Why Does My Lawn Have Brown Patches?

Brown patches on the lawn are the biggest nightmare for every lawn owner. A bevvy of unexpected reasons can contribute to brown patches that come along with many underlying risks for your lawn’s health.

From fungus, thatch, and less, to irregular and poor lawn maintenance, you never know when your one mistake can bring brown patches on the lawn.

Whether you have already encountered Bermuda brown patches in a small area of your lawn or it’s still a few miles away to reach your lawn, it’s high time to know everything about brown patches and how to prevent them.

The first step to solving this problem is knowing the exact cause of brown spots in your patchy yard. In this guide, we’ll tell you why brown patches can ruin the entire beauty of your lawn.

Common Causes of Brown Patches

1. Grubs

Grubs are basically one of the many pests that feed on pale green unhealthy grass coming out of the soil and leave its traces in the form of Bermuda brown patches on the patchy yard.

To avoid these poisonous white beetle larvae entering your lawn, you can use quality grub controllers or try our natural home remedies that are effective in this case.

2. Fungus

It’s common to see the capture of fungus on the pale green lawn, leaving brown patches in the form of irregular zoysia patches. Also known as brown patch disease, it usually occurs due to a reduced supply of light, water and sunlight to the growing pale green grass coming out of the soil.

As a result, the pale green, unhealthy grass experiences poor growth with Bermuda brown patches in the patchy yard.

3. Thatch

The build-up of thatch is another common reason for brown patches on the lawn to appear on your lawn. Thatch can be caused for a number of reasons, from poor watering, mowing, feeding to other reasons.

Dead sod and decaying plants can also cause thatch, disturbing the roots and leaf blades of the plant. To prevent thatch build-up, lawn care experts advise mowing unhealthy grass at the length of the thatch layer.

4. Chemical Fertilizer

Excessive use of chemical fertilizer can also cause the build-up of thatch on the surface of the lawn. The use of chemicals on the lawn can badly disturb soil PH, making it incapable of growing unhealthy grass coming out of the soil.

In addition, chemically formulated pesticides and insect repellent can also burn the lawn, resulting in ugly Bermuda brown patches in the patchy yard.

Solutions For Brown Patches

Getting rid of thatch isn’t impossible unless it has spread all over your lawn. If this isn’t the case, you can easily get rid of Zoysia brown patches and kick them off before they ruin the health and beauty of your lawn.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the effective lawn care solutions for brown patches in the patchy yard. 

1. Watering

Regularly watering your lawn is the easiest way to get rid of thatch. The best practice is to water early with a proper schedule so you don’t make the mistake of overwatering your lawn, which is another cause of Bermuda brown patches in the patchy yard.

10 Best Lawn Mowers Experts suggest watering the lawn every 3-4 days at a depth of 1/2 inches per session.

2. Mow high

The golden rule to mow high also implies when it comes to getting rid of Bermuda brown patches in the patchy yard. Mowing high has a number of benefits, such as cutting around 30% of the leaf blade.

The short grass coming out of the soil can easily capture the sunlight, sit, and water, which is essential for any plant’s growth. As a good rule of thumb, at least keep the mowing height about 1/2 inch high.

3. Ensure Proper Drainage 

A wet soil or poor drainage system on your lawn can also be a problem thatch for your lawn in the long run. To identify compact soil, use a screwdriver and press it into the soil with a little pressure.

If the tip easily goes into the soil, it means that the soil is compacted. To treat compact soil, you should aerate your lawn well at least twice a year and add water and nutrients to see if it penetrates the soil or not. 

4. Fertilize Well 

Excessive fertilizer use on the lawn can also be a reason for the Bermuda brown patch, especially if you use so much nitrogen on your lawn. However, there are a few important things that you should remember before applying fertilizer to your lawn.

For example, you better not use chemical fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other harmful elements that could potentially damage the plant. Also, choose the best fertilizer according to your lawn type and its health, as well as avoid fertilizing in hot and humid weather. 

Fertilizers Approved By 10BESTLAWNMOWER Experts!

1. Scotts Turf Builder Starter Food for New Grass, 15 lb. – Lawn Fertilizer
2. Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food Plus Outdoor & Indoor, 8 lb.
3. Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food Spikes, Includes 24 Spikes
4. Espoma PT18 Plant Tone, 18-Pound
5. Dr Earth INC 756P Exotic Exotic Blend Palm, Tropical & Hibiscus Fertilizer

5. Lawn Maintenance 

Maintaining a lawn is the first step to expecting a healthy and beautiful lawn. Regular lawn maintenance can play a big role in the prevention of brown patches on the lawn.

Try to implement the best lawn practices such as aerating the soil, using natural fertilizer, cleaning pet waste on the lawn, regular and proper mowing with sharp blades and others.

The more you care for your lawn, the healthier it will be and offer resistance to Zoysia brown patches. Also, regularly nourish the lawn with essential nutrients and offer resistance to pests. All these combinations can give you a healthy and beautiful lawn in no time.

Conclusion

Brown patches on the patchy yard inevitably appear, but they can for sure be avoided with the useful tips we’ve mentioned in this article. Give the love and care your lawn deserves and prepare it for every season.