Brown spots are one of the most frustrating lawn
problems. If you can discount an obvious source -
dog urine, for example, the spots seem to appear out
or nowhere and it's difficult to figure out what caused
them. Here are some common reasons lawns turn brown
in our area.
* Unsharpened mower blades shred the tips of grass
plants, allowing them to dry out rapidly. This quickly
creates a brown appearance, especially during warm
weather. Sharpening the blades corrects the problem.
* Scalped areas turn brown because they're not mowed
correctly. Scalping occurs when the mower runs over
an uneven lawn, removing excessive grass from the
tops of high spots. Soil, then turf, dries out because
little grass canopy remains to protect it against
the sun's heat. Try raising the mowing height in these
places to reduce the problem.
* Soil compaction, the tight packing together of soils
particles, restricts root growth. If roots don't grow,
neither do the tops. Heavy clay soils, with which
our region is blessed, naturally tend to be compacted.
Foot and equipment traffic, heavy rain and irrigation
can also cause or worsen compaction. Check for soil
compaction by inserting a long screwdriver or rod
into the troubled spots. If you feel resistance, suspect
compacted soil. Core aeration, in the spring, fall
or both, can help relieve it.
* Buried debris, such as rocks, bricks or lumber often
produce brown spots. The amount of soil covering these
objects often is too shallow for good root penetration.
Because the roots don't have sufficient area to explore
for water they, and then the grass, dry out. Probe
the soil with a long screwdriver or dig in the affected
area to determine if this is the cause of the problem
and remove it.
* Sloped areas also are prone to browning. Water usually
runs off the slope before it has had a chance to sink
in and the lawn dries out. Aerating the sloped areas
helps move water into the soil. It reduces soil compaction,
which resists downward water movement. Irrigating
slopes with a soaker hose adds water slowly and may
improve its penetration.
* Tree roots compete with grass roots for water. One
solution is to water the competitive areas more often
or more heavily to compensate for the loss. In the
long run, it might be simpler to remove the grass
altogether from this difficult site and replace it
with an organic mulch.
* Hot exhaust can also produce brown spots, especially
if the mower is left running in place on the turf.
Gasoline and oil spills cause sudden death of grass
plants; so can objects left on the lawn during sunny
weather.
* Walls and hot pavement can reflect the sun's heat
onto nearby grass causing it to dry and brown. Soaking
these areas more frequently helps replace lost moisture.
* Disease Brown Patch and Red thread are our most
sever problems in the piedmont area. Tall fescue
is very susceptible to both. When night time temps
reach 70 and we are in a weather pattern of rain conditions
are favorable for disease. This can be controlled
with fungicides and if left untreated can kill the
lawn.
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