How To Treat Brown Patches In Your Lawn
The first step to treating brown patches in your lawn is to identify the cause of the issue.
Turf disease
Discoloured patches caused by turf disease and fungi are often:75mm to 600mm in diameter
Visible after an extended bout of very wet weatherNoticeable during cold spells of 7C to 15C
Treating blighted turf can be done with a few simple adjustments to everyday maintenance.
To tackle disease-related brown patches, you should:
- Aerate your lawn – small, deep holes can improve the grassroots water and nutrient consumption
- Keep mowing to a minimum in moist, damp conditions – aim for sunny, dry days to cut the grass
- Scarify your lawn to remove thatch and prevent repeat problems
Animal urine
Brown circular patches with outer rings of bright, long grass is a telltale sign of animal urine damage to your lawn.
Pets and foxes are the main culprits of these kinds of patches, but there is one simple trick which can correct the damage over time.
Irrigate your lawn with just half an inch of water on the surface after your pet visits the garden, and try to encourage them to go on paved surfaces instead.
In more extreme cases, you may need to dig up and replace the soil with fresh turf or seed.
Dog rocks are a great solution to neutralise your pets urine as they drink water too.
DON’T MISS
Chemical spills
The key sign of chemical-induced patches are irregular, small patches of what looks like dying grass.
Insect damage
How To Get Rid Of Dog Spots
Soak the patch until the grass is sopping wet to dilute the urine acids and salts and wash them deeper into the soil, beyond the grass roots.
Scrape up the dead grass with a hand rake and remove it. Rough up the area to loosen the soil 1/2-in. deep. Seeds germinate better in soft soil.
Sprinkle on a 1/2-in.-thick layer of topsoil, then pepper it with grass seed. Cover with a pinch of new soil and press it to firm it up. Keep the area moist until the new grass is about three inches high.
Facts About Drought Stress
Drought stress typically occurs in the summer months, when irrigation and natural moisture are being most rapidly evaporated, or during particularly dry seasons.
Different turf grasses will react and recover differently from drought damage. Bermudagrass has a relatively high tolerance. When experiencing this stress, grass will turn brown and go into a dormant state. As previously mentioned, this does not mean your plant is dead. In fact, Bermudagrass can recover well with proper irrigation and mowing techniques.
St. Augustine grass has a lesser tolerance to extended periods of drought. This turfgrass has a moderate resistance to damage due to its extensive root system, but a poor ability to go dormant. If exposed to an extended period of drought, you may experience significant loss of plant life, and grass may need to be replanted.
Most turfgrasses found in Texas can recover from a 60 day period of drought damage, Bermudagrass and St. Augustine included. However, just because your lawn is going to recover doesnt mean it will flourish.
Don’t Miss: Can I Use Sand To Level My Lawn
Maintain A Healthy Lawn
The healthier your lawn is to begin with, the easier it will be to prevent brown patches. Take care of your grass by giving it the nutrients and protection it needs to flourish year-round this includes consistent watering, mowing, fertilizing, and weed control.
If youre busy with a job, a family, and a house to take care of, it may be in your best interest to hire a professional local lawn care company to take care of it for you throughout the entire year.
Reseed With Resistant Grass Varieties
Where all other efforts fail you may need to reseed with a turfgrass variety that has known resistance to this fungus. A variety of grasses are available with moderate resistance to the Rhizoctonia fungus. If a brown patch is an annual occurrence, consider top-seeding your lawn with resistant grasses. Check with your local university extension service on recommendations for resistant grass species.
tab1962/Getty Images
Read Also: How Much Is Lawn Care Per Acre
Causes Of Brown Patch
Brown spots shouldnt ruin your chance at having the lawn you want. In order to identify whats at play on your turf and figure out the best plan of attack for treating any discolored areas on the lawn, you must first pinpoint what could be causing the issue. Take a look at the top three culprits behind brown spots below:
1. Turf Disease
There is a long list of turf diseases that can turn an otherwise green lawn off color. These diseases are caused by fungi that live in the thatch and soil, often activated by high moisture, humidity, or mowing the lawn when it is wet. Brown patch, dollar spot, leaf blight, and necrotic ring can all cause areas of the lawn to turn brown. Although these diseases may sound serious, the majority will disappear on their own with improved environmental conditions. In some cases, an application of fungicide may be required. If you arent sure if turf disease is affecting your lawn, its best to contact your Weed Man team for verification. We will provide you with a proper diagnosis and advise you on next steps.
2. Shade
3. Insect Damage
Treat Lawn Fungi Brown Patch Disease
Since the replication of brown patch disease is facilitated by overnight moisture on warm days, its advisable to avoid nighttime irrigation during the summer.
The recommended practice would be to water your Bermuda grass lawn in the morning during warm days, giving your lawn enough time to dry off by the sundown. This denies the fungi within your turf the moisture they need to reproduce.
Prune nearby plants to ensure sufficient airflow above your Bermuda grass, thereby establishing a non-conducive environment for fungal growth.
