Last week we published an article on summer problems your lawn is trying to tell you. This week, we are going with something similar. Since we are one of the top grass seed sellers in the northeast, we decided to write this week’s article on what the color of your grass can tell you. When grass begins to turn an odd color, it usually means something is off. With this information, you should be able to figure out a way to fix the problem. To answer what the color of your grass can tell you, we will go by color and then offer a solution for each one.
What the Color of Your Grass Can Tell You
My grass has turned orange.
Orange-colored grass is usually an indicator of fungus. One of the more common fungal diseases that cause orange-colored grass is Rust Fungi. This is usually caused by a nitrogen deficiency so fertilization will help it recover. If you have a cool-season lawn, don’t forget to fertilize in the spring as this will help control future infections of Rust Fungi. If the color is closer to a pinkish-orange, you might be dealing with snow mold. This is especially true for lawns after winter.
My grass turned brown.
If you have brown or tannish-looking grass that looks like straw, it is most likely dead. This is the case for most cool-season lawns, however, if you have a warm-season lawn, brown may indicate dormancy. Grass usually dies from prolonged exposure to heat stress. If you have Fescue planted, it may go into dormancy as a last-ditch effort to survive and if the weather improves, it might. Various fungal diseases can also cause the grass to turn brown. Brown Patch is a common fungal disease that causes grass to turn brown. These diseases can spread quickly but if caught early can be controlled with an appropriate fungicide.
Why has my grass turned purple?
Keep in mind that some types of ornamental grass are intentionally purple but common turf like Fescue should never be purple. A purple lawn should be considered a serious problem and is an indicator that their lawn is experiencing an excessive amount of stress. Start watering the grass frequently because purple grass is commonly associated with heat and lack of water.
What does yellow grass indicate?
Yellow grass indicates a multitude of problems. These may include pest problems, too much dog urine, and overusing fertilizer. Most of the time the yellow grass is from dog urine. If your pooch continues to urinate in the same spot, you may want to consider flushing the area with a hose each time to dilute it. Dog urine is high in nitrogen which causes the yellow color. Therefore too much fertilizer with nitrogen in it can cause the same problem. If all else fails and you have not fertilized recently or don’t have a dog, consider performing a soil test to figure out the cause.
If you have questions as to what the color of your grass is trying to tell you, one of our location managers can easily help you out today.