Some brown lawns will turn green as cooler weather and rains return this fall. For areas showing some stress but with green intermixed, make sure to continue watering them in between rains (as watering restrictions allow). To help these areas recover, continue to mow the grass higher. Your scheduled fall fertilizations help these areas fill in and grow out of the brown.
If your lawn or part of your lawn is completely straw brown, like the above photo, it is possible these areas will not recover. Harsh summer weather combined with soil quality, local environment, and grass types could take these areas over the edge. These areas likely need to be seeded or sodded to return to a green lawn. Before jumping to that, consider a few changes to improve your lawn and help it get through the next stressful weather period.
- Is there enough topsoil in the area? We recommend at least 6 inches of good topsoil in the lawn. If you have less than 6 inches of good topsoil, consider adding topsoil.
- How is the topography? Are there bumps or dips in your lawn? Add or remove soil from areas to make your lawn more level.
- Does the area get enough sunlight? Trim trees to help the lawn get more sunlight.
- Does the area receive too much traffic? Change traffic flow to reduce traffic on those areas.
Besides being able to make changes, which can help your lawn thrive through the next harsh weather, renovating your lawn is an opportunity to introduce new varieties of grass. The latest varieties are more drought and disease resistant. At bioLawn, we utilize the latest research to choose grass varieties. We make selections that are highly resistant to disease and have excellent drought tolerance. When purchasing seed, look on the back of the bag for a white label. On the label look for a blend high in Kentucky Bluegrass, Red Fescue, Chewings Fescue and/or Hard Fescue. Don’t buy seed with other crop seed, weed seed, or noxious weed seed.