Remedies for Heat-Burnt Grass

Identification

• It's important to find the proper remedy. This will require a close look at your grass and the soil condition. Keep in mind that the proper length for your lawn grass is 2 inches after mowing. If you mow your lawn too short, it will appear to be burnt. If it is not too short, then check for lack of correct watering techniques, disease, insects and over application of fertilizer.

Water

• Test your soil for moisture. If the ground is properly saturated, you should be able to push a 10-inch screwdriver into the ground 6 to 8 inches. You should do this in several locations of your lawn to make sure you are watering uniformly. If the soil is hard to penetrate, your soil is dry and causing your grass to look burnt. You need to water your lawn more often and the best time to water is early in the morning when there is less evaporation caused by the sun's heat. Late watering encourages insects and disease. Early watering conserves on water usage, and hydrates your soil more efficiently.

Disease

• If you have a disease problem, it may have killed the grass roots, and your lawn is dead. However, the disease could affect only the new growth as it appears, causing the green portion not to be visible. You will need to purchase a broad spectrum fungicide to apply to your lawn. It is important to follow the instructions carefully so you do not over apply the chemical.

Insects

• Insect problems can mimic those of disease problems. Disease usually occurs early in the growing season, and insect damage develops after the temperatures have warmed up allowing insects to reproduce.Some insects feed on the roots or crown of the grass. Pull up a section of grass. If it comes up easily, the roots have been consumed by insects, and the grass is dead. Insects could be feeding on the grass blades, causing the lawn to turn brown. Dig up a small area of grass and soil. Spread the soil on a sheet of paper and look for insects and worms that could be your problem. If it is insects, you will need to apply an insecticide to your entire lawn. It is important to follow the product instructions carefully to avoid over application.

Fertilizer

• You won't know if your solution is successful for several weeks, so hold off on fertilizing your lawn. Check every couple of days to see if there are signs of new growth coming up from the center of the grass plant. You should see green coming back to the grass with sufficient watering. Don't fertilize grass that is stressed; wait for the lawn to be green and stabilized.To avoid fertilizer burn, water your lawn generously after application.