Luckily, you can start the process of treating discoloured grass right away – and our lawn experts will tell you how!
Remove yellow patches on the lawn today.
What does a discoloured lawn look like?
Discoloured lawns don’t all look the same. Exactly how your lawn damage looks can reflect the best way to treat it.
Signs your lawn needs some TLC (Tender Lawn Care):
• Yellowing grass.
• Patchiness.
• Brown grass.
• Thinning.
• Uneven colour.
• Brittle texture.
Make a note of the worst-affected areas for spot-seeding later, as well as a mental map of the areas to pay most attention to.
Why is my grass yellow?
There are a number of reasons why your grass may be yellow, but here are the most common:
Nutrient deficiency – a lack of iron can impede chlorophyll production, which is what gives healthy grass its luscious green colour.
Dull mower blades – tearing grass, lawn stress and burnt grass ends are more likely if you’re using dull blades, preventing a clean cut.
Too little water – lack of water can leave grass dehydrated, causing it to yellow over time.
Too much water – lack of proper drainage and pooling water on the soil can drown grass, limiting its ability to absorb the right nutrients.
Why is my grass brown?
Brown grass can be a sign of more severe lawn damage over a longer period or dormancy, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be treated.
Brown grass is most commonly due to:
Extended dry spells – severe dehydration over a long period can progress your grass discolouration from yellow to brown.
Disease – brown grass could be a sign of a diseased lawn.
Trampled grass – heavy foot traffic or heavy lawn furniture can block sunlight, dehydrate and damage the grass.
Dog urine – high nitrogen content in dog urine can cause grass to turn brown or yellow.
The most important thing to remember is that brown grass does not equal dead grass. It could instead be a sign of dormancy – the process of grass hibernating to conserve energy during stressful periods.
The easiest way to tell if grass is dead is by a tug test:
- Grass that pulls up easily with no resistance = dead.
- Grass that remains firmly rooted = dormant.
Fixing a discoloured lawn
There are plenty of ways to fix a discoloured lawn, from aerating to protecting your grass.Follow these steps to remove yellow patches on the lawn.
1. Scarifying and aerating your lawn
Scarifying is the process of removing built-up thatch, moss and dead grass from your lawn to help it breathe and absorb water and nutrients more effectively.For best results, water the lawn a day or two beforehand – especially if the soil is dry and compacted – to avoid tearing the turf.
Use a scarifying tool for larger lawns or a springbok rake for smaller spaces. The goal is to create a clean, open surface, where new grass seed can reach the soil and grow more easily.
To aerate your lawn, use a garden fork to puncture the soil to a depth of 2–6 inches. This improves drainage and helps water soak directly into the soil, ensuring grass roots stay hydrated, promoting healthier soil and a greener lawn.
2. Irrigating and preparing for dry spells
During hot spells and heatwaves, water your lawn at least twice a week—or daily if you have an irrigation system. Avoid overwatering, though, as deep watering more than twice a week can flood the soil.Irrigate using an irrigation system if possible – this will slowly top-up your lawn’s water levels, without drowning the grass.
To prepare for potential droughts, start thinking ahead. Collect rainwater in barrels to build a natural, eco-friendly reserve and reuse water where possible to avoid waste.
These small steps will help keep your lawn hydrated and healthy, even under restrictions.
3. Move heavy objects off your lawn
To prevent lasting damage, try moving common heavy lawn items – such as garden furniture, toys or equipment like trampolines and goalposts – around occasionally.This will allow the grass time to recover, with added sunlight, water and a bit of breathing space.
How to make your grass greener
If your grass isn’t as green as you’d like, complete these simple tasks.1. Overseed where needed
Overseed in struggling areas with suitable grass seed, such as perennial ryegrass. This tip is also great if you also struggle with patchiness.Sow evenly – use around 20–35g per m² for less green areas and up to 50g per m² for patchy spots. Lightly rake the seed into the soil to ensure good contact.
2. Apply low-nitrogen feed in summer
Use a low-nitrogen summer feed to nourish your lawn and help bring out its green colour. Choose a fertiliser labelled for summer use, apply it evenly to affected areas, and water thoroughly to help it absorb properly. Avoid over-fertilising.3. Raise your mower’s cutting height
Raise your mower to a low–mid setting to avoid cutting grass too short. Only mow discoloured grass that’s at least 7–8cm tall and never remove more than a third of its height.Slightly longer grass helps protect the soil, encourages stronger roots and keeps your lawn cooler – which, over time, helps to bring back that green colour.
4. Water more if needed
Yellow and brown grass is often a sign of severe dehydration or overexposure to the sun, meaning it could benefit from more frequent watering.Just make sure to up the frequency of watering, not the amount of water you use in one session. This is the difference between topping up hydration levels and completely drowning grass.
How to stop brown patches on grass from dog urine
To stop brown grass patches from dog urine, you can attempt to train your dog to go in one area, then water the spot immediately after they pee to dilute the nitrogen content.You can also use dog-friendly lawn repair or resistant grass seed in damaged areas.
If this is a frequent issue for your lawn, try to strengthen the grass by feeding the lawn regularly – making it more resistant to damaging chemicals.
Can premium lawn mowers help?
Yes, premium lawn mowers can help return grass to its natural, healthy green colour.An efficient cut can help you avoid lawn disease, burnt ends and stress from torn grass, which is often caused by poor blades and a lack of power.
Whether you use battery mowers or petrol mowers is down to personal preference, but any mower with a sophisticated cutting-height adjustment will ensure your lawn is not cut too short.
This will protect your lawn from further damage, helping it to recover from dormancy and return to a healthy green colour.
As always, the best way to care for your lawn starts with top-of-the-line lawn equipment and power tools.