“Why is my lawn turning brown?” is the question we hear most. The tricky part is that very different problems can look almost the same from the street. Treating the wrong one wastes money and time. Here are the most common causes we see in Bucks, Montgomery and Mercer County lawns.

1. Grubs

Grubs feed on grass roots in late summer and fall. The giveaway: tug on the brown turf and it peels back like a loose carpet, with C-shaped white grubs underneath. Skunks, raccoons and birds digging in the lawn are another sign. See grub signs and treatment timing.

2. Brown patch disease

A fungus that loves hot, humid summer nights. It shows up as circular tan or brown areas, sometimes with a darker ring around the edge. Tall fescue lawns are especially prone. Watering in the evening makes it worse.

3. Drought stress

During dry spells, cool-season grass goes dormant and turns straw-colored, usually starting on slopes and in full sun. Footprints that stay pressed down are an early sign. Deep, early-morning watering helps.

4. Dog spots

Small round dead spots ringed with dark green grass usually mean pet urine. Watering the area right away dilutes it.

5. Dull mower blades or scalping

A dull blade tears the grass instead of cutting it, leaving the tips brown and ragged. Mowing too short, especially on high spots, scalps the lawn and exposes the soil.

6. Salt and fertilizer burn

Brown strips along driveways and walks in spring usually point to de-icing salt (see salt damage repair). Burned stripes or spots in summer can come from spilled or overapplied fertilizer.

We diagnose before we treat

A trained eye can usually tell these apart in minutes, and a soil test fills in the rest. Every Rockport Turf Management program starts with a free on-site evaluation, so the treatment matches the actual problem. Learn about our lawn program, or request a free quote and we will take a look.