Many homeowners pride themselves on lush, green lawns, and it can be disappointing and concerning when that vibrant grass starts to turn brown. Many things can lead to brown patches or a discolored lawn, from environmental stress to pest infestations. We’ll explain some common causes of browning grass and provide practical tips for restoring your lawn.
Common Causes of Browning Grass
A once-green lawn might start to turn brown for several reasons. Identifying the root cause helps you implement the right fix. Here are some common culprits.
1. Drought and Heat Stress
One of the most frequent reasons for browning lawns is insufficient water, which is often exacerbated by high temperatures. This is particularly common in the southern United States, where heat can be intense and prolonged.
Signs of Drought Stress:
Drought stress manifests in several ways. You might notice grass wilting or dulling before turning brown completely. Footprints may remain visible long after someone has walked across the lawn because the grass blades lack the moisture needed to spring back into place. You may also notice a bluish-gray tint in the early stages of dehydration.
How to Fix It:
Adjust your watering strategies to be both deep and infrequent. This encourages deeper root growth and makes the grass more resilient to drought. We recommend watering once a week or twice a month, depending on your local climate. You may need to water more often if your area is experiencing intense heat or dryness.
If you live in a drought-prone area, drought-resistant grasses could be a prudent long-term solution. These grasses are naturally adapted to require less water.
2. Insect and Pest Problems
Pests can wreak havoc on a lawn, causing it to turn brown in patches. Common culprits include lawn grubs and chinch bugs.
Signs of Pest Infestation:
Several signs point to lawn pest infestations. You might observe irregular brown patches scattered across the lawn where pests have damaged the grass. On closer inspection, you might find holes in the grass blades—an indication that insects are feeding on them. Increased bird or raccoon activity often signals pest presence, as these animals target grubs or insects lurking in the soil.
If you can easily lift grass sod—exposing grubs beneath the surface—you likely have a pest infestation.
How to Fix It:
You can tackle pest infestations with natural and environmentally friendly methods. Introduce beneficial nematodes or apply milky spore powder to the soil as biological control agents for lawn grubs. Natural deterrents such as neem oil or diatomaceous earth help keep pests at bay without resorting to chemicals. Pests like grubs thrive in overly damp conditions, so try reducing your watering temporarily.
You may need commercial insecticides for severe infestations. Use care and caution with these products to minimize harm to beneficial insects and the environment.
3. Lawn Diseases
Various lawn diseases can cause grass to turn brown. These include brown patch disease, dollar spot, rust, and fungal infections.
Signs of Lawn Disease:
You can identify lawn diseases through several distinct symptoms. Uniform browning concentrated in specific areas often suggests disease rather than a drought or pest issue. Signs of fungal diseases include discolorations in unusual colors, such as yellow or reddish-brown, accompanied by distinct shapes, such as rings or crescents.
How to Fix It:
Preventing lawn diseases is often easier than curing them. Avoid mowing the grass too short to reduce stress on the blades. Establish effective drainage and an appropriate watering schedule to prevent conditions that favor mold and fungus growth, such as prolonged soil moisture.
Natural remedies can be particularly effective against lawn disease. Neem oil has antifungal properties, while compost tea can bolster your lawn’s natural resilience. You may need to hire professional lawn care services for more severe cases. Professionals can diagnose and treat the issue using targeted fungicides tailored to a specific disease.
4. Overfertilization or Overwatering
Fertilizer and water are essential for a healthy lawn, but too much of either can be detrimental. Overfertilization can burn the grass, while overwatering can lead to root rot and other issues.
Signs of Overfertilization or Overwatering:
You might notice large brown patches across the lawn after heavy fertilization. These chemical burns appear more evenly defined than natural brown spots. You may also notice that post-fertilization recovery seems unusually slow despite other favorable conditions. Overly soggy or swampy soil that pools water is a clear indicator of overwatering. This often leads to conditions conducive to fungal growth and root diseases.
How to Fix It:
Adjust your approach. Always adhere to recommended rates and intervals when applying fertilizers to avoid overwhelming the grass. Consider hiring a professional lawn fertilizing service if needed.
Aim for deep watering sessions that allow the soil to dry out sufficiently in between. This helps prevent waterlogging and root damage.
Fixing soil pH can also help resolve a patchy lawn. The video below offers tips from professionals on how fixing your soil pH can help resolve lawn browning.
5. Weed Infestation
Weeds compete with grass for nutrients and water. This can cause your lawn to turn brown as it struggles to thrive.
Signs of Weed Problems:
Look for visible patches of weeds on your lawn. The lawn may look patchy or uneven, with weeds overshadowing thinning grass.
How to Fix It:
Proactively use pre-emergent herbicides in early spring to help stop weed seeds from successfully germinating. Select appropriate post-emergent herbicides that specifically target established weeds. Always stick to general lawn care best practices.
