Brown Patches in Lawn Care: Causes and Remedies
Brown patches in lawn care aren’t always the result of user error. Even the best-kept lawns can show signs of stress. From nutrient-starved roots to scorching summer heat, several factors can cause unsightly brown patches in your grass. Let’s take a closer look at the top 12 reasons your lawn may be turning brown and what you can do about it.
What Causes Brown Patches on My Lawn?
From heavy foot traffic to dog urine to hungry grubs, a healthy lawn faces threats from above and below. Find out how to identify the main causes of brown patches on most lawns and how to mitigate them below.
1. Foot Traffic
Cause: Human activity remains one of the most common causes of dead, brown grass. However, homeowners should continue to enjoy their lawns without worrying about destroying their grass. Sporadic use for family gatherings and other activities will not make the grass turn brown.
How to Fix it: Look out for repeated or continuous use of the lawn. If the kids cut across the corner of the lawn each day on their way home from school, they could create brown spots in your lawn by repeatedly compressing the grass blades. Similarly, if a pet takes the same path across the lawn multiple times per day, it could kill the grass and even leave bare spots of soil.
2. Loss of Sunlight
Cause: When spending time on the grass with family and friends, ensure everything gets picked up afterward. Leaving toys, furniture, or other objects on the lawn for several days can cause a brown spot due to poor air circulation and loss of sunlight.
How to Fix It: Sometimes, toys and other objects create irregular patches of dead grass in unusual shapes and sizes. A professional lawn care company can fix the issue by removing the brown grass and applying a patching product.
3. Brown Patch Disease
Cause: Fungal diseases, like Rhizoctonia, can create a patchy, green-and-brown lawn. Advanced fungal disease may form circles because the brown centers have recovered, leaving a smoke ring border of brown glass blades.
How to Fix It: Fungal diseases thrive in hot and humid weather, especially in late summer. Rain, lack of sunlight, and insufficient air circulation contribute to fungal growth too. Some of the other causes of Brown Patch Disease include:
- Excessive nitrogen
- Soil damage
- Too much thatch
- Soil compaction
- Excessive moisture
4. Overfertilization
Cause: Overfertilization can damage an entire lawn. In most cases, however, it burns the grass and creates a yellow patch. If overfertilization continues, it could result in a brown patch, especially if a homeowner fertilizes on a hot day.
How to Fix It: Flushing the lawn with water can mitigate lawn burn. Removing excess fertilizer can also help the grass recover. Dead, brown spots will need additional grass seed to restore a lawn to health.
5. Thatch
Cause: Thatch is decomposing organic material nestled below the plant leaf blades. Some thatch is healthy for a lawn. But too much thatch can invite pests and diseases that will cause a brown patch. It can also choke off the grass roots from air and water.
How to Fix It: Excessive thatch over half an inch thick could begin to create brown spots. Dethatching involves the removal of the decaying plant material, allowing water and air to reach the soil more easily.
6. Dog Urine
Cause: Dog waste and urine burns remain one of the most common causes of brown spots on a lawn. Pet urine often creates a brown dead patch with dark-green outer rings. To minimize the damage, flush the pee spots with water. Then, call a lawn care expert.
How to Fix It: A seasoned lawn care pro will rake up dead grass blades, apply topsoil, and spread grass seeds. Homeowners must water the patch daily for two weeks for optimal growth.
Homes with multiple dogs may need a designated doggie area to protect backyard lawns. Check out these pet-friendly lawn care tips for a healthier, greener lawn.
7. Weed Dieback
Cause: Sometimes, a brown patch may appear due to weed dieback. When invasive species take over a lawn, they push aside the grass. Then, when the weeds die, they leave behind a brown spot.
How to Fix It: The best way to prevent weeds from causing brown spots is to keep them out of the lawn in the first place. A healthy, thick lawn is the best defense against weed growth.
Need help keeping the weeds at bay? Find a Heroes Lawn Care near you for professional weed control services.
8. Excessive Mowing
Cause: Improper mowing can lead to brown spots on a lawn. Never cut more than one-third of the grass’s length because it could go into shock and die. For long grass, cut less than one-third of the grass blades’ length and water it before cutting it again several days later.
