How to Correct Brown Spots on a Lawn

Diagnose brown spots on the lawn so you can correct them.

A lush, green lawn is a homeowner's pride and joy. Factors that can cause brown spots to appear on the lawn include disease, lack of water, an uneven lawn or dog urine. The easiest way to correct a brown spot on the lawn is to water the grass more often. Sometimes the only way to correct the problem is to lay new sod or scatter grass seed to grow new grass. Once you have diagnosed the cause of the brown spots on your lawn, you can begin treatment and reclaim a healthy lawn.

Things You'll Need

• Hose
• Fungicide

Instructions

1. Look at where the brown spots appear on your lawn. Brown spots located next to a sidewalk, driveway or around a sprinkler indicate a lack of water. Water the brown spots with a hose three to four times a week.

2. Apply a fungicide to brown spots that are irregularly shaped. These spots usually are caused by a fungus or other grass disease.

3. Sharpen lawn mower blades or adjust mower height when your lawn's brown spots sit higher than the ground surrounding them. Less grass will be removed from higher spots on uneven lawns if mower blades are sharp.

4. Check the lawn for brown spots that are a uniform brown or tan color, if you fertilized recently. Spots that appear after fertilizing are caused by the fertilizer burning the grass. Water the grass heavily to dilute the fertilizer.

5. Train your dog to urinate in an area of the lawn that's not as visible. A dog's urine will burn the grass and cause a brown spot on the lawn. Watch for neighborhood dogs urinating on your lawn if you don't own a dog and have ruled out any other cause for the brown spot.

Tips & Warnings

• Redesign your irrigation system to prevent brown spots.

• Call an extension service or nursery if you need help picking the appropriate fungicide treatment.

• Grass that doesn't recover will have to be replaced.

• Do not fertilize your lawn when the grass is brown. Fertilizer causes more stress and could permanently kill the grass in that area.

References

• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Bexar County: Solutions for Brown Spots in the Lawn
• Colorado State University Extension: Brown Spots in the Lawn
• The Garden Counselor Lawn Care: Why Grass Stays Brown

Resources

• University of Illinois Extension: Choosing Fertilizers for Home Lawns
• West Virginia University Extension: Tips To Helps Avoid Lawn Problems
• Division of Water Resources: Your Lawn