Consult a lawn care professional about persistent weed problems. An expert can offer insights and tailored solutions based on a thorough diagnosis.
6. Pet Damage
Pet urine’s high nitrogen content can cause brown spots on lawns. Nitrogen is beneficial in small amounts, but concentrated doses can burn grass.
Signs of Pet Damage:
Pet damage on a lawn looks like small, round brown spots scattered in areas frequented by dogs or other animals. These spots are often encircled by lush, greener grass, which ironically thrives due to the fertilization effect of diluted nitrogen at the urine spot’s periphery.
How to Fix It:
Water the affected areas immediately after pets relieve themselves to dilute the high nitrogen content. Training pets to use a designated area helps concentrate the impact zones and makes preventative strategies easier. You can apply lawn repair treatments specifically designed for spot damage to facilitate recovery and rejuvenate those areas. Alternatively, use pet-friendly lawn care products formulated to neutralize urine’s negative effects without compromising soil health or grass vitality.
Professional vs. DIY Lawn Care
When faced with a browning lawn, you have two main options: tackle it yourself or hire a professional lawn care service.
Benefits of Professional Lawn Care
Professional services like TruGreen offer several advantages, including expert problem identification and access to pro-grade treatments and specialty equipment. These services craft customized care plans based on lawn type and regional climate. Saving time is also a big perk for busy homeowners.
TruGreen, for example, offers a spectrum of services, from essential maintenance to comprehensive care plans for a thriving lawn. Its customer satisfaction guarantee ensures that homeowners receive value and positive results.
DIY Lawn Care Approach
DIY lawn care is a practical and potentially cost-effective avenue for those who favor a hands-on approach. It gives you direct control over products and methods, letting you experiment and adapt as needed. You’ll also learn about plant science, soil health, and environmentally sound practices.
Companies like Sunday Lawn Care facilitate DIY efforts by providing products and personalized care plans. The company bases its recommendations on soil testing to ensure appropriate treatment and ongoing support. Such services empower homeowners by combining the practicality of DIY methods with professional guidance and scientifically backed solutions.
FAQs About Browning Grass
How do you fix brown grass?
Fixing brown grass is more challenging than it might seem. You need to figure out the cause and use the right solution, as explained above. You can prevent brown patches on your lawn by watering and fertilizing appropriately.
How to get rid of brown patch fungus on the lawn?
If you have brown patch fungus, your best option is to reduce your watering to once every two weeks and apply a fungicide. Improving soil air flow can also help. You might need to reduce the thatch layer by dethatching or aerating.
Can brown grass turn green again?
Yes, but only if it’s not completely dead. Dead grass won’t return to normal, which is why catching lawn issues and treating them before they become severe is key to overall lawn health.
Why is my grass turning brown even after watering?
Overwatering can brown your grass, so water carefully. If you’re watering as you should, the issue is unlikely to be drought or heat stress. Consider the other underlying causes mentioned above or call in a professional like TruGreen for guidance.
Why is my lawn turning brown in the summer?
If browning is occurring only in the summer, your grass is probably suffering from a lack of water or heat stress. You might want to water your lawn more often to help stop the browning from killing your lawn.
Today's Homeowner Rating & Methodology
At Today's Homeowner, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader. That’s why we took the time to create an objective rating system and score each lawn company/service according to our methodology.
Our research team dug deep into the fine print of contracts, combed through more than one hundred customer reviews, and thoroughly investigated all of each lawn care service’s services, costs, and products. We’ve done the homework for you by researching nearly all of the lawn care companies on the market so you can have the information you need to make the best choice for your home.
We developed a formula to objectively determine the best lawn care companies and give each a score out of 100 based on the following criteria:
- Plan Options (30): Do they provide a variety of plan options? We looked at the number of plans each company offered and the flexibility of adjusting the plan.
- Services offered (20): How many services are offered in each plan? We looked at the number of lawn care coverages, including weed control, seeding, irrigation, aeration, dethatching, and more.
- Trust (10): What do customers say after their lawn has been serviced? Does this company offer a guarantee? We considered how satisfied customers are post-service if the company does what it says it will, BBB accreditation, and service guarantees.
- Prices (10): How reasonable are the costs of the plan or service in comparison to the industry average? We compared the costs of each company to competitors that offer the same lawn services.
- Unique perks (10): Does the company offer discounts or special services such as organic treatments, pest control, or a mobile app? We looked for perks each company offers that set them apart from the competition.
- Customer Service (10): How is the customer experience when contacting the company? We considered the speed of response, weekend/holiday availability, and ease of communication through phone calls, email, and online chat functions.
- Nationwide availability (10): How many states does the company offer its services? Companies that operate nationally and in all zip codes are favored over those with limited availability.
