Say Goodbye to Brown Patch
Are you feeling brown-beaten? At any time of year, seeing brown patches take over your lawn is downright disheartening. But you can fight back and get back the green you’ve grown to love. Because where there’s a problem, there’s usually a simple solution.
Can you blame it on the dog?
The nitrogen contained in dog urine can burn your lawn and can cause a widespread brown patch problem – especially if Fido loves to wander. The best solution is to train your dog to use certain areas of your yard where the grass doesn’t grow. Or create a special area with pea gravel. It also helps to dilute just-left urine with water, if you’re up for the chase.
When’s the last time you sharpened your mower blade?
Dull blades damage grass plants and cause them to turn brown. If it’s been a while since the last sharpening, it’s an all around smart idea to have your dealer sharpen those mower blades for an extra boost.
Did you spill fertilizer or over-feed your lawn?
A high concentration of fertilizer is a well-known grass-burning culprit. Give your brown patch a good dose of water every day for about four weeks. Then take a break from fertilizing until the spots begin to show healthy, new life.
What about too much water?
If you over-water, or if water pools in certain areas on your lawn, you can drown the grass roots, causing areas to die out. Survey your lawn for dips you want to avoid dousing, and be sure to give your lawn just enough – not too much—to drink.
Could it be…FUNGUS?
There is a common fungus actually known as “Brown Patch Fungus” that can exist in your soil for years without causing harm – until your grass gets stressed from temperature extremes, mowing too short or other causes. The only way to be sure this is what’s attacking your grass is to have it tested. If your lawn does have Brown Patch, apply a fungicide to the affected areas and you should see an improvement.
Being aware of common brown patch causes will help you combat a lawn gone bad. But remember: Proper mowing, fertilization and watering is the best brown patch treatment and keeps your lawn healthy – and green the way it should be.
