TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS
Typically, grass turns brown when it's roots are too short to properly grab nutrients or water from soil or, the soil does not contain enough nutrients or water. There are multiple reasons why your lawn can be turning brown. Here are 7 common reasons why your lawn is turning brown and ways to treat them:
DROUGHT/HEAT
Turf goes dormant during periods of extreme heat and low rain/water. This is completely normal and grass will turn green on its own once the temperature drops and rain resumes. Before treating a lawn due to drought, determine if drought is leading to your brown grass by “watching for prematurely dropping trees that are folded up like they’re praying for rain (says TV host Jason Cameron, a partner with TruGreen lawn care service).” To maintain a drought-dormant lawn, apply ½ inch of water every two-three weeks during the time of the drought. If you’re interested in giving your lawn a pick me up during a drought, apply 1 inch of water weekly (every 6-7 days) to green it up.
- Note: An inch of water is about 1 hours of sprinkler use.
WEEDS
Weeds
are a culprit to brown lawns that provide competition for water and nutrients. If your lawn is overrun by common weeds and turning your grass brown, apply a pre-emergent herbicide (applied before weeds appear) in spring to prevent germination.
**Keep Updated by checking out our Weed of the Week articles on ways to prevent specific common weeds**
DISEASE
Your lawn could have a disease which is causing your grass turn brown. If you’re noticing that your lawn is covered by black, brown, red or white substances, then your lawn may be diseased. This problem should be diagnosed and treated by a lawn care specialist. Fortunately, by raising a healthy lawn through proper lawn care, such as sufficient watering in the early mornings, regular mowing, lawn aeration, and thatch management, you are more likely to prevent a lawn disease.
GRUBS
Lawn grubs, often referred to as white grubs are the soil-inhabiting, larva of beetles including: Japanese beetles or European chafers or June “bugs” beetles. These immature organisms feed on grass roots as well as other organic substance in soil, causing turf to turn brown and die. To figure out if grubs are infesting your lawn, take samples from multiple spots by cutting away one square-foot piece of turf and inspecting the roots for grubs every 2 inches. To control, let your lawn dry out before watering and depending on the stage of the infestation, apply insecticide products.
WATERING TOO MUCH
Even in the heat of summer, you should not water grass every day. Overwatering causes grass to have a short root system which makes it more susceptible to insect infestation, weeds and disease. Instead of little drinks daily, give your lawn a drink once a week to establish a deeper root system.
DOGS
Who doesn’t love these lovable, furry creatures but believe it or not your loving pet can cause brown patches in your lawn. Urine contain salts and acid that can lead to turf discoloration. The constant heavy traffic of your pet can cause wear and tear on your lawn as well. Unfortunately, there is not an effective product that can help your lawn from your loving animal but we do have a few suggestions: Water down the area where your animal recently urinated to dilute the salt and acid; create a separate area of the lawn where your animal can run, play and do their business; or create a mulched area dedicated to dog for doing their business.
DULL MOWER BLADES
Something as simple as sharpening your mower blades can prevent your lawn from turning brown. Dull mower blades will cause grass to tear instead of providing a clean cut. This causes grass bruising. Luckily, this reason for grass turning brown is easy to identify. Look at your lawns grass tips to determine if it has a clean, straight edge or if it has a torn, jagged edge. If grass tips are clean and straight, then dull mower blades are not the culprit to your brown lawn, but if you notice the torn, jagged edges, it is time to sharpen or replace your mower blades.
According to Kevin Doerfler of Grass Seed USA, some treatment and prevention tips that will help your lawn stay green are:
- Water in the early mornings to combat fungal disease. Water deeply to support a strong grass root system.
- Raise mowing height to 3 or more inches to encourage taller grass that will shade roots and reduce water loss from evaporation.
- Perform a soil test to determine improvements your lawn may need. Soil tests can be purchased form your local garden center, distributor or samples can be taken to your local extensions office.
- Adopt a healthy lawn care program, including fertilizing in spring, summer and fall.
- If necessary, call a professional lawn expert to help diagnose the problem for your brown lawn. Visit your local distributor who can help tailor a treatment method suitable for your lawn.
For professional fertilizers, humic and AMP-XC™ enriched products available, please visit TurfCare’s online Product Catalog.
For green industry professionals or others interested in ordering Turfcare products, please contact our Customer Service
to find a distributor near you.
References:
https://www.houselogic.com/by-room/yard-patio/brown-grass/
http://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/11-ways-you-re-accidentally-ruining-your-lawn-50036
Turf Care Supply - TurfReport Blog
Turf Care Supply, LLC, a portfolio company of Platte River Equity, has officially acquired Beaty Fertilizer, the industry respected Tennessee-based manufacturer and blender of custom granular and liquid fertilizers, as well as combination products. This strategic move expands Turf Care’s manufacturing footprint, adds new product capabilities, and enhances overall production capacity. “The partnership with Beaty Fertilizer marks a major milestone in our journey and an important step forward in our mission to grow, innovate and lead in our industry,” said Mark Mangan, President of Turf Care. “This acquisition is more than just expansion; it’s a powerful opportunity to strengthen our product offerings, broaden our market reach and provide greater value to our customers. By welcoming Beaty into the Turf Care family, we are reinforcing our commitment to excellence and positioning ourselves for an even brighter future.” “We are excited about this next step in the Beaty Fertilizer story. For almost 50 years, our family and our employees have worked hard to serve customers and communities with pride and heart,” said John Beaty, President of Beaty. “Now, we are embracing an opportunity for growth with Turf Care. With our combined know-how and resources, we’ll keep building on what we’ve worked so hard to create and bring even more value to our customers, employees and partners. We truly believe this partnership will keep the Beaty legacy going strong while opening up new doors for growth and innovation.” Tarun Kanthety, Vice President at Platte River, added, “We believe the acquisition of Beaty Fertilizer represents a strategic step in expanding Turf Care’s footprint and product breadth... as it scales and enhances its value proposition to customers.”
