The main reason why grass turns brown is that the soil has lost its ability to provide enough food or water to sustain it. Here are the many reasons why your lawn may be showing brown patches and what you can do about it!
1. It's too hot or dry!
In periods of high heat and low water, many kinds of grasses go dormant. This is normal. Your grass will recover when the temperature lowers and there is more rain. To sustain a drought-dormant lawn, apply ½ inch of water every two or three weeks during the drought. To bring back your green, apply 1 inch of water every 6 or 7 days (about 2 hours of sprinkler use).
2. Your sprinklers need adjusting
If you see brown spots on only part of your lawn, it may be because your sprinklers are not covering your full lawn. Sprinkler heads can easily be adjusted with a small screwdriver. when selecting a sprinkler, note that low-to-the-ground pulsating or impulse sprinklers are easier to adjust than oscillating sprinklers.
3. Your weeds are winning
Weeds can win the competition with your lawn for water and food. Controlling these weeds is tricky. Apply a pre-emergent herbicide in spring to prevent weed seeds from germinating.
4. Your lawn is diseased
Dozens of diseases and fungi can turn your lawn brown. If your grass is covered with white, black, or brown substances, you likely have lawn disease and should call a professional lawn specialist.
5. You have Cinch Bugs
These tiny bugs love to drain plant juices. The first sign that they are around is that your lawn will look wilted, then turn yellow to brown. If you see small red, orange, brown, or black bugs after pulling up a patch of grass, it is time to call a lawn care professional.
6. Your lawn has grubs
Grubs are beetle larvae that feast on turf roots. Although it may look like you have drought damage, once you peel back the patch, you will know. You can let your lawn dry out thoroughly before watering again, however, if there are more than 10 grubs/square foot, you have a problem. Before you use an inseciticide, which may do more harm than good, call a lawn care professional.
7. Animals could be the cause
If your brown patches are round, this is an indication that it could be caused by animal pee (urine contains acid). Try flushing the area with water to dilute the acid and if that does not work, it could be something else.
Accent Lawn Care keeps your lawn and landscaping looking its best year-round. Proper lawn care -- sufficient water in the early morning, regular mowing, good lawn aeration, and thatch management -- will raise a healthy lawn more likely to resist lawn disease. Call us today at (985) 893-1928 or (504) 407-5421 and let us customize an annual lawn service agreement for your home or business.