Sudden Lawn Brown Spots? 

Have brown patches suddenly appeared on your lawn? Do they look straw-colored—like the grass is completely dead in those spots? Are you seeing unusual wheel line patterns from lawn equipment?

If so, you’re not alone. We’re seeing a widespread breakout of Ascochyta fungus across our Douglas County service area.

This outbreak was triggered by the extreme heat during the week of June 16. By Friday of that week, brown patches began showing up in lawns throughout the region. These spots are the result of drought stress in isolated areas, often where water coverage was lacking or inconsistent.

Here’s the good news
 Ascochyta affects only the grass blade—not the crown. That means the root system is still healthy and capable of producing new green blades. With consistent watering and a bit of patience, your lawn will recover on its own.

The brown patches you’re seeing may look dramatic, but they’re part of the lawn’s natural response to drought stress. Ascochyta always leads the way as the grass begins entering dormancy—a built-in survival mode that helps it get through extreme heat and dry conditions.

Over the past 27 years, I’ve seen this fungus come and go. In most cases, lawns bounce back without intervention. On rare occasions, however, some areas may need a little extra help. If your lawn doesn’t seem to be recovering, feel free to give us a call. We’ll be happy to take a look and advise on next steps.

You might be wondering why only certain areas are affected. It usually comes down to non-uniform water distribution across the surface of the lawn, which may be caused by sprinkler head issues, programming errors, or zones not functioning properly.

Some homeowners may have turned off their irrigation systems during the prior week because of heavy rain—and then simply forgotten to return the clock to the run position before the heatwave hit.

And in Castle Rock, where watering is limited to every third day, the timing may have worked out in such a way that some lawns received no moisture at all during the hottest days of the week.

Midseason Sprinkler System Check-Up

Schedule Mid-Season Sprinkler System Check Up

A midseason sprinkler system check-up is an important part of caring for your lawn—especially during the summer months, and in my experience, it’s one of the best steps you can take this time of year. Whether your lawn is showing signs of stress or not, it’s essential to know that your system is working efficiently and delivering water evenly. With more hot weather ahead—and your sprinklers running at night when problems can go unnoticed—it just makes sense to schedule the check-up. It’s routine care that can make a real difference.

Looking for More Than Just Sprinkler Help?
If you’re not already enrolled in our seasonal Lawn Care Program, this is a great time to get started. We offer a complete, results-driven approach to fertilization, weed control, and lawn restoration—tailored to your property and the season.  Schedule a quick and easy lawn care estimate here:  Schedule Lawn Care Estimate

We’re here to help.
Give our office a call with any questions or to schedule a visit.

720-398-9442