@#$% Those Unsightly Brown Patches…

Those brown patches can even make those thick, weed-free lawns look hideous. What is the cause? What can be done to correct it? There are several different issues that can be to blame. If you read last week’s post, then you will recall that one cause is improper watering. Check out the post and see if you are conducting any improper watering practices, and see if the suggested changes reduce/eliminate the brown patches (it could take 2-3 weeks). No change? Well, there are other potential culprits we can look too.

First, do you own any pets? Animal urine/solid waste can cause the brown patches. The high amount of ammonia in the urine, and high nitrogen in the solid waste, burn the leafy portion of the turf causing brown patches. The solution? There are products you can purchase at most of your local garden centers that neutralize the urine. Just spray the spots right afterwards. Also, once a week pick up the solid waste (if you don’t already). Finally, If Fido consistently uses the same section of the yard, walk him around the yard to lower the concentration in a single area. Those brown patches, with vigilance, will go away and stay away.

Still having a problem? Check your fertilizer usage. Fertilizer that is high in nitrogen help give your turf that full, rich, green color. It also can cause those brown patches if used at the wrong time, or in the wrong quantity. Nitrogen, which is the first of the three numbers on the product label (ex. 34-0-1), is best used in higher quantities in the early and late parts of the season. This is why when you look at the fertilizer products, the new lawn/starter fertilizer and the winterizer  have the highest nitrogen levels. It helps the body of the turf during peak growing time and as it prepares to go dormant. During the summer months, however, the turf can not handle the high levels of nitrogen and will burn. So the solution? Make sure you are using just a summer-guard/insecticide on your lawn when it is hot and only at the high end of time range between applications.

One other primary cause of brown patches in your lawn is insect damage. most particularly grubs. Check the brown patch by pulling up on the dead turf. Is it loose/coming free in substantial patches? This is a strong sign of grub damage. Also, do you have moles in your yard? Grubs are one of the primary food source for moles, so their presence can be an indication of grubs. The grubs use the roots of the turf as their primary food source, killing it. Solution? Spread a grub control on your lawn, remove and re-sod the dead areas, they won’t be coming back anytime soon.

There can be more sources of brown patches, but, these are the four primary ones. If none of these solutions are working for your particular problem leave a comment with a description of your situation and we will find one for you!