- 1. Dog Urine<\/a><\/li>
- 2. Grubs and Chinch Bugs<\/a><\/li>
- 3. Lawn Diseases<\/a><\/li>
- 4. Nitrogen Deficiency<\/a><\/li>
- 5. Overfertilization<\/a><\/li>
- 6. Too Much or Too Little Water<\/a><\/li>
- 7. Soil Compaction<\/a><\/li>
- 8. Dormancy<\/a><\/li>
- 9. You\u2019re Cutting the Grass Too Short<\/a><\/li>
- 10. Dull Mower Blades<\/a><\/li>
- 11. Misuse of Chemicals<\/a><\/li>
- 12. Too Much Shade<\/a><\/li>
- 13. Autumn Leaves<\/a><\/li>
- 14. Thick Thatch<\/a><\/li>
- FAQ<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
1. Dog Urine<\/h2>
![\"dog](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_dog-urine-damage-to-grass-update-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Juan Rodriguez<\/figcaption><\/figure> Those yellow spots in your yard might be from your dog\u2019s urine. Dog urine<\/a> contains urea, a form of nitrogen that results from digesting proteins. <\/p>
Nitrogen acts as a fertilizer for your lawn, but too much of it can burn your turfgrass. When your pup continues to pee on the same spot over and over, the grass will eventually die from the excess nitrogen. <\/p>
Signs Dog Urine Is Causing Your Yellow Grass<\/h3>
How can you tell if Fido is causing your yard\u2019s yellow \u2014 or brown or dark green \u2014 patches? Look at your grass \u2014 and watch your pooch in your yard. Common symptoms of dog urine on your lawn: <\/p>
- Brown or <\/strong>yellow patches<\/strong> of grass<\/strong> appear where your pup usually pees. The grass is dying or already dead. <\/li>
- Dark green<\/strong> patches<\/strong> of grass appear where your pup usually pees. If your grass doesn\u2019t have enough nitrogen, the nitrogen in the urine will fertilize and darken the grass. <\/li>
- Dark green grass<\/strong> surrounds patches of brown or <\/strong>yellow grass<\/strong>.<\/strong> As the urine flows away from the concentrated area, less nitrogen hits the surrounding grass, turning it a darker green. <\/li> <\/ul>
How to Stop (and Repair) Dog Urine Spots<\/h3>
If you suspect dog urine is turning your grass yellow (or other colors), here are a few steps you can take to repair your turf and prevent future stains: <\/p>
- Change your dog\u2019s diet:<\/strong> Replace processed proteins with fresh proteins (with guidance from your veterinarian). Here\u2019s why: A dog eating processed proteins will have a higher urea and nitrogen content in urine than a dog that eats fresh proteins. <\/li>
- Pick a spot on your lawn:<\/strong> Use positive reinforcement to train your dog to urinate in an area with mulch or gravel<\/a>. <\/li>
- Spray or wash it away:<\/strong> When your dog finishes a bathroom break, thoroughly water the area. <\/li>
- Raise your <\/strong>mowing<\/strong> height:<\/strong> Higher grass is less sensitive to nitrogen. <\/li>
- Overseed<\/a> the affected areas<\/strong> with grass seed to encourage new growth.<\/li> <\/ul>
2. Grubs and Chinch Bugs<\/h2>
![\"3](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/rsz_grubs-gc27e5cc1a_1280.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Grubs and chinch bugs are common pests that turn grass yellow. How can you get your green carpet back? Get rid of the grubs<\/a> and chinch bugs. <\/p>
Grubs<\/h3>
What are the <\/strong>grubs in my lawn<\/strong>?<\/strong> Grubs are the larval stage of several beetle species, and they snack on grass roots. <\/p>
The grubs get their start when the adult beetles lay eggs in your turf, usually in spring. After the eggs hatch, the grubs evolve in three stages, with grub damage greatest in late summer, when you will see areas of your lawn thinning and yellowing. Later, irregular brown patches appear in your turf.<\/p>
Chinch Bugs<\/h3>
What are <\/strong>chinch bugs<\/strong>?<\/strong> Chinch bugs are small insects that damage lawns \u2014 especially St. Augustinegrass<\/a> lawns \u2014 by piercing grass stems and crowns with their mouths to suck fluid from the grass. They inject the grass with a toxin that turns it yellow. <\/p>
The damage caused by chinch bugs<\/a> looks similar to that caused by drought. The grass will eventually turn from yellow to brown and then die. You\u2019ll notice the damage as brown patches spread across your lawn.<\/p>
Chinch bugs are active from April through October across most of the U.S. but are a year-round problem in Florida. <\/p>
