Brown patches in the lawn: causes and fixes
By Hovenier Hoofddorp · Updated July 26, 2026
Brown or bare patches in a lawn usually have one of four causes: drought, fungal disease, grubs/leatherjackets (larvae), or dog urine. Each has a distinct pattern and a different fix — reseeding a patch without diagnosing the cause often brings the same problem back within a few months.
How do you identify the cause of brown patches?
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Large, irregular dry patches, especially in sunny areas during drought | Drought stress |
| Circular patches with a yellow/orange or dark ring | Fungal disease (e.g. snow mould, red thread) |
| Turf that lifts away like a loose carpet; crows