Yard Answers › lawn care
Why does my lawn have brown patches?
Quick answer
Brown patches usually come from drought or heat stress, grubs, fungus (like brown patch or red thread), or dog urine. Tug the brown grass: if it lifts like carpet, check for grubs; circular rings with dark edges point to fungus; scattered spots that green up after watering are drought.
Step by step
- 1Tug the grass to check for grubs
- 2Water deeply 1 in/week in the morning
- 3Avoid nitrogen in summer heat
- 4Rake out and reseed dead areas in fall
Gear that helps
3-in-1 Soil pH & Moisture MeterTest before you fertilize — the first step for yellow or patchy grass.$10–$20 · View on Amazon 
Home Soil Test KitChecks pH and key nutrients so you only add what your lawn needs.$15–$30 · View on Amazon 
Electric DethatcherRakes out the matted layer choking your grass in spring and fall.$100–$160 · View on Amazon As an Amazon Associate, My Yard earns from qualifying purchases.
Common questions
Will brown grass grow back?
Dormant grass greens up with water; grass that pulls out easily is dead and needs reseeding.
How do I tell fungus from drought?
Fungus forms rings or patches with defined edges; drought shows as general thinning in sunny spots.
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