Brown patch is a fungal disease that commonly affects lawns here in Iowa. As the name suggests, this disease is characterized by the large, brown patches it leaves on your lawn. However, these brown spots can also indicate that your lawn is dehydrated. To figure out which issue your lawn is suffering from, you should first consider your watering schedule and check if you are watering your lawn correctly. Next, you should take a closer look at the brown spots on your lawn to see if they are caused by a fungus or are simply patches of dead grass. Finally, you should contact a professional so they can identify what your lawn is suffering from and advise you on how to nurse it back to health.

Take a look at your lawn watering schedule.

One of our clients in Clive, IA watering his lawn.

The hot, humid weather here in Iowa makes it necessary for property owners to follow a consistent lawn watering schedule. Most lawns in this area require about one to one and a half inches of water per week. It is best to either thoroughly water your lawn once a week or spread out the water between two days. It is also recommended that you water your lawn early in the morning rather than during the day so the water has time to soak into your soil and won't evaporate in the heat.

If you are already following the correct watering schedule, then your lawn is probably not dehydrated, meaning that brown patch could be the problem. If you discover that you are underwatering your lawn, try correcting your watering schedule. If the brown spots still don't go away, brown patch could potentially be to blame.

Examine any brown spots on your lawn.

Dried lawn with brown patches in Windsor Heights, IA.

Brown patch disease typically causes large, brown spots to form on your lawn. While these spots look similar to those of a dehydrated lawn, spots caused by brown patch are a result of fungi rather than just dead grass. The best way to determine if the brown spots you see on your lawn are from this disease is examine the spots closely. If you are dealing with brown patch, the spots will be roughly circular but can also be irregularly shaped. The size of these spots can be anywhere from a few inches to several feet in diameter. The spots will be light brown and bordered by a narrow, dark brown ring.

Brown patch most commonly affects grass in the late summer.

Get a lawn care professional's opinion.

When it comes to lawn diseases, the best thing you can do is contact your local lawn care professionals. Because they are experts in lawn care, they will be able to examine your lawn and identify the issue that is afflicting it. They can then communicate that information to you and work with you to create the appropriate treatment plan. Whether your lawn is actually suffering from brown patch disease or it's simply dehydrated, the professionals will help you do what you need to do to nurse it back to health.

Give us a call to sign up for our brown patch control service today!

If you suspect that your lawn is suffering from brown patch disease, our team at A+ Lawn & Landscape is the one to call. With our brown patch control service, our lawn care experts can identify if your lawn is infected with brown patch and create a plan to treat it. For the last 35 years, we have provided this service for the homes and businesses in Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, and surrounding areas in Iowa. Give us a call at (515) 289-2020 to sign up for our brown patch control service today!