If there are brown spots on your lawn, repairing them and preventing them from returning can be an exercise in frustration. Even though all of these spots may look the same, each one may be caused by a different factor – meaning that you probably won’t be able to treat each brown spot in the same way. However, the reasons that these spots develop are fairly predictable. Read on for some of the most common causes – and treatments – for lawn brown spots:

Dog Urine

Unfortunately, many people walk their dogs on the first lawn that they can find. While this isn’t the dog's fault, chemicals in their urine can cause the grass in the affected areas to die off. If you see a dog walker on your lawn, try to find out who they are and politely advise them that they are trespassing on private property and causing damage to your lawn. Let them know that they’ll receive a bill from you as a result of any repairs you need to make. Most accidental offenders will steer clear of your lawn in the future.

Even though your grass doesn’t need much attention during the winter, it’s still important to follow some basic seasonal lawn care guidelines – especially if you live in a cold climate. Depending on temperature and weather conditions, your maintenance routine may vary considerably. Unfortunately, if you follow advice for the wrong climate or grass type, you may do unintentional harm to your lawn. Read on for advice based on your specific climate zone:

Northern Climate Winter Lawn Care

Whether you live in an area that receives an occasional snow shower or one where heavy snow storms are common, you’ll want to keep your lawn in top condition through the winter. Unfortunately, without some kind of protection during cold weather, your lawn might have a difficult time recovering in the spring. Although many resources recommend raking up leaves in the winter, you may want to wait until the spring so that your lawn has the benefit of their coverage. However, ground cover like leaves can provide a tempting home for rodents – so skip this method if you’re already fighting off pests.

When you think about lawn care, you probably think of mowing, trimming and using soil additives to enhance the condition of your grass. You probably don’t think about soil pH, but it’s just as important when it comes to lawn management. There are a number of things that can affect the pH of the soil your lawn depends on – if you aren’t careful, incorrect pH values can kill off your expensive plants and grasses. Therefore, it’s important to check the pH of your lawn every year in order to design an appropriate watering and fertilization regiment.

For the most part, grasses do best in neutral soil with a pH range of 6.5 to 7. Think of your lawn as an aquarium. If you’ve ever kept fish, you know that the acid or base salts dissolved in the water affect the pH value of the tank and play a significant role in whether or not your fish will survive. Or if you aren’t a fish enthusiast, maybe you’ve heard about azaleas and other plants that require enrichment with coffee and tea grounds in order to provide additional acid to the soil. As in both of these examples, the plants that make up your lawn require a specific pH in order to grow and thrive.

If you’ve ever turned your ankle in a gopher hole, you know that these animal pests can be hazardous as well as make your lawn look unsightly. In addition, these rodents can also cause problems beneath the foundation of your home and other structures on your property. Therefore, it’s important to be proactive about managing you rodent-related issues as part of your overall lawn management plan. Read on for more information about dealing with specific animal threats:

Ridding your lawn of gophers

Typically, you can identify the presence of gophers living in the soil beneath your lawn by the large holes that provide access to their burrows. These tend to be open holes that are fairly easy to spot. Unfortunately, spotting a gopher hole doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s inhabited. As burrowing species go, gophers are known for abandoning their burrows, so disturb the ground as little as possible when setting traps. For the most part lethal traps found at any lawn and garden store are the most effective way to rid your lawn of gophers, but be careful that children and pets don’t accidently get caught in the traps.

In a perfect world, we’d never have to mow our lawns to keep them in top condition. However, clipping your grass as short as possible isn’t a good solution to the problem of mowing. Choosing the wrong clipping height can lead to unsightly brown spots, or cause you to replant your lawn entirely. On the other hand, leaving your grass too tall can lead to other problems. When considering optimal clipping height, you’ll also need to account for sloped areas and any small hills or ground features that are not readily apparent.

Hazards associated with clipping your lawn too short

Many people want to have a beautiful lawn without all of the harmful effects of synthetic fertilizers. If you live in an area that has storm drains, the chemical-laden water draining from your lawn will go directly into a sewage treatment plant, which may not be adequately equipped to process the chemicals found in synthetic fertilizers. Consequently, the treated water released from the plant may be released into waterways and nearby streams, causing enormous environmental harm.

Aside from the environmental impact of synthetic fertilizers, studies show that organic fertilizers are a better choice because they help build up the delicate local ecosystem that helps keep your lawn healthy. This includes making a healthier habitat for the helpful bacteria, fungi and earthworms that aerate the soil. Fortunately, organic fertilizers are now widely available, easy to use and come in a wide variety of application methods and products you can choose from.

As water supplies around the world continue to feel the pinch of decreased winter snowfall and increased community needs, drought conditions will only become more frequent. In many parts of the country, as soon as a town or county declares a drought situation, you won’t be able to water your lawn. Unfortunately, your lawn will do very poorly without at least one inch of rain or water per week. That said, there are a number of things you can do to prepare your lawn for drought conditions.

Microbial Soil Agents

Aside from providing your lawn with special nutrients, microbes can make it easier for your lawn to withstand drought. Typically, microbial soil agents will provide rare elements and help grass plants utilize nitrogen from the air. In addition, beneficial fungal spores will help increase the humus content of the soil. This will act as an insulator and moisture preserver – much like hay in your vegetable garden. Check with any lawn and garden store in your area for more information about using these products correctly.

Even though dandelions are one of the most delightful indicators that spring is finally on its way, they can quickly become unsightly. In a similar way, ragweed, Queen Anne’s lace, and crabgrass can all take their turns dominating your lawn as spring and summer progress. Unfortunately, many people believe that the only way to get rid of weeds and fungal infestations is to use harmful herbicides. Depending on the type of weed you are trying to control, you may not need any chemicals at all!

Lawn Height

In many cases, if you wait for the right time in the weed's life cycle, one good cutting with the lawn mower will eliminate them. For example, if you check with your county extension agency or local lawn and garden center, they should be able to tell you when cutting a weed will prevent it from growing back and developing seeds for the next year.

Gone are the days when grass was just, well… grass. Today, savvy lawn owners are interested in imported specialty grasses and exotic species from around the world or for their lawn. Despite this unprecedented level of choice, it’s important to remember that not every grass is suitable for every climate. Here are a few things to keep in mind when selecting grasses for your particular climate:

Weather Considerations

As you may be aware, Kentucky Bluegrass is enormously popular. However, because of its water requirements, trying to grow this species of grass in a desert area is going to be very difficult. Aside from water requirements, you will need to consider things like the average temperature during the dormant season, as well as the growing season. Depending on the species of grass, you may even find that a winter temperature that is too warm will inhibit the plants from growing in the spring.

How to Fix Common Lawn Problems

Here are some of the most common problems you may encounter when trying to keep your lawn looking it's best:

Nitrogen Deficiency - Symptoms include slow growth and leaves that are light-green and turning yellowish. Older, lower to the ground grass leaves will often show the deficiency first - and the entire lawn is usually affected rather than spotting.