Are you spotting brown or bare patches in your lawn, across the edges, near the pool, or beneath the trees? Such patches amidst the greenery of the lawn can baffle anyone. There can be numerous causes including insect damage, environmental stressors, heavy foot traffic, etc. It is necessary that you figure out the root causes of such spots. Then you will be able to take the right remedial actions and restore the lawn. You want a lasting solution to this hassle, for sure.
How to detect brown and bare patches in the lawn?
Bare and brown patches in the lawn are not exactly similar. The first is where there is no grass, alongside thatch buildup. The brown spots have discolored brownish grass. Proper identification helps in fathoming the causes. Brown spots are often caused by overuse of nitrogen-rich fertilizers while excess foot traffic may cause bare patches.
The root causes of brown and bare patches in the lawn
Several factors can cause brown and bare patches in the lawn grass. Proper identification helps in choosing the right solution here. The major causes are:
Disease-induced damages– In many cases, bare and brown patches in the lawn are caused by diseases affecting the turfgrass. If there is a grass disease, you may see irregular brown spot patterns or a dead zone. The fungus-infected zone’s border may have a lighter brown or yellow ring/border. You will need broad-spectrum fungicide solutions to combat such grass diseases or fungal infections.
Insect-borne damage – If insect damage is causing brown patches, identifying the variant is necessary. Chinch bugs, very common in St. Augustine, can damage large grass turf. Using a magnifying lens and checking the lawn edges will help you spot these tiny bugs. Other common insects in this context are spittlebugs, billbugs, fall armyworms, sod webworms, grubworms, and mole crickets. Many of these can be detected by doing a soap flush test.
Environmental stress – The turf grass may develop brown patches owing to environmental stressors too. If the sun is too harsh or you water the lawn too much, brown patches may develop. Most turf grass types can do with just 1 inch of water every week. Anything more, including rainfall, will do it more harm than good. Too much shade deprives the turf of required sunlight, leading to brown patches.
Lack of water – Sometimes, draught-like situations and lack of water supply can turn some parts of the lawn brown. Your new sod should get the required amount of water for proper growth and a uniform green look. New sod can’t grow roots well without enough water. Watering fresh grass twice a day for 2 weeks after installation is necessary. After a month, you can reduce watering to twice a week.
Excess fertilizer usage – New sod does not need fertilizing for at least a month after installation, unlike older grass. Its root is shallow and so can’t soak in the nutrients. The nitrogen in fertilizers can burn the grass, causing brown patches. Watering the sod will help the nitrogen dilute. This will prevent further browning of grass.
How to get rid of brown and bare patches in the lawn?
A soil analysis will help you understand the main cause of grass browning and dying. Then, it will be easy to come up with a remedial strategy. From using proper insect killer solutions to using nutrient-filler fertilizers, the proper remedy must be chosen. Besides, you can use apt herbicides in bare and brown patches of the lawn to prevent weed formation.
For lawns exposed to excess sunlight and summer heat, you can use a layer of topsoil. If the shade is permanent, consider using grass meant for shady areas.
Try reducing foot traffic to reduce bare patches in the lawn. Some grass types like zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede grass and bermuda grass spread to fill those patches with time. You can also use grass plugs or seeds to fill those spots. If foot traffic can’t be reduced, try setting up sods meant for heavy foot traffic.
One final measure is using the same type of grass to fill in such bare patches. Using different grass types in those spots will give your lawn a patchy look.