Why is Your Florida Lawn Turning Brown? 3 Common Reasons to Look Out For

If you're like most property owners, you'll want your lawn to be healthy and green throughout the year. If you notice that your lawn is turning brown, you'll want to get to the root of the issue as soon as possible so you can treat whatever the problem is and get your lawn back to its beautiful green color.

Here in Florida, there are several reasons that your lawn could be turning brown, one of the most common being because it's dehydrated. However, there are more serious things that could be causing your lawn to turn brown like a lawn disease or an insect infestation.

It is crucial to know the reason why your lawn is turning brown so you can treat whatever the issue is and get your lawn back to its vibrant green color.

Here are 3 common reason why lawns turn brown and how to identify the problem. 

1. Your Lawn is Dehydrated

With the hot temperatures that Florida experiences throughout the year, it is important to keep your lawn well hydrated. If your lawn becomes dehydrated, it can start to turn brown.

Some signs that your lawn is dehydrated include:

• Wilting grass - If you notice that your grass blades are curled over instead of standing straight up, that is an indicator that your lawn is dehydrated.
  
  

• Your grass not popping back up after being stepped on - If you notice footprint marks on your lawn long after you stepped on it, that is a sign of dehydration. When you step on a healthy lawn, it will return to its original look right away.
  
  

• Slow growth - If your grass is growing slower than usual, there's a good chance that a lack of water is responsible for the slow growth.
  
  

• Cracked soil - If you notice cracks in your soil, there is a good chance your lawn is dehydrated.

2. Your Lawn Has a Disease

Lawn diseases can cause major damage to your lawn and can cause it to turn brown. One of the most common lawn diseases in Florida is brown patch disease.

Brown patch disease causes large brown spots to appear on your lawn. Is it easy to mistake symptoms of a lawn disease for a dehydrated lawn, so you'll want to reach out to a lawn care professional to confirm if your lawn is indeed dealing with a lawn disease.

3. Lawn Insects are Eating Your Grass

Lawn insects can damage your lawn and can cause it to turn brown. Chinch bugs are one of the most common lawn insects in Florida and the damage they inflict is commonly mistaken for drought damage. Chinch bugs insects suck the sap out of your grass until it turns yellow and eventually brown. Inspect the brown spots on your lawn and if you see tiny black, white, and sometimes orange-colored bugs, then you know chinch bugs are the main culprit.

Grubs are also insects that cause brown grass. These small larvae burrow into the soil and consume roots, which are vital for nutrient and water absorption. As roots weaken, grass turns yellow and then brown. If untreated, this can lead to dead patches. 

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