Cool-season grass can go dormant over summer as a protective, energy-conserving measure. It uses stored water and nutrients to care for roots when the climate is excessively dry, causing blades to look slightly brown. If you find patches of brown grass during your lawn maintenance routine, consult the guide below to learn whether it's dormant or dead. 

A Guide to Dead & Dormant Grass Differences

Dead Grass

Dead grass rarely looks uniform, so it does not feature exclusively brown grass. The lawn appears patchy if dead grass is present, such as circles or large areas of brown blades. Grass dies for many reasons, including drought, insufficient lawn maintenance that does not provide enough nutrients, and dog urine that raises soil nitrogen levels. 

Dead lawn areas also occur because of thatch, or mats of decaying rhizomes, and other organic matter that prevents air, water, and nutrients from reaching root systems. Assorted lawn diseases and pests, such as brown patch and grubs, affect grass health, as does mowing blades too short. 

Destroyed grass patches require reseeding to maintain a uniform lawn. If there are weeds near the grass, ask a lawn care company to remove them to avoid roots competing for nutrients. Also, ask them to break up thatch and leave 3 to 3.5 inches of grass after mowing. 

Dormant Grass 

Cool-season grasses grow at slower rates in the summer due to hot, dry environments, and become dormant as protection against drought. These grasses can subsequently appear slightly to fully brown throughout. When a three- to four-week drought period combines with an 80-degree temperature or above, these grasses continue losing moisture without routine watering. 

To prevent dormant grass from becoming dead, provide 1/2 inch of water every two or three weeks. It also helps to stay off the lawn as much as possible, which avoids compacted soil that prevents nutrients from reaching root systems. Make sure to keep dogs off the lawn to avoid urine-related damage. 

For beautiful, lush grass, trust the team at A to Z Property Maintenance LLC. Since 1988, the bonded and insured lawn care company has beautified properties throughout Connecticut's Danbury and Brookfield areas. They offer lawn mowing, organic tick control, mulching, and landscaping services to help keep lawns healthy all summer long. Call (203) 775-9174 to make an appointment or visit their website to browse their services.