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  Diagnosing and Managing Brown Spots on Your Lawn
If there are brown spots on your lawn, repairing them and preventing them from returning can be an exercise in frustration. Even though all of these spots may look the same, each one may be caused by a different factor – meaning that you probably won’t be able to treat each brown spot in the same way. However, the reasons that these spots develop are fairly predictable. Read on for some of the most common causes – and treatments – for lawn brown spots:
Dog Urine:
Unfortunately, many people walk their dog on the first lawn they can find. While this isn't the dogs fault, nitrogen in their urine can cause the lawn to burn resulting in brown or dead patches. While most burn spots will recover with time and regrowth, dead areas may require reseeding or sodding. Talk to your veterinarian regarding the animal's diet and new products that may be available to help neutralize the nitrogen, that is, if it is your pet that is doing the damage.
Improper Mowing Height:
Even if the soil beneath your lawn feels level, small bumps and rises due to rocks, settling soil, night crawlers and earth worm activity, can result in the grass being clipped to close to the soil in those areas causing brown spots. Raising that mower deck a notch or two can really even out the lawns color and hide those unsightly scalped, yellow areas. Applying an insect control can reduce earth worm populations and using a lawn roller will even out the bumps creating a smoother turf area.
Incorrect Watering Times and Poor Sprinkler System Coverag:
One of the most common reasons for brown spots in lawns is watering the lawn at the wrong time for the type of soil and out- side temperature. If you want to utilize the water you give your lawn, watering less times per week for longer periods of time is the way to go under most conditions. You will be soaking the lawn, preventing evaporation in hot weather and encouraging deeper root growth. Another tip in diagnosing brown spots mid- summer is if you notice the grass is deep green in color right around the sprinkler head and then starts to turn brown typically 3-10 feet from the head, the sprinkler is providing poor coverage, and may require some adjustments.
Managing Lawn Care During A Drought:
As water supplies around the world continue to feel the pinch of decreased winter snowfall and increased community needs, drought conditions will only become more frequent. In many parts of the country, as soon as a town or county declares a drought situation, you won’t be able to water your lawn. Unfortunately, your lawn will do very poorly without at least one inch of rain or water per week. That said, there are a number of things you can do to prepare your lawn for drought conditions.
Raise Height of Lawn Mower Blade:
Bare or poorly protected soil is much warmer (than), soil protected by shade and tall plants. The warmer the soil temperature is, the faster the water will evaporate from it. Therefore, you can reduce your water usage and retain moisture by mulching or leaving some of your grass clippings on the ground after mowing. Also, raising your mowing deck to the highest setting in hot temperatures can make all the difference in keeping your lawn green, and don't forget to sharpen the lawn mower blades every other spring!
Aeration, Gypsum & Top Dressing:
Core Aeration alone will really help retain moisture, stimulate root growth and is highly recommended in hot dry conditions for your lawn, but if a gypsum application is applied followed by a nice even layer of topsoil or sand you will be adding minerals, help break up clay soils, start to rebuild your soil layer and naturally improving the overall heath and vigor of your lawn.
Liquid Soil Aerators:
Similar to earthworms, liquid soil aerators loosen the soil around and below the roots of your grass plants. When you walk on your lawn, you compress the soil with each footstep. In addition, years of grass buildup creates a thatch that often suffocates new grass shoots and prevents adequate water penetration near the roots. Thatch removers and soil aerators can help alleviate both problems. In addition – if your local area is under drought conditions – these products will help hold what little water you are able to give your lawn at the root level where it’s needed the most.
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