As a South Shore lawn service, we hear a lot of questions about mysterious brown patches that form in people’s yards. People want to know what causes brown patches to form, if brown patches in the lawn are some kind of permanent damage, and if there’s anyway to get brown patches out of the lawn. So let’s dive right in and explore the mysterious world of that brown patch on your lawn.
What Causes Brown Patches on the Lawn?
When we talk to homeowners about brown patches on the lawn, the first thing we have to do is achieve some clarity on what they are actually talking about. What some people call brown patches are what we would call bare patches – areas of soil absent of any grass. There are several causes for bare patches, including heavily compacted soil, too much or not nearly enough nutrition in the soil, drought, and disease.
However, when the homeowner is talking about multiple brown patches where the grass has apparently died off at the first hint of cold weather, what we’re actually discussing is Brown Patch, a fungal disease.
Even More Information About Brown Patch, The Fungus That’s Causing Your Grass To Die
Brown Patch is caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia. Rhizoctonia is a soil-borne fungus, which means it travels through the dirt and attacks plants beginning at the roots and working upwards. Your grass can suffer root rot, stem rot, damping off – this is when entire sections of young grass dies all at once – and leaf rot.
Is the Damage from Brown Patches Permanent?
No. Brown patches aren’t permanent, but the problem will keep recurring unless the conditions in your lawn are changed. There are a number of factors that contribute to Brown Patch, including how often the grass is watered and how well the soil drains, your mowing habits, and the levels of nutrients in the soil. For your specific situation, you’ll want to consult with your local lawn service, who can do the testing and analysis required to figure out how to keep Brown Patch out of your lawn.
