Why You Have Brown Spots on Your Lawn—and How to Get Rid of Them

There's no worse feeling than investing time and effort into mowing and caring for your lawn, only to have brown spots appear. These unsightly patches are not only an aesthetic issue, but they can also be a sign of major underlying problems, like pests, fungus, and disease.

Fortunately, it's not all doom and gloom. There are many ways to salvage your browning lawn and bring it back to its verdant former self. Here's what the experts say to do; the method you choose will depend on what exactly is causing the brown spots in your lawn.

Sharpen Your Lawn Mower Blades

Improper mowing can severely damage your lawn, making grass more susceptible to disease and eventually leading to brown spots. Often this is due to dull lawn mower blades, which will tear the grass instead of cleanly cutting it.

Fortunately, all you have to do to remedy this is sharpen your lawn mower blades. There are many ways you can do this at home, just make sure to always wear safety gloves throughout the entire process. A metal file works well—so does a bench top grinder.

Use Natural Insecticides

Pests are a leading cause of brown spots in your lawn. Grubs and chinch bugs, for example, feed on grass and will significantly damage it over time. Grubs in particular feed on the roots, so you'll start to notice a spongy grass that lifts easily.

There are many insecticides that can banish these problematic pests, but make sure you're only using natural ones that won't have any adverse effects on you, your pets, or the rest of your lawn.

"The critical thing is to find the right one," says Christopher Roderick, director of systems at The Grounds Guys. "There are specialty suppliers that can assist you with determining what might be going wrong and can recommend a solution. You can also check with your state’s agricultural department."

Milky spore, for example, can eliminate grubs, while neem oil is a great natural solution that repels many different kinds of harmful insects.

Water Thoroughly

Many of the things you use on your property in the winter can lead to problems later on. "You will inevitably have some spring damage to your lawn around the sidewalks and driveways if you've used salt to melt snow and ice," says Roderick.

Salt will dehydrate the grass, causing it to appear brown once the warmer months roll around. Fortunately, it's an easy enough fix—just water thoroughly.

A similar solution works well for pet urine, which can also damage your grass and cause it to turn brown. Extra watering will help dilute the urine. "You could [also] consider having a space where they can be confined so that it isn’t apparent in the whole lawn," adds Roderick.

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Aerate Your Lawn

Many pests will find a cozy home in compact soil; aerating is a great way to mitigate that risk. "Purchase or rent an aerator and run it over the lawn in perpendicular passes for thorough coverage," says Lindsey Bergeron, an associate buyer in the lawn and garden department at Tractor Supply Company.

This will also help your grass absorb more nutrients, so it will be happier and healthier overall.

Reseed and Fertilize the Grass

Filling in the brown spot is essential to fostering a flourishing lawn once more. "Spread seed evenly, lightly rake to ensure soil contact, and apply a start fertilizer," says Bergeron. "Water regularly until the new grass is established."

She recommends fertilizing three to four times per year for best results, and using a spreader to apply it evenly.