If you wish to prevent an infestation of chinch bugs or are looking for ways to eliminate the ones already present in your yard, check out the tips below:<\/p>
- Take better care of your lawn:<\/strong> Remove thatch, aerate the soil, add fertilizer when needed, and properly water your grass. <\/li>
- Insecticide:<\/strong> The surest way to get rid of chinch bugs in your yard is to kill them with liquid and granular insecticides. <\/li> <\/ul>
3. Lawn Diseases<\/h2>
![\"grass](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/rsz_13308699392_a103ef58d5_c.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Eric Martin<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Here\u2019s a list of common lawn diseases<\/a> with yellowing grass as a symptom: <\/p>
- Anthracnose<\/li>
- Leaf spot<\/a> and melting out<\/li>
- Powdery mildew<\/a><\/li>
- Rust<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
How to prevent and treat lawn diseases:<\/p>
- Improved lawn maintenance:<\/strong> In general, the best way to treat a lawn disease is with improved maintenance. Poor maintenance practices create an attractive environment for lawn fungus.<\/li>
- Fungicides<\/strong>:<\/strong> Some curative fungicide treatments are available, but not every fungal lawn disease will respond to chemical treatment. Before treating your lawn with a fungicide, identify the lawn disease to ensure you\u2019re using the appropriate control method. In many cases, better lawn maintenance is the best approach. <\/li> <\/ul>
4. Nitrogen Deficiency<\/h2>
Nitrogen is the chemical that gives your lawn that beautiful, green color. If your grass doesn\u2019t have enough nitrogen, your turf will eventually turn yellow. But the solution is simple: Apply a fertilizer with nitrogen.<\/p>
How to tell if your yellow grass is caused by a lack of nitrogen: <\/strong>The best way to determine your lawn\u2019s nitrogen levels is to conduct a soil test<\/a>. At-home soil tests are available, but they won\u2019t provide as detailed information as a laboratory test. <\/p>
For example, an at-home soil test will typically reveal a nutrient deficiency, but it won\u2019t provide information on how to amend the soil. A laboratory soil test will often provide the soil\u2019s nutritional levels alongside details on applying amendments and fertilizer.<\/p>
Pro Tip:<\/strong> An iron deficiency, known as iron chlorosis<\/a>, can also cause your grass to turn yellow. One way to revive your grass is to spray an iron supplement on the affected area, but refer to your soil test results before adding soil amendments. <\/p>
5. Overfertilization<\/h2>
Overfertilization will burn your turf and turn it yellow. Why? Just as your lawn can have too little nitrogen fertilizer, it can also have too much nitrogen fertilizer. <\/p>
The easy fix? Improve your fertilization regimen.<\/strong> Maybe you are applying fertilizer too often or the wrong kind for your grass type. <\/p>
Here\u2019s what to do:<\/strong> Send a soil sample to your local Cooperative Extension<\/a> for laboratory soil testing. The results will show the appropriate amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to apply to your lawn. <\/p>
Purchase the correct fertilizer, then read the fertilizer application instructions carefully and calibrate your drop spreader<\/a> or broadcast spreader so that it releases the right amount of fertilizer. <\/p>
6. Too Much or Too Little Water<\/h2>
![\"large](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/rsz_1shutterstock_80994148.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Overwatering (too much water) can lead to root rot while watering too little creates stressful drought conditions, and both can cause your yellow grass.<\/p>
How to give your grass the right <\/strong>amount of water<\/strong>:<\/strong> Most mature, established lawns require 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week. <\/p>
If you\u2019re unsure how much water your lawn receives, place a few tin cans within the garden hose or sprinkler\u2019s irrigation range. After watering, calculate the average water depth in all the cans. The result is how much water your lawn has likely received. <\/p>
What\u2019s next:<\/strong> If your yellow lawn doesn\u2019t bounce back from improved watering, then the grass is likely dead. Reseed the affected areas or replace them with sod. <\/p>
Pro Tip: <\/strong>It\u2019s better to water your lawn deeply once a week than to water briefly three times a week. Watering less often<\/a> but for long periods encourages a deep, healthy root system. <\/p>
