Brown or dead grass is the last thing any homeowner wants to see in their yard. Most of them try to avoid this problem by installing quality sod. However, sometimes it just happens for various reasons. But how can they revive it? Will watering the dead grass bring it back?
Watering dead grass will not revive it but accelerate the rotting and decomposition of the roots. The practice also adds serious problems to your lawn, like boosting fungus and mold growth. This causes serious havoc in your yard and fixing it is expensive.
How Do You Know Your Grass is Dead?
Pull some of the grass out to know if it’s dead or just dormant. Dormant grass will be resistant and hard to pull, while dead grass will come out easily. The reason is that the roots of dead plants cannot grip the soil, unlike the roots of live grass.
If your grass is dormant, you’ll need to take good care of it to revive it. As for the dead lawn, you can do nothing to bring it back.
Will Watering Dead Grass Bring it Back?
Many people think that watering dead grass will revive it. But that’s a misconception. Watering it will worsen the situation as it boosts fungus and mold growth. The practice also accelerates the rotting and decomposing of its roots.
Fixing this situation will be very costly. Therefore, instead of watering dead grass, follow these steps to install a healthy lawn.
- Remove all the dead grass, including the rocks and debris.
- Till the area to loosen the soil.
- Add organic matter or fertilizer to enrich the soil with essential nutrients.
- Lay your new sod or scatter grass seeds in the area, then tamp for better results.
- Water the entire area and keep your grass moist.
Reasons For Dying Grass
Here are some of the common reasons why your grass dries:
1. Drought
one of the primary causes of dying grass is drought. Most people ignore watering their lawns during dry seasons. When grass stays 2-3 weeks without water, it becomes dormant. Its color changes to brown in the 5th -6th week and eventually dies due to prolonged dry weather.
2. Weed infestation
Weeds can wreak havoc in your yard if not controlled. Once they develop, they compete for nutrients, sunlight, and water with your grass. Lack of enough nutrients and moisture turns your grass from green to brown. If not controlled with herbicides in time, your lawn will die within no time.
3. Pests and diseases
Just like weeds, pests, and diseases are bad for your lawn. Some turf diseases that can easily kill grass include Pythium Blight, Brown Patch, Rust, and Summer Patch. White grubs and Sod Webworms are pests that can leave your lawn dead quickly.
4. Improper watering
Too much watering encourages fungal growth, which may kill your grass. In the same way, underwatering will turn your grass dry and brown. Therefore, use a soil moisture meter to ensure your grass obtains the correct water.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Does grass grow back after it dies?
A: Grass does not grow back after dying. However, you can nurture it before it dies—when it’s brown – and bring it back to health.
Q: How do you revive dying grass?
A: Continue to water the dying grass to encourage growth and make it thicker and fuller. However, don’t put too much water on the roots to prevent them from rotting. Once it dies, there is no way to revive it.
Final Thoughts
It’s a typical misconception that you can revive dead grass by watering it. But this practice will make the roots decompose and rot quickly. Additionally, the water will stimulate more fungi and molds to grow. Therefore, replace dead grass with new, healthy sod instead of watering it. Make sure you uproot the dead one first, loosen the soil, then install your sod.