Alternatively, you can apply anti-fungal pesticides/fungicides such as Southern AG Liquid Copper Fungicide. However, the high expenses associated with the treatment of Bermuda grass fungi is one reason why this is one problem you might want to prevent rather than cure.
The anti-fungal pesticide application schedule for treating brown patch disease over a standard-size lawn area for instance should be done every fortnight.
Also Check: What Is The Best All Wheel Drive Lawn Mower
Also Check: How To Prepare Your Lawn For Spring
Prevention And Control Tips
The best defense against Brown Patch and other turfgrass diseases is a healthy, hardy lawn. Weed Mans granular, slow-release fertilizer applied at the right time will strengthen your lawn and help it fight off common stressors. Core aeration will also help. Aeration improves soil drainage, relieves compaction, and reduces thatch .
If brown patch is already present on your lawn, try the following techniques:
-
Withhold water from affected areas until the soil dries. Then, practice deep, infrequent watering rather than frequent short periods of watering.
-
Water in the mornings ONLY. This will allow the grass and soil to dry before the sun goes down.
-
Mow frequently at the highest setting.
-
Mow with a razor-sharp blade.
Brown patch can also be controlled with the application of fungicide. To ensure continuous control, fungicides must be applied every 21 to 28 days . Your local Weed Man professional can help you create a disease control program that is right for your lawn.
Dont let your brown lawn make you blue this summer. Effective disease management and the lush, healthy lawn that comes with it are only a phone call away.
How To Prevent Brown Patch
As previously stated, this particular turf disease will be most successful if your lawn is wet going into the evening and night. To prevent brown patch water your lawn in the early morning, preferably between 3:00am – 8:00am.
Proper airflow is also crucial to preventing brown patch. As previously stated, brown patch prefers moist areas so if you increase airflow in troublesome areas, it will help to dry off your turfgrass. Do your best to increase circulation in these areas by removing unnecessary objects or foliage in your backyard. Also, a proper regiment of aeration will help to strengthen your lawn and increase airflow to the root zone.
Recommended Reading: How To Protect Lawn From Heavy Equipment
How To Get Rid Of Brown Patch Grass Fungus
Kelly Burke is a professional turf manager for a manicured corporate campus in New England. He is accredited in organic land care and is a licensed pesticide applicator. He formerly managed the turfgrass as a golf course superintendent and has held several senior management positions at private country clubs overseeing high maintenance lawns.
The Spruce / K. Dave
- Working Time: 1 – 3 hrs
- Total Time: 1 hr – 1 day
- Skill Level: Intermediate
- Estimated Cost: $10 to $200
Many conditions can cause patches of brown, dead grass on your lawn, but only one gets the official name”brown patch.” Brown patch disease is a condition caused by a Rhizoctonia fungus, usually Rhizoctonia solani. The fungus often appears in mid- to late-summer when the weather is hot and humid. Brown patch is a foliar disease, meaning that it harms the blades of grass but not the crown of the plant or the root system. Grass plants affected by brown patch may recover on their own, without chemical intervention.
Rhizoctonia can affect all cool-season lawn grasses, but it is especially harmful to ryegrass and tall fescue. Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescues can occasionally be affected, but the damage is usually minimal in these species. Brown patch can also affect a variety of warm-season grasses, including St. Augustine grass and zoysiagrass.
Does Brown Patch In Grass Go Away On Its Own
Is it possible for brown patches to go away on its own?
The first thing that you should do to treat the brown patch in your lawn is to see a plant doctor about this kind of problem.
If you dont see a doctor about it, try to see the doctor about the root cause of it. Do you know the reason why your lawn is green or yellow?
If not, try to find out the reason behind it. It could be caused by too much fertilization, poor watering, too much weed growth, and other things. If you do not get rid of the root cause of it, the problem will not go away on its own.
The next thing that you should do to treat the brown patch in your lawn is to make some changes in your lifestyle. Try to improve the amount of time that you spend on your lawn. If you spend more time on it, then there would be a possibility that you will not need any chemicals to treat the brown patch.
Another thing that you can do to treat the brown patch in your lawn is to use a fertilizer that is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus.
Make sure that it will not damage your lawn or flowers or trees. You can get fertilizers at local garden stores. But do not use the ones that contain any form of harmful chemical.
Last but not least, you can treat the brown patch in your lawn by using some mulch materials. These types of materials help in increasing the growth of the grass and they help in reducing the amount of weeds that grow on it.
Also Check: How Much Are Lawn Mower Blades
Brown Patch Versus Dollar Spot
Similar to brown patch fungus, dollar spot is an invasive fungal lawn disease. Brown patch appears as brownish-yellow patches that can spread across your lawn. Dollar spot creates small, round clusters around the size of a silver dollar.
Like brown spot, dollar spot fungus thrives in hot, humid environments. These patches are typically yellow, often bordered with a brownish ring.