How to Fix It: Dull mower blades can tear the grass instead of cutting it. In some cases, only the top of the grass will turn brown. However, it can also kill the grass, as well.
If your blades aren’t dull, check that the front wheels and back wheels are all set to the same mowing height.
9. Poor Soil Quality
Cause: A lawn care expert can check the soil quality when the lawn has brown spots. Healthy, loamy soil has a balance of sand, clay, and organic matter.
How to Fix It: Compacted soil may become too firm for water to penetrate, resulting in a brown patch. Lawn aeration can help water reach the roots. Soil amendments can balance the nutritional makeup of poor soil.
10. Dormancy
Cause: Many warm-season grasses go dormant during the winter. They may become brown and lifeless before coming back to life in the spring. Similarly, cool-season grasses go dormant during the summer.
How to Fix It: Lawns in transitional climate zones may have a brown patch or two when the seasons change. Likewise, lawns with more than one grass type could experience a brown patch.
11. Soil Erosion
Cause: Soil erosion can expose the roots and other parts of the grass to too much sunlight. It can dry out and even kill some grass, leaving behind a brown patch.
How to Fix It: Aeration can prevent erosion because it creates space for roots to grow and absorb more water, stabilizing the soil.
12. Grubs
Cause: Grubs can create a brown patch on the lawn by dining on the root system. Homeowners can tell if they have a grub problem by raking the brown spot. If the brown grass rolls up off the soil, it means grubs have eaten away the roots. Another test involves walking on the brown patch. If it feels spongier than the rest of the lawn, grubs could be the culprits.
How to Fix It: In the past, some homeowners addressed a grub issue by introducing beneficial nematodes or milky spore to the lawn. Nowadays, lawn care experts have more effective solutions at their disposal, ensuring the complete eradication of grubs so the lawn can fully recover.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brown Patches in Lawn Care
How do I know what will fix the brown spots in my lawn?
Start by identifying the cause: brown spots can stem from overwatering, pests, compacted soil, or lawn fungus like brown patch. Examine the affected areas for signs like circular patterns, thinning blades, or greasy-looking grass. Once you determine the issue, targeted solutions like fungicide treatments, soil aeration, or adjusting your watering schedule can help restore your lawn.
The type of grass you have is also a factor in determining why you’ve got brown spots in your grass. Check out this in-depth guide about troubleshooting brown patches in St. Augustine grass.
How long will it take for the grass to turn green again?
The recovery time depends on the severity of the damage and the treatment used. After addressing the underlying issue, whether it’s brown patch fungus or another cause, grass in mildly affected areas may start greening up within 7–14 days. Severely damaged spots might require overseeding or a fresh sod installation service to fully recover, which could take a few weeks to establish.What causes brown patch lawn disease?
Brown patch lawn disease is caused by a lawn fungus called Rhizoctonia solani. It thrives in hot, humid weather and spreads quickly when grass is wet for extended periods, especially when paired with overwatering or poor drainage. Keeping your lawn healthy with proper mowing, watering, and fertilization habits can help prevent this damaging fungus.Should I overseed the affected areas after treating brown patch fungus?
Yes, overseeding can help fill in thin or bare spots left behind by brown patch fungus. Once the lawn fungus is under control, rake out the dead grass, loosen the soil, and apply a high-quality grass seed suited to your region. Water lightly and consistently to help the new grass establish.Can overwatering contribute to lawn fungus problems like brown patch?
Absolutely. Overwatering creates excess moisture, which is a breeding ground for lawn fungus, including brown patch. To prevent this, water early in the morning and make sure your lawn drains well. Stick to deep, infrequent watering to keep your grass healthy without encouraging fungal growth.
It’s best to set your sprinkler on a timer to water every 2-3 days, depending on the season, climate, and region. Learn about the best time to water grass in your state.
If you share irrigation zones with a neighbor, watch their watering schedule to ensure you’re not overwatering. And if you’re not sure, contact your local Heroes Lawn Care for an irrigation inspection.
Enjoy a Green, Healthy Lawn All Season Long | Heroes Lawn Care
Do you have spots in your lawn? Our grass experts can fix small brown patches in no time, leaving you with a lush, green lawn that the whole family can enjoy. Call Heroes Lawn Care at (402) 382-4628 to schedule your first consultation today!
