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Lawn showing extensive brown spots

tataka912oB9y35Rxtataka912oB9y35Rx Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Afternoon guys and gals,

I am a new gardener, having recently bought a property with a garden and lawn. 

Yesterday I noticed that patches of the lawn have started to turn brown. Since noticing this issue I have been watering the lawn in the evenings when the sun is no longer as intense.

The lawn is south facing, so receives the sun for the majority of the day. We have had a relatively dry end of June and July (for Glasgow standards). I was hoping if anyone could give me some advice on how to green the lawn up again? Like I said, I have been watering it since I noticed the issue. Just wondering if the grass is actually dead (I’m which case no amount of water will bring it back) or dormant. Ive attached some pics so you can see the issue!

Any comments/advice welcome

Thanks 

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    An established lawn should recover even from completely brown once the autumn rains come. Or you could keep watering it, if you don't mind the expense (if metered) and there's no hosepipe ban. If you do water, a good soaking once a week is better than a sprinkle every day which encourages shallower rooting and makes it more vulnerable to drought. To be honest I don't bother watering grass other than overflow from watering nearby things, and it's a rare summer when it doesn't turn at least partially brown. I concentrate my watering on things in containers and newly-planted stuff, which will die without enough water.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Hello @tataka912oB9y35Rx and welcome to the forum  :)

    I suspect that the lawn perhaps got a bit long when the property changed hands, and since then has been mowed very short.  Unfortunately this means that the roots have been exposed to strong sunshine and now heat ... and it's complaining.  However, grass is tough as old boots ... iif it's an established lawn t will come again .... you're doing the right thing by watering in the evening. 

    Next time you get the mower out raise the cut so it's mid-height, not short.  You don't want to produce a Wimbledon tennis court ... you want a lush green lawn.  Little and often is the way to mow a lawn, so keep the mower on mid height and mow at least once a week in the growing season. 

    Don't feed it just now ... it needs to recover ... but in the autumn you could give it a little Autumn Lawn Feed (carefully ... overfeeding can burn the grass ... those spreaders are more or less useless ... the simplest way is to measure out squares 1m x 1m with canes and string and weight the given dose into a paper cup and mark the level ... then spend a quiet morning when you won't be interrupted, (except for the required offering of a cup of coffee occasionally) and enjoy a peaceful time setting your lawn up for the winter.  

    I might add that I rarely feed my lawn ... perhaps once every five years ... but new gardeners like to do things ... I promise you that the more involved you get with growing stuff other than grass, the less likely you are to feed your lawn ........... mind you, you might be the exception that proves the rule  B)

    Happy gardening. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • tataka912oB9y35Rxtataka912oB9y35Rx Posts: 2
    edited July 2021
    Thanks Guys, we actually moved in April, I’ve done a lot to the garden since, but nothing specifically to the lawn! I have been cutting the grass since mid May, but yeah I possibly have been cutting it a bit short, and the first real decent spell of hot weather hits and the roots are too short! I’ll keep watering it and raise the mower up some more and see how it gets on.

    thanks for the advice! Happy gardening 😎
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    If that doesn’t sort it in a few weeks come back and we’ll keep trying 👍 
    we don’t like to admit failure 😢 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Chris-P-BaconChris-P-Bacon Posts: 943
    Keep watering - especially during dry weather. I like soaker hoses for lawns.
    Don't cut it too short - don't worry, everybody does. Then do a pH test in Autumn.  Bents or Fescue like about 5.5 pH, Rye mixes (which is probably what you have) likes nearer 7. Depending on the pH result add lime close to the first frosts. I'm assuming your on free draining soil. 
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    edited July 2021
    Mine was like this. I too moved in April. It was long when we got here and it took me a few more weeks to cut it. Cut it too short too quickly. 

    I aerated it (tine aerator bought online or you can use big garden fork and punch holes in every four inches and wiggle it around) then I kept it watered over the space of a few weeks. I’ve sprinkled seed and feed (after cutting) every month since May and I was cutting at medium height once a week. Last week I lowered the mower and did a shorter cut. 

    It’s now lush and green and I’ve stopped watering it. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Don't worry. It has been very dry here in the last month or so, but it'll recover as soon as it rains   :)
    I've never watered grass. It's never been necessary here. Even in the hot summer when my older daughter was 1, and it turned all of it brown. Soon as it rained again it was fine. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    yisoo409765G7Sf0_ said:
    If that doesn’t sort it in a few weeks come back and we’ll keep trying
    Out and out plagiarism 😠

    Dovefromabove said:
    If that doesn’t sort it in a few weeks come back and we’ll keep trying 👍 
    we don’t like to admit failure 😢 


    He'll be back with advert spam before long Grrrr! 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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