7. Soil Compaction<\/h2>
Another cause of yellow grass: soil compaction<\/a>.<\/p>
When soil becomes compact, the limited pore space prevents water, oxygen, and nutrients from reaching the grass roots. Your grass may turn yellow as it struggles to breathe and absorb food. <\/p>
How do you know your soil is compacted? Here are the warning signs: <\/p>
- Patches of grass<\/strong> start to thin.<\/li>
- Your lawn has patches of dirt <\/strong>where grass and weeds won\u2019t grow.<\/li>
- Your lawn has heavy clay soil.<\/strong><\/li>
- Puddles form<\/strong> in low areas of the lawn.<\/li>
- The soil is so hard<\/strong> that piercing it with a shovel or screwdriver is difficult.<\/li> <\/ul>
The best way to relieve compact soil is with aeration<\/a>. <\/p>
An aerator is a garden tool that you (or a pro) push across the lawn to pull up small plugs of soil. The aerator creates tiny holes in the ground that allow water, oxygen, and nutrients to access the grass roots. Visit your local home improvement store for hourly, daily, or weekly rentals. <\/p>
8. Dormancy<\/h2>
![\"Dormant](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Dormant-Lawn.jpg\")
Photo Credit: K-State Research and Extension<\/a> \/ Canva Pro \/ License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Sometimes yellowish, tannish-brown grass is nothing to worry about. It could just mean your lawn is entering dormancy. When your lawn goes dormant depends on your grass type.<\/p>
Cool-season grass: <\/strong>If your lawn is a cool-season grass<\/a>, such as fescue or Kentucky bluegrass, your grass will enter dormancy in the summer and when winter soil temperatures drop below 45 degrees. <\/p>
Warm-season grass:<\/strong> If your lawn is a warm-season grass<\/a>, such as Zoysia or Bermudagrass, your lawn will enter winter dormancy when soil temperatures drop below 55 degrees. <\/p>
There\u2019s nothing you need to do to \u201ctreat\u201d dormancy. Dormancy is natural and seasonal \u2014 your lawn is taking a nap to ride out the cold temperatures. <\/p>
9. You\u2019re Cutting the Grass Too Short<\/h2>
![\"small](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/rsz_pexels-pixabay-33053.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pixabay \/ Pexels<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Your yellow grass may be because you are mowing your grass too short.<\/p>
How low are your mower blades? If you\u2019ve been cutting your grass too short, your lawn may be showing signs of scalping. Scalping is when you cut the grass so low that it\u2019s unable to photosynthesize. <\/p>
As a result of not being able to photosynthesize, the grass fades to yellow and becomes susceptible to other dangers, such as pests, disease, and weeds. <\/p>
The simple fix?<\/strong> Raise the mowing height of your lawn mower. For the healthiest cut, mow on the higher end of your grass\u2019s recommended mowing height. <\/p>
And remember, never cut more than one-third of the grass blade\u2019s height during a single mow. Otherwise, you\u2019ll stress your turf. For example, if your grass is 3 inches tall, don\u2019t remove more than 1 inch. <\/p>
- Your lawn has patches of dirt <\/strong>where grass and weeds won\u2019t grow.<\/li>
- Fungicides<\/strong>:<\/strong> Some curative fungicide treatments are available, but not every fungal lawn disease will respond to chemical treatment. Before treating your lawn with a fungicide, identify the lawn disease to ensure you\u2019re using the appropriate control method. In many cases, better lawn maintenance is the best approach. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Powdery mildew<\/a><\/li>
- Insecticide:<\/strong> The surest way to get rid of chinch bugs in your yard is to kill them with liquid and granular insecticides. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Pick a spot on your lawn:<\/strong> Use positive reinforcement to train your dog to urinate in an area with mulch or gravel<\/a>. <\/li>
- Dark green<\/strong> patches<\/strong> of grass appear where your pup usually pees. If your grass doesn\u2019t have enough nitrogen, the nitrogen in the urine will fertilize and darken the grass. <\/li>
- 2. Grubs and Chinch Bugs<\/a><\/li>
![\"soccer](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/rsz_soccer-gcdc93f485_1280.jpg\")