What Causes Burnt Grass Tips?

Mowing

• How and what you mow your grass with can contribute to burnt grass blade tips. Mowers that are improperly adjusted or have dull blades will tear out the grass instead of producing a clean cut. The resulting ragged cut edge of the grass will appear brown and burnt. Lawnmower blades should be regularly checked and sharpened three to five times during the mowing season.

Fertilizing

• Improper fertilization can burn not only the tips of grass but the entire blade. Although you may have the appropriate grass fertilizer, applying it too heavily in a single application can burn your grass. This is particularly true with a liquid grass fertilizer. Dry fertilizer can cause a similar reaction on your grass if it is applied to wet grass and remains on the blades instead of immediately washed off.

Weather

• Weather can impact your grass, especially during periods of extreme, dry heat if you have cool-weather grass. When temperatures become hot but the normal rainfall fails to arrive, your cool-weather grass will become dormant in order to survive. The tips of the grass will be the first to turn brown and appear burnt. At this stage, increased, or excessive, watering will not help or revive your grass. It is better to allow your grass to go dormant until cooler temperatures arrive.

Chemicals

• Occasionally, your lawn may become infested with pests, such as chinch bugs, sod webworms or mites, or diseases, like necrotic ring spot, dollar spot, drechslera leaf spot or ascochyta leaf spot. These pests and diseases damage your grass, and you will want to treat the problem with an insecticide or fungicide formulated to remedy these issues. Unfortunately, further damage and burnt grass tips may occur, when applying the treatment, if you over-apply or apply the chemical during the hottest part of the day. Always follow the labeling directions before applying chemicals to your grass.