Hot, dry conditions, pests, and fungal diseases can all leave your once lush and verdant yard looking worn down, brown, and tired. But while your lawn may look like it’s on its last legs, you can still take measures to pump new life into it. Learning how to revive dead grass and how to overseed a lawn is key to returning your yard to its former glory. The first step? Figuring out what’s actually going on with your crispy grass.
How Do I Know if My Grass Is Dormant or Dead?
There are a few ways to figure out if your grass is dead or merely protecting itself from extreme weather. Cool-season grasses will typically go dormant during summer heat waves to conserve water and energy while warm-season grasses enter dormancy during cold weather. When dormant, both grass types will look brown and lifeless.
The best way to determine if grass is merely dormant or dead is to use the tug test. Grab a handful of turf and give it a good pull. If the grass holds tight to the ground, it means the roots are still in good shape and the turf is probably just dormant. If you can easily pull up clumps of grass, then it’s most likely dead.
Can Grass Grow Back After It Dies?
That depends on just how dead it is. If the grass is completely dead with roots that come apart when you pull on the grass, then it will not grow back and there’s no way to revive it. If it’s dormant, you can take action to turn your brown grass green again. Water and fertilize the area, then address any issues, such as pests, soil compaction, or lawn fungus.
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Why Is My Grass Dying in Late Summer?
Learn what’s ailing your lawn and how to manage it.
Heat stress and drought
Temperatures typically spike and precipitation drops in the late summer, which can be a lethal combination for grass. Grass will typically go dormant and turn brown in these conditions to protect itself, but it may also need help to survive. Your lawn needs about 1 to 1.25 inches of water a week. Water two to three times each week, adjusting that amount down for any rainfall. Water early in the morning to minimize water loss from evaporation.
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Poor mowing practices
Mowing your lawn too short, mowing with dull mower blades, and even mowing your lawn in the same pattern can all do damage to your lawn, causing grass to die. Mow no more than a third of the grass’s length at a time to avoid shocking it and killing it. Change up the pattern in which you mow the lawn to avoid compacting the soil in one place and killing the grass. Before each season, sharpen or change out the mowing blade to ensure you get a clean cut, making the grass less susceptible to disease.
Lawn diseases
Fungal diseases are common with grasses and can cause a variety of problems, including brown patches, dollar spots, and mildew. To prevent these problems, avoid over-watering your lawn and remove excess thatch using a rake or dethatcher. If your lawn is already plagued by mold, apply a fungicide to treat it.
Soil compaction
Over time, soil can become compacted from foot traffic, heavy machinery, and excessive rainfall, all of which cause the soil particles to press tightly together. Compacted soil restricts root growth, making it harder for water and oxygen to reach the plant roots. Avoid this problem by alternating your mowing patterns and limiting foot and vehicle traffic on the yard, especially when the soil is wet.
Nutrient deficiency
Deficiencies in nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus will cause your lawn to turn brown and eventually even die. To check for nutrient deficiencies, test the soil using a soil test kit, then purchase and apply a fertilizer that replaces those nutrients.
What Is Causing the Patches on My Lawn?
Patches in your lawn can indicate a variety of fungal diseases. While these diseases may differ in appearance, the solution is generally the same: remove thatch, regulate watering to prevent over-saturating your lawn, and ensure your lawn has adequate levels of nitrogen.
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Dollar spot
These small circular tan or white spots are caused by fungus and are typically the result of wet conditions, high humidity, and low nitrogen levels in soil.
Brown patch
If you’re dealing with patches of brown grass, then your lawn is likely plagued by a fungus called Rhizoctonia, which commonly crops up in humid, hot weather.
Pythium blight
This lawn disease, which loves high heat and humidity, starts as small spots that are just a few inches in diameter and quickly expands into large brown patches of dead grass.
Red thread
This fungus, which appears in the fall with cool wet weather, presents as pink or reddish threads growing among grass blades in patches that range from a few inches up to several feet in diameter.
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How to Overseed a Lawn
If your lawn (or part of it) isn’t just dormant, but truly dead, you can overseed it to get it back to a healthy, lush condition. Here’s how:
Step 1: Choose the right time
The best time to overseed your lawn depends on what grass type you have. For cool-season grass, overseed in the late summer or fall. The cooler weather will allow the grass to germinate and grow while also giving it enough time to establish itself before freezing temperatures arrive. Late spring or early summer is the optimal time to seed for warm-season grasses, which thrive in hotter temperatures.
Step 2. Mow low
Cut the lawn to between one and a half to two inches or about half the height you would normally cut it. The shorter lawn allows the seeds to more easily reach the soil, where they can germinate and grow.
Step 3. Remove debris
Rake any dead grass or leaves and remove any thick thatch. Doing so clears the way for grass seeds while also allowing air and water to more easily reach the soil.
Step 4. Aerate
Aeration creates small holes in your lawn that the seed can drop into, maximizing its contact with the soil and hence the likelihood that it will germinate and grow.
Step 5: Select the right seed
Choose a mix of seed that’s suitable for your climate and the existing grass. If you live in the northern half of the country, you’ll need a cool-season grass, which includes fescues, Kentucky bluegrass, and ryegrass. If you live in the southern half of the country, go with a warm season grass, such as Bermuda, zoysia, or St. Augustine.
Step 6: Spread the seed
Following the application instructions on the grass seed bag, set the spreader to release the proper amount of seed per square foot of area that you’re seeding.
Step 7: Water regularly
Lightly water the overseeded area twice a day for two weeks to keep the soil moist and to prevent the seeds from drying out. Don’t water so much that it creates puddling, which can displace the seeds or cause mold growth.
Step 8. Wait to mow
After overseeding, allow new seedlings to reach a height of around three inches before mowing to avoid damaging the new grass.
Why is my grass dying even though I water it?
Your lawn is dealing with non-irrigation related issues, such as disease, pests, or compacted soil. Lawns can also die from over watering, which prevents oxygen from reaching the roots, causing root rot and other diseases.
How often should I water my grass in August?
Your lawn needs about 1 to 1.25 inches of water a week during the hottest and driest months of the year. Apply 0.5 to .75 inches of water to your lawn twice a week, watering early in the morning. Adjust that down for any rain that occurs during the week.
What is the best mowing height for my grass during hot weather?
During hot dry weather, cut your lawn no lower than three to three and a half inches. The taller height allows it to better withstand the heat wave by shading the soil, preventing evaporation and keeping the roots cooler.
How can I tell if my grass has a pest infestation?
Look for the telltale signs of pest activity. These include patches of dead or dying grass, grass blades that are chewed, turf that has a spongy feel, and the presence of insects or larvae.
Can you put grass seed on top of dead grass?
You can spread grass seed over dead grass, but you’ll need to prepare the soil first. Use a rake to remove any dead grass or other debris. Loosen the top layer of soil using a garden fork or aerate the soil. Apply the seed, then lightly rake it in.
What is the difference between overseeding and reseeding?
Overseeding is the practice of adding grass seed to an existing lawn with the goal of building up the turf to make the grass thicker and more lush. Reseeding is the process of starting a new lawn either by killing the existing grass and seeding or by spreading seed over bare soil.
