack of moisture. Try watering your yard a few times a week for about 20 minutes to see if it turns green again within a week. If it stays brown, it may be less dormant and more dead.
8. Pet Waste
Yes, Fido and Milo’s frequent bathroom breaks can negatively impact your lawn, especially if they tend to urinate in the same spot every day. Although it may seem tedious, the best way to prevent brown spots from urination is to hose off the spot after they relieve themselves or train them to go in a separate spot that won’t hinder the growth of your grass.