Skip to main content

Why your lawn is turning brown and how to fix it

So you want a beautiful, lush green lawn – or a bright emerald, or even a sweet pale blue. That’s why it can come as a shock when your lawn starts to turn red or brown. If your lawn is turning colors that you don’t want it to turn, here is why it’s changing colors and what to do about it.

Why is my lawn reddish brown?

Your lawn may be reddish brown because of a change in the chemicals it is making. Grass, like many plants, goes dormant in the winter. When preparing to go dormant, grass will occasionally stop making chlorophyll in advance. This is the same process that causes leaves to turn red, orange, and yellow in the fall. Grass doesn’t always do this, which is why it can catch you off guard when it happens.

Your grass may also be producing more anthocyanins and carotenoids, which create red, purple, and pink pigments in the plant. These help protect the grass from bright sunlight, so if your grass begins turning red in the summer, it may need more shade.

Red thread lawn fungus on grass

However, if you look closely at your grass and see that it isn’t the grass itself that’s turning red, but rather a thin, string-like substance over your grass, that isn’t related to chlorophyll or anthocyanins. That’s a fungal infection called red thread.

Cut your grass to remove the fungus, and use a grass catcher. Dispose of the grass clippings; don’t use them for compost, as this could give the fungus a breeding ground, and it could spread via your compost. Fertilize your lawn with high nitrogen fertilizer. This improves your lawn’s overall health, helping it recover from the fungus. A healthy lawn is less susceptible to fungal infections and pests.

Of course, your grass may be turning reddish brown because it is dying or going dormant. If your plants begin going brown in the summer, they likely need more water or shade. Plants can become sunburnt, and while some grass will produce more anthocyanins and carotenoids to protect themselves, most grass will not.

If you live somewhere with a cold winter, your lawn will start turning brown in the late fall. There isn’t anything to be done about this, but don’t worry, your lawn likely isn’t dead. It’s just hibernating through the winter, like a bear.

If you notice that only the tips of your grass are going brown, this is a sign that you need to sharpen your lawn mower blades. Dull blades tear the grass, leaving a ragged tip that browns quickly, whereas sharp blades cut cleanly through, leaving an even cut that doesn’t brown.

Tall, naturally red grass

If most of your lawn is still green, but one particular area is going brown, this is a sign that something is wrong in that area. It may be that that area isn’t getting enough water or is getting too much water. It may not be getting enough sun or is getting too much sun. Something may be off in the pH balance of that area. More seriously, the section could have a fungal infection that hasn’t yet spread to other areas, in which case you need to act quickly.

Why is my grass turning a rust color?

If your lawn is turning a rust color, it likely has a fungal infection called lawn rust. At the beginning of the infection, you may have noticed yellow spots, which may have looked like your grass was just drying out. As the infection progresses, the yellow turns into an orangey-rust color, and the spots spread further throughout the blades of grass.

The spots burst open into a powdery, almost fuzzy-looking coating of the same orange color. In severe cases, the grass looks red, goes limp, and looks like it’s been torn, cut, or shredded. Mild cases of lawn rust will go away on their own, as long as you help your lawn regain its strength.

A blade of grass speckled orange with lawn rust

Fertilizer with nitrogen helps your grass fight the infection, but that isn’t all. Unlike other fungal infections, lawn rust actually hates nitrogen, so nitrogen-rich fertilizer can also help kill the fungus itself. In addition to fertilizer, make sure your lawn is getting plenty of sun and is properly aerated.

Fungi enjoy damp, shady places, so, if you can, make your lawn as inhospitable for fungus as possible. If the case is severe, you may have to resort to fungicides. Be sure to read the instructions carefully, as chemicals can be dangerous if misused.

Grass can start turning colors for several reasons, some of which are more serious than others. The important thing is to pay attention to your yard and take note of any sudden changes. As long as you can spot the problem, you can fix it!

Editors' Recommendations

Cayla Leonard
Cayla Leonard is a writer from North Carolina who is passionate about plants.  She enjoys reading and writing fiction and…
A guide to winter lawn fertilizer for keeping your turf healthy this season
Tips for picking and applying winter lawn fertilizer
Person pushing a lawn fertilizer spreader

Besides mowing and watering, part of keeping a lush lawn is fertilizing it properly in the fall. If you've ever shopped for grass fertilizers, you may have heard of winterizing fertilizer. Basically, this type of lawn food, typically a nitrogen-heavy version, prepares grass with an energy reserve for winter. For an explanation of how winter lawn fertilizer works and how you should apply it, read ahead.

Why would you fertilize your lawn during the winter?
Fertilizing way ahead of the growing season will help your grass grow healthy when the temperature warms up. You might see companies refer to such seasonal fertilizers as winterizing fertilizers. This name is somewhat misleading since you want to apply the fertilizer during late fall when grass growth slows down. They're all about preparing your grass for winter.

Read more
Can you leave beets in the ground over winter? Here’s your guide on how to store beets for the winter
Find out if you should overwinter your beets
Beets laying on a table

As winter approaches, there’s sometimes a rush to get all your vegetables harvested and stored in time. Produce left out in the garden during winter can rot or develop frost damage quickly, but is that true of all vegetables? Some gardeners choose to leave beets, as well as other vegetables, in the garden through winter. Is this a wise decision? What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of overwintering your beets like this? Here's everything you need to know about how to store beets for the winter.

Can you leave beets in the ground over winter?
Yes, beets can stay underground through winter. Several other root vegetable plants, including parsnips, turnips, and carrots, can also be left underground. In most cases, they will last just fine without significant damage. However, there's still a slight risk of rot or frost damage. Leaving beets underground during winter, also known as overwintering, is better suited for vegetables planted in the fall.

Read more
Are mulched leaves good for grass? Here’s how to mulch a lawn full of leaves this fall
Simple ways to mulch your leaves this autumn season
A pile of fallen leaves

Leaves can be a lot of fun to crunch underfoot or pile up and jump into, but they can also be annoying for gardeners to deal with. Luckily, you can turn your annoying leaf clutter into nutritious fertilizer for your garden! Leaf mulch and leaf mold are easy to make and use, and it's an effective way to add nutrients to your garden soil. If you've ever wondered are mulched leaves are good for grass and if there are ways to make your leaves decompose faster, this article is for you. We'll walk you through everything you need to know about how to mulch leaves.

Best ways to mulch leaves from the garden
Mulching leaves is a straightforward process, and you have two main options for how to go about it. You can collect leaves when they’re dry and create leaf litter, or collect them when wet and turn them into leaf mold.

Read more