To fix brown patches in your Oklahoma City lawn, you first must identify the cause. The most common culprits in OKC are poor irrigation coverage, grub worm damage, fungal diseases (like brown patch or spring dead spot), or pet urine. Once diagnosed, you can treat the specific issue by adjusting sprinkler heads, applying an insecticide, or treating with a fungicide.
Diagnosing the Brown Spot
1. The Screwdriver Test (Irrigation Check)
Take a long screwdriver and push it into the brown patch. If it's incredibly difficult to push into the soil, that area is likely dry and compacted. Check your sprinkler heads to ensure that specific spot is getting coverage.
2. The Pull Test (Grub Worms)
Grab a handful of the brown grass and pull up. If the turf peels up easily like a carpet, you likely have grub worms eating the root system. You will need to apply a curative grub control treatment.
3. Fungal Disease
If the brown patch has a distinct circular shape, sometimes with a darker ring around the outside, it is likely a fungal issue caused by overwatering or poor drainage. Cut back on watering and apply a fungicide.
