Why Is My Lawn Turning Brown or Patchy? Common Causes
Why Is My Lawn Turning Brown or Patchy? Common Causes
Brown patches are the #1 call we get from July through September. The tricky part is that four or five totally different problems all look the same. Here's how to tell them apart.
1. Heat and drought stress
What it looks like: Whole lawn turns a dull grayish-tan, footprints stay pressed in, full-sun areas brown first. Fix: Deep water once (about an inch), stop cutting for a week, and it'll come back. This is dormancy, not death.
2. Grubs
What it looks like: Irregular brown patches you can literally lift up like a rug because the roots are gone. Often shows up in August/September. Fix: A grub control treatment. Do it now — if skunks or raccoons start tearing up your lawn hunting them, you'll have a bigger problem.
3. Fungus (brown patch, dollar spot, red thread)
What it looks like: Round or ring-shaped dead spots, sometimes with a smoky border in the morning. Very common in Central PA humidity. Fix: Reduce watering frequency (water deeper, less often), mow higher, and consider a fungicide if it's spreading.
4. Dog urine
What it looks like: Small round dead spots with lush dark green rings around them. Fix: Rinse the spot with water within a few hours, or train the dog to a mulched area.
5. Dull mower blade
What it looks like: The tips of the grass look ragged and turn tan within a day of mowing. Fix: Sharpen or replace the blade. Most homeowners should sharpen twice a season.
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