Patchy brown spots on your lawn are a good sign that it needs some additional care. Brown spots are also a good indicator of how to approach fixing it. Below, we will discuss some common causes of brown patches in the lawn, and how you can remedy these issues.
Dry Patches in the Lawn
Not every section of your lawn will receive water evenly. Dry spots will start out as wilted or grayer than the surrounding area. Over time, the grass may yellow and then turn brown. Check the soil with a trowel, and compare it to soil found in greener areas of the lawn. If the soil is much dryer, you may have an irrigation problem. Check your irrigation system. Sometimes, an area may not get proper coverage from a sprinkler system. A shrub or bush may also limit the spray in the direction of the dry spot. Generally, spot watering or adjusting your irrigation system should help remedy the solution in many cases.
Lastly, consider checking the dirt under that patch. If there is a rock or other item buried shallowly below the surface, watering may not be the issue.
Overwatering
If a lawn is overwatered, the grass may experience root rot. This can often be the case with excessive rain. If you have an irrigation system, you may need to adjust it during periods of heavy rain. Adjustments to the frequency of watering can also be effective. Inspect the roots of your grass with a trowel. Healthy grass will have white roots that are fibrous and strong. Rotting roots, however, tend to be brown and soft. The dirt in overwatered areas may be muddier and softer as well.
Treatments for root rot may be necessary to restore the lawn to its former condition. If cases of overwatering persist, consider drainage installation or a possible landscape redesign.
Dog Bathroom Spots
Urine from dogs can damage the lawn. If you let your dog use the bathroom on your lawn, or neighbor’s pets consistently urinate on your grass, it can cause dead grass. Urine contains salts and other compounds which can affect the state of your grass. Look for brown patches near where pets use the bathroom. These areas may also have a slight ammonia smell. Consider watering the grass here more frequently than the rest of the yard. Diluting the urine will help restore the lawn and reduce the harm to the grass.
Lawn Mower Tracks
While mowing is essential to maintaining your lawn, repeated stress from mower wheels in the same areas can cause damage to the grass. This can result in brown streaks in the grass. To reduce this, mow at cooler times of the day.
Pests in the Lawn
Damage from insects may have a variety of signs and symptoms, depending on the pest. Different pests may attack roots, while others will chew through roots. For best results, look up the symptoms of your lawn, and note the season. Some pest bugs will be more likely in the summer than others. Generally, identifying the pest will help you remedy the solution in the safest way for your lawn. Once the pests are dealt with, the lawn should start returning to its natural, healthy state.
For over 40 years, Russo’s Landscaping has offered professional and quality landscaping services on Staten Island. Contact us or call us at 718-727-7914 to discuss your landscape renovation needs.