Dollar spot can spread very quickly and cause a massive amount of damage once it establishes a foothold in your lawn.
Given time, brown patch fungus and dollar spot can decimate the most perfectly kept lawns and green spaces.
If you think that your lawn may be suffering from either of these diseases, or you want to discourage their appearance, contact the pros.
There can be a lot of reasons for occasional lawn discoloration, and lawn fungus diseases are just a few. A professional can determine exactly whats going on before you spend time, effort and money on a problem you dont have.
Professionals know exactly how to dethatch, aerate, seed and fertilize your lawn for a lush green yard. Most importantly, they know how to do those things for your specific type of grass.
A lawn care specialist can help you keep your lawn happy, healthy and beautiful all year.
Other Reasons Your Grass Is Turning Brown And Dying
- Your lawn may have buried debris thats causing problems.
- Sloping yards could have an erosion issue. Ground covers are a great way to reduce erosion on slopes. Succulents make pretty, easy-to-care for ground covers.
- Tree roots make growing grass tough but you can do it when you use shade-tolerant grasses within your climate zone.
- Different areas of your lawn require different care, and thats especially true of sunny spots. If your grass is turning brown, it could be because its not getting enough water. Lawns typically need an inch of water a week to stay healthy. Picking the right sprinkler for spots in your yard is one of the best ways to keep it healthy.
- If different spots of your yard turned brown, you may just have a mix of grasses. Some grasses will go dormant while others will continue to grow.
Family Handyman
Don’t Miss: What Type Of Lawn Grass Do I Have
How To Avoid Drought Stress
Applying specific and particular mowing and watering techniques can effectively treat an area experiencing drought stress, as well as prevent it from recurring in the future. Here are our recommended mowing heights and watering depths for each grass type:
Bermudagrass
-Watering Frequency: 3 times per week*
-Pop-up heads: 20 minutes per zone
-Rotary heads: 40 minutes per zone
-Grass Height: Grass should be mowed no lower than 1-1 ½ inches during summer months
The goal with your Bermudagrass is to water it with an even 1-1 ½ inches every week, with the highest frequency in the summer months.
St. Augustine
-Watering Frequency: 3 times per week*
-Pop-up heads: 15-20 minutes per zone
-Rotary Heads: 30-40 minutes per zone
-Grass Height: Grass should be mowed no lower than 2 ½ 3 inches during summer months
*If your city restricts your watering to two times per week, please contact us so we can help you set up your sprinklers accordingly.
Although St Augustine is not as resilient to drought as Bermuda, it also does not tolerate a water logged soil. It is important to only water this turfgrass to the extent it requires. When grass shows drought stress symptoms water to a depth of approximately 6 inches.
Ask us about our customized lawn care program and get a free quote today!
What Is Causing These Brown Patches In My Yard
It’s true, our lawns aren’t always as green as we want them to be.
You may be treating your lawn perfectly and still experience a brown patch in the lawn.
So what is causing the brown patches of grass?
And what can you do to fix a dead patch of grass?
Well, we did the leg work and reached out to the pros to find out.
Below you will find what they had to say!
Also Check: How To Kill White Grubs In Lawn
Can The Grass Recover From Fungus
After youve completely rid your St. Augustine turf of disease-causing fungi, the visible signs of damage will still be present on the turf. Luckily, you can help your turf recover to its lush green, healthy appearance by doing the following:
Revitalize Your Lawn With Crowley Landscape Management
At Crowley Landscape Management, our team of professional landscape designers and architects install and maintain gardens for residences and commercial properties throughout the Portland metro area.
Read our blog for more landscaping tips and tricks or contact us today to request your complimentary on-site consultation.
Also Check: How To Revive Brown Lawn
Recommended Reading: How To Redo My Lawn
The Wild Gardener: Advice On Why You Shouldn’t Cut Grass
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
Lawn care should be the focus of gardening during spring as the green blades begin to sprout new growth. While cutting and seeding is essential from March onwards, it is crucial to correct any existing issues before refreshing a bare lawn. Brown patches are just one common issue many of us will experience as the weather warms up, but what can you do to fix them? These are the best remedies for a lacklustre lawn.
Prevent Brown Patch Pythium Blight & Dollar Spot Contact Ryan Lawn & Tree
If youre worried about losing your lawn permanently as you watch it turn brown, piece by piece, consider contacting the Pros at Ryan Lawn & Tree for a free inspection and quote. Ryan Lawn & Tree goes the extra mile to find and utilize only the best products that arent sold in big box stores. Why? Because they work better to control disease and save your beautiful lawn!
RYAN Pros study the latest university research to make sure they are using the best products at the best rate and times to achieve the best results for your lawn. Our educated, experienced lawn care experts will examine your brown patches and determine the cause, then give you a no-obligation quote for providing the appropriate preventive fungicide program. Get a Free Estimate or just a quick phone call to 855.216.2293 will get you started! Contact us today!
Also Check: When To Treat Lawn For Crabgrass
