Fix Brown Spots in Your Lawn and Grass
Brown spots in lawns have many causes. The best way to repair the brown spot is have a proper analysis of the problem. Your local agricultural extension service offers soil tests at little to no cost. Once the soil test is submitted, the results are generally back in your hands within 4 weeks. You can use these results to hone in on the problem and repair the grass.
List:
Soil test
Soil test results
Various grass species
Fungicide
Insecticide
Conduct a soil test of the affected areas. Generally this entails taking a small sample of soil from each brown spot.
Mix the soil together. Allow the soil to dry.
Place the sample in the soil test container. Make a note of the problem and the areas on the label provided by the extension service. Wait up to 4 weeks for results.
Follow the recommendations in the laboratory results. Shallow soils may be too dry to support certain species of grasses. Plant appropriate grass species in these areas.
Apply a fungicide if the results can back with a high content of mold or fungus. You may have to change watering practices as well. Too much water or heavy shade will cultivate a fungus or mold environment.
Use a recommended insecticide if the trouble has turned out to be grubs or other ground insects. The extension agent will have suggestions as to the type of chemical that should be used, as some insecticides may be prohibited in certain parts of the country.
Apply a routine watering schedule to your lawn if possible. Perhaps the greatest culprit to brown spots is drought. Certain diseases will then set in to the weak plants. Of course not all areas around the country may be able to follow a strict irrigation program during times of drought. Consult your local water utility as some watering bans may be in place for such occasions.
Words to the Wise:
If you own a dog and the little pooch has helped in creating the brown spots, the problem is not necessarily from a low pH value, or an acidic soil. In most all cases, the urine infected areas will have a high nitrogen content. Consult your extension agent for balancing the nitrogen content of the area.
