Brown Patches, Bare Spots: Diagnosing Late-Summer Lawn Stress

By mid-August, a lot of lawns start showing it: brown patches, thin spots, places that just look tired. Not all of it means the same thing. Some of it is simple heat stress that will bounce back with fall rain. Some of it is worth a closer look. Here is how to tell the difference.

Usually shows up as an overall dulling or browning across the whole lawn, worst in the areas that get the most sun. This typically recovers once temperatures drop and rain picks up in fall.

Look for irregular brown patches, especially ones that pull up easily like loose carpet. That is often a sign of grub damage underneath.

Circular or ring-shaped patches, especially after a stretch of humid weather, often point to fungal disease rather than simple heat stress.

If you are not sure which one you're looking at, bring us a photo or a small sample. We would rather take a look and tell you it's nothing than have you guess and treat the wrong problem.

The team at Coltrain Hardware & Garden Center