How to Fix Lawn Patches

Brown or bare patches in the lawn not only reduce the aesthetic appeal of the landscape; they make the grass susceptible to damage by disease and insect pests. A number of underlying problems are responsible for the patches, including frequent dog urine, foot traffic, over- or underwatering, excessive fertilization, poor drainage and disease.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Topsoil
• Lawn mower
• Grass seed
• Rake
• Garden hose
• Garden fork or core aerator
• Automatic sprinkler system
• Fungicide

Instructions

Bald Patches

1. Remove stones or plant debris from the bald lawn patch. Loosen the soil over the patch to a depth of 3 to 4 inches and remove the top 1 1/2 to 2 inches. Add quality topsoil over the loosened soil to bring the depression in level with the surrounding soil surface. Overseed the patch in fall or spring.

2. Mow the grass surrounding the prepared soil patch slightly shorter than you normally do, to assist in sunlight penetration to the emerging grass seedlings.

3. Spread the desired grass seeds over the prepared patch by hand, using 3/4 to 1 lb. per 500-square-foot space. Ensure an equal distribution of seed. Rake the seeds 1/4 inch deep in the ground.

4. Irrigate the newly planted seed three times a day, ensuring that the soil remains evenly moist each time. Depending on the type of grass seed, soil temperature and amount of care, most seeds germinate in 14 to 20 days. Mow the new grass when it grows 2 1/2 to 3 inches tall so it is in level with the surrounding grass.

Brown Patches

1. Aerate compacted soil under the brown patch to assist water penetration. Frequent and consistent foot traffic causes soil particles to press close to each other, thus impeding the movement of water through to the grass roots. Make holes in the soil using a garden fork for smaller areas or a core aerator for a larger patch, to allow water to penetrate the soil below.

2. Water the patch with a jet of water from the hose immediately if you notice your dog urinating over it. Dog urination is highly acidic and contains nitrogen that causes grass burn. Frequent urination over the particular spot exposes the grass to the nitrogen it contains, which in turn burns the grass and causes the brown patch. Diluting the urine over the grass dilutes the nitrogen over the area.

3. Dig a tiny section of brown grass and inspect the soil underneath. Moisture-deprived, thirsty soil feels hard and crumbly. Ideally, the top 3 to 4 inches of the soil should remain evenly moist at all times. Use an automatic sprinkler system to irrigate the lawn in the morning or early afternoon, providing it the required amount of water it needs. Avoid overwatering that causes pools of water around the base of plants, causing brown patches to form.

4. Examine the grass for pests such as sod webworms, grubs and army bugs that chew on the grass and suck essential juices depriving it of nutrients. Control the insect pests with a registered insecticide to prevent further damage. Also inspect the grass for symptoms of brown patch disease that include a 3- to 10-foot doughnut-sized ring in your lawn, with brown grass outside and green grass inside. Treat the disease with a registered fungicide every two weeks until the grass becomes healthy again.

References

• Colorado State University Extension; Repair Bare Spots in the New Lawn Now; Joe Julian
• Texas A&M; "Dog-On-It" Lawn Problems; Dr. Steve Thompson
• Iowa State University Extension; Spring Is Here, But Why Is My Lawn Still Brown; 1996
• WalterReeves.com: Brown Patch
• Danny Lipford; How to Identify the Cause of Brown Spots in Your Lawn; Julie Day