How to Treat Dry Spots on Grass: A Lawn Care Guide

These brown bug-bears are enough to make Melbourne turf owners tear their hair out.

Thankfully for you, at Anco Turf, we pride ourselves being more than just outstanding Melbourne turf suppliers.

We believe our duty of care goes well beyond simply helping our customers buy turf and lawn products.

We want every Anco-supplied turf – whether it be Sir Walter Buffalo or TIFTUF Bermuda – to be lush, green and healthy every day of the year.

So, with that in mind, in this blog we are going to help you understand what causes those unsightly, brown, dry spots, what it means for your lawn when they start appearing, and how to bring your turf back from the brink and into a healthy, green oasis once again.

What causes dry spots on grass?

Dry spots in grass are often caused by one of the following:

• Periods of hot, dry weather
• Heavy traffic on patches of grass
• Fungi
• Dog urine
• Lack of proper turf care

The most common cause of dry spots in a lawn is hot and dry weather.

The truth is, without ongoing care and maintenance, even just a few straight days of hot and dry weather could be enough for lawns to begin appearing patchy.

As the hot, dry weather dries out your lawn, patches of grass will being to thin, exposing the underlying soil to the heat of the sun.

As the soil dries and hardens under the turf, the lawn develops those brown, dry patches.

Because the soil has dried and hardened, it becomes hard for grass to regrow, even if the hot spell of weather breaks and rain returns to your lawn.

Whilst hot and dry weather is a major factor, it’s not always the only cause of these dry spots.

Dog urine is another common cause of dry spots in grass.

If this is the cause, it is usually identifiable by the dry spots being localised to a smaller area.

If you don’t water your lawn evenly as part of your turf care regime, this can also be a big factor in the appearance of dry spots.

Areas of lawn that are subject to heavy traffic may also be prone to going brown, as the turf becomes increasingly compacted. As this compacted grass forms what’s called a thatch layer, water is no longer easily absorbed by the soil, meaning it can remain bone dry, even after periods of heavy rain.

There are also a number of different fungi that can cause dry spots to appear, but these can only usually take holder if a thatch layer has formed due to a hot and dry period of weather or because of ongoing, heavy foot traffic in the area.

Will grass spread to bare spots?

Without intervention, it is unlikely that grass will return to the bare spots once the underlying soil has become hardened and dry.

This is because the soil is so hard and dry, and potentially covered by the thatch layers, water can no longer penetrate the soil and get to the grass roots.

Will watering dead grass bring it back?

Watering alone will not bring dead grass back.

Ensuring you water your lawn evenly will become an important part of keeping your grass lush and green once you have restored the brown patches, but before we get your turf back to it’s best, there are four key steps you must take.

• Aeration with a garden fork or aeration sandals to de-compact the soil and allow nutrients from water and fertilizer to penetrate the soil.
• Use a wetting agent to soak the lawn, which will help increase the water absorption of your turf
• Thoroughly irrigate/water the turf once you have applied the wetting agent
• Apply a high-quality grass fertilizer to your lawn. Ensure you follow the instructions on the label of your chosen product.

How many minutes should you water your lawn?

It is always better to water your lawn for longer periods of time, less frequently, than it is to water your lawn frequently for short periods of time.

That means you are better off watering your lawn for an hour (water restrictions permitting) two or three times a week, than it would be to water your lawn for 10 minutes, seven days a week.

A good guide is to aim for 10 to 15 millimetres of water, twice a week, during periods of no rain.

You should also consider the time that you water your lawn.

Early morning, as the sun is rising, is the best time to water your lawn in the warmer months. This will keep your grass wet for an optimum amount of time, ensuring it does not evaporate straight away in the heat of the day.

Watering your grass in the evening can encourage fungus to grow if the turf is cold and dewey overnight.

Following these steps will help you restore life to those ugly, brown patches and bring a sense of pride back to your beautiful turf.

Of course, for all your lawn care products, head to our online store to browse our high-quality range of products.

If you have any lawn care questions, give our expert team a call.

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