Root out Grubs, Before they Attack Yours! White grubs, the immature stage of several scarab beetles—including Japanese beetles, masked chafers, May and June beetles, and green June beetles—are a major threat to turfgrass across the Southeast. These beetles follow a complete metamorphosis (egg, grub, pupa, adult), with most species completing their cycle in one year. Eggs are laid in early summer, grubs hatch within two weeks, and begin feeding on turfgrass roots through the late summer and fall. May and June beetles differ slightly, with a two- to three-year life cycle and prolonged feeding as third-instar grubs. Grubs damage turf by severing roots, causing grass to yellow, wilt, or lift easily from the soil. Feeding is typically concentrated in patches and worsens during hot, dry weather. Wildlife digging for grubs can create further turf destruction. Healthy turf may tolerate 5–10 grubs per square foot, but damage becomes evident as populations rise or turf is under stress. Early detection and timing are essential. Scouting begins in late June, shortly after adult beetle activity peaks. Monitoring plants favored by beetles can signal egg-laying is underway. Treatment is most effective when small grubs are active—typically from mid-July through early August. For professional turfgrass managers, insecticides containing imidacloprid (Merit®), chlorantraniliprole (Acelepryn®), or trichlorfon (Dylox®) are the most effective tools. The primary months of preventative application of Acelepryn® is from April to end of May and Merit® from April into July - targeting grubs before they hatch. Curative treatments with Dylox® or similar products are applied July through the fall, when young grubs are feeding and most vulnerable. Always follow label directions for optimal application and safety. Timing may vary slightly by regional seasonal needs. Turf Care Supply has a variety of professional TCS Growstar insecticide fertilizers available to protect your turf and prevent grub damage, before it starts. Click on the button below to view products, contact your sales rep for addition TC Growstar products available.
Platte River Equity Portfolio Company Turf Care Supply, LLC Acquires Agri-Nutrients, Inc. Brunswick, OH , October 9, 2024 – Platte River Equity (“Platte River”) portfolio company Turf Care Supply, LLC (“Turf Care”) is pleased to announce its acquisition of Agri-Nutrients, Inc. (“Agri-Nutrients”), a manufacturer and blender of custom granular fertilizers for the turf & ornamental (“T&O”) industry. This strategic acquisition provides Turf Care with an established presence in the south-central United States, an enhanced product portfolio and additional manufacturing capacity. “This acquisition represents much more than a business transaction; it is a strategic step forward in expanding our reach and enhancing our customers’ growth. By bringing Agri-Nutrients into the Turf Care family, we are broadening our product portfolio, expanding our market presence and further positioning ourselves as a leader in providing innovative solutions for our customers,” said Mark Mangan, President of Turf Care. “We are excited about joining the Turf Care team,” said Jim Montgomery, President of Agri-Nutrients. “At Agri-Nutrients, our core values center around customer service and product innovation, and we are confident that this combination will allow us to better serve the needs of our customers.” “Platte River welcomes the Agri-Nutrients team to Turf Care. This transaction underscores our long-term commitment to fostering growth through both organic and inorganic initiatives across the Turf Care platform,” said Tarun Kanthety, Vice President of Platte River. “The partnership with Agri-Nutrients strengthens Turf Care’s value-added offering, creating additional growth opportunities across the combined customer base.” B&A Corporate Advisors served as the exclusive financial advisor to Agri-Nutrients. About Agri-Nutrients Founded in 1992 and based in Catoosa, OK, Agri-Nutrients is a manufacturer and blender of custom granular fertilizers for the T&O industry, predominantly selling into the lawn care, sports turf and golf course end markets. About Turf Care Supply Established in 1974, Turf Care Supply is one of the largest formulators and blenders of urea products to the T&O market. Turf Care has a comprehensive product portfolio of fertilizers, combination products (herbicide/insecticide), soil amendments and enhanced efficiency fertilizer ingredients. Turf Care's products are sold to distributors and blenders serving the commercial, residential and golf end markets. Turf Care operates four manufacturing facilities strategically located throughout the eastern U.S. About Platte River Equity Founded in 2006 and based in Denver, CO, Platte River Equity is a private equity firm focused on investments in established lower middle market operating companies within targeted industrial sectors where it has substantial operating and investing experience. Platte River utilizes prudent capital structures in order to invest in future growth opportunities and withstand changing economic environments. The firm also provides significant ongoing support to its portfolio companies through dedicated resources across functional areas. The firm has raised funds with committed capital in excess of $1.6 billion and is currently investing out of its fifth fund. The Platte River team is the largest collective investor across its funds, deeply aligning the firm with its investors and portfolio company management teams.