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The sight of brown grass in your lawn is very annoying and looks very odd on a green lawn. Before going to find out a solution to the problem, check whether the grass is dormant or dead. You cannot tell that the grass is dead by looking at its color, because failing to supply sufficient nutrients and water can also turn your grass brown. So, let’s move forward to find out whether your grass is dead or dormant with these most common differences between the two.

What is Dormancy?

Dormancy is the period where the lawn goes to sleep. The period could be summer or winter. Summer dormancy occurs when the grass is stressed out by the severe hot and drought conditions.

What is Dormant Grass?

The grass looks dead for the naked eye, but there is a small part called the crown which is still alive. When the conditions are better or when water is sufficiently available, the grass grows back again into a healthy turf. Usually, the dormant period for any grass is up to six weeks without any adverse effects. There may be a loss in the turf if the period extends and expect a loss of about 25% after every week of extension.

Reasons for Dormancy

The reasons for dormancy depends on the variety of grass that grows on your lawn. Cold season grasses go dormant in summer and warm season grasses in the winter season. The main reasons for dormancy are:

• To withstand the long and harsh climatic conditions.
• To turn on its built-in natural protection mechanism.
• Low availability of Water

What is Dead Grass?

Detecting dead grass in your lawn is tough. Grass in the dormant stage can be dead in the process of protecting itself from the harsh climatic conditions. You have to wait for the dormant period to be completed and wait if the grass grows back in the spring season. After the minimum dormant period is over, you can go on watering the lawn to see if the grass had come out of the inactive situation.

Reasons for Dead Grass

• Drought Conditions
• Low Fertilization
• Incorrect Mowing of the Grass
• Pet Spots
• Fungus in the lawn

You can use these simple ways to find out if the grass is dormant or dead.

The Tug Test

This test can be used to find if the grass is dead or dormant. Pick up a section or place where the grass is brown. Grab a handful of grass; if it comes out quickly without any resistance, then it is confirmed that the grass is dead. After removing the dead grass, you can add sod or seeding to get new turf in that place. Also, make sure that you supply the required water and nutrients to the seeded area.

Patterns in the lawn

Patterns in your grass can hint dormant vs. dead grass stages. If the whole yard is brown, then you can get the idea that the grass is dormant. But if you have observed distinct patterns or patches of brown grass, then you can confirm that the grass is dead. You need to take the help of a professional to know the actual reason for the dying grass.

Temperature or Climate Changes

Weather and temperature changes are the main reasons for the dormancy or death of grass in your lawn. Mostly cool grasses will go dormant in the summer season, and warm seasoned grasses go dormant in the winter season. The grass is still alive and will bounce back after the conditions are favored for growth.

Follow the Water Schedule

The lack of water is the main reason for any grass to go into a dormant stage. The right amount of water will make the brown grass to become green again. After getting sufficient water, dormant grass comes back to life, while the dead grass remains dead.

Conclusion

At Green Gold Landscaping Inc our lawn maintenance experts can help you find out common problems in your lawn and treat them well in advance to achieve a green, healthy and lush lawn all year long. So Contact us today. We serve all the Westchester NY and Greenwich CT areas. Book a Free Lawn Analysis here or call us at 914-882-5459 now!