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Why Is My Lawn Brown?

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Posted on: Feb 06, 2019Ali

WHY ARE LAWNS BROWN?

During the mid-summer months (July & August) many lawns will become brown and dried out.  This, of course, is due to the weather but also the lack of regular watering’s by the homeowner.  The question of “why is my lawn brown?” Although easy to answer, can, in fact, cause unnecessary damage to the home lawn.

WHY ARE THE GOLF COURSES AND FARMER’S FIELDS GREEN?

It is a definite fact that golf courses and farmer’s fields are watered regularly due to economics. Long story short, who will pay to play on a burnt dry golf course.  Who will buy dead fruits and vegetables?

COST ASSOCIATED TO WATERING THE LAWN

Due to environmental challenges, many cities enforce watering bans during the hot summer months. This will reduce cost and water waste.  In some cases, a city may educate homeowners as to the correct day to water their lawns without being ticketed.  In other cases, the city may instruct the addresses with odd numbers to water particular days, while homes with even numbered address water on another day.  All in all, this is an effort to reduce the consumption of or waste of water.

THE RESULTS OF REDUCED WATERING OF LAWNS

Roadsides, parks, and boulevards become unsightly, brown and dried during watering restrictions but the positive effects of a healthy home lawn do not seem to be high on lists of necessities within city halls.

DROUGHT STRESS VERSES DISEASE

Drought stress is the lawns’ natural ability to protect itself from a lack of watering over long periods of time.  That in-it’s-self this is not a problem and the lawn will regenerate once cooler weather prevails, regular rainfalls return, and homeowners are once again able to maintain their lawns.  The overall concern is that disease can and do appear if the correct measures are not available.  (Pictures to be added)

DISEASES WITHIN A BROWN LAWN

Microscopic bugs identified as chinch bugs attack lawns that have little or no evidence of regular watering. The black beetle-like insect will suck the juices of blades of green grass leaving them dried and dead. Irregular watering throughout the mid-summer months confuse the roots of the lawn and in many cases, a fungus will appear. These conditions do not self-medicate and will require treatment and repairs which can be costly and quite unnecessary.

CAN I CHECK FOR DISEASE MYSELF?

There are two very effective tests homeowners can use to determine if chinch bugs are in fact damaging the lawn.

  1. Take a shallow can and remove both bottom and top of the can.  
  2. Screw the can into the brown dried area of the lawn.
  3. Fill the area of the can with water.
  4. Should several black bugs float to the top of the can this would indicate a chinch bug infestation.
  5. Should only a very few bugs float to the top, this would indicate that a very minor population of bugs are evident and no damage should become evident.
  6. You may also which to fill a bucket with water and water a small area of the brown dry area of the lawn.
  7. Water lawn with the bucket for a couple of days and if it greens up the lawn was dormant and will regenerate once weather permits…

HOW DO YOU REPAIR DAMAGED BROWN LAWNS?

To repair the damage to the lawn seed the damaged areas with the correct type of seed.