It’s upsetting and frustrating to see your lovely, lush grass turn brown. You watered, mowed, and fertilized as required, but still, it changed color. That’s when you start asking, “What’s happening?” Why did the grass turn brown? Is brown grass dead? Relax. Read this article to the end to learn whether your brown grass is dead and why it turns brown.

Brown grass is either dormant or dead. In most cases, if your entire lawn is brown, the grass is probably dormant. However, seeing various brown patches on your lawn may mean the spots are dead. A tug test can also help determine if the brown grass in your lawn is dead or dormant. Here, you try to pull out some of it. If it gets out easily, it’s dead. If it resists, then it’s dormant.

Why Is the Grass Turning Brown

Your grass may turn brown because of the following reasons;

1. Fungus attack

Extremely rainy weather and lack of sunlight stimulate fungal outbreaks. The grass will turn brown and eventually die when fungi attack your lawn. You can prevent the problem by spraying your lawn with fungicides.

2. Weed infestation

When weeds develop in your lawn, they will compete for water, sunlight, and nutrients with the grass. Weeds spread quickly and may easily take over your lawn, leaving grass all brown.

3. Thatch

Thatch will build up if you don’t mow and water your lawn properly. It will then prevent the absorption of water and essential nutrients by grass. Therefore, your grass will dry out and change to brown color.

4. Drought

Grass will change from green to brown due to insufficient moisture, especially during summer. The grass will become dormant in three weeks if you don’t water your lawn. Prolonged dry weather will eventually kill your lawn.

Is Brown Grass Dead?

Brown grass in your lawn may either be dead or dormant. Dormancy means your grass is not actively growing at that moment. Both dormant and dead grass looks the same, and it’s hard to tell the grass’ state. However, you can conduct a tug test or check your grass’ pattern to tell if it’s dead or dormant.

If your grass is all brown, then it’s probably dormant. But if your lawn has some brown patches, those spots are likely dead. Additionally, if you pull out some brown grass and it resists, it means your grass is just dormant. However, if it pulls out quickly, your lawn is dead and needs replacement.

There is hope for a healthy lawn again if your grass is dormant. You must take good care of it by feeding it and keeping it moist. However, for a dead lawn, you cannot revive it. This means you must remove the dead grass and install new sod.

Grass Turning Brown After Lots of Rain

Sometimes your grass can turn brown after a lot of rain. This happens because whenever there is a lot of rain, the soil is unable to absorb water. Consequently, water floods the grass by either covering it or lodging in the soil, making it difficult for the grass to take in nutrients.

If the water stays lodged in the soil for a long time, the grass turns brown and eventually dies.

Can Brown Grass Become Green Again?

Brown grass can become green again if it’s not dead. Watering dormant grass consistently will revive it in a few weeks. Nevertheless, if the grass is dead, it will remain brown even after watering.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Does grass grow back after brown?

A: Grass can grow back and become green once again if it’s dormant. But if it’s dead, you cannot do anything to revive it.

Q: How long does brown grass take to recover?

A: If you consistently water brown and dormant grass, it will take 3-4 weeks to recover. However, too much water will damage your lawn.

Final Thoughts

Brown grass is not necessarily dead. Sometimes brown grass may signify dormancy, where the grass is not actively growing. You can conduct a tug test or check the lawn’s brown color pattern to determine whether it’s dead or dormant. If dormant, you can revive the lawn by watering it regularly. As for dead grass, nothing can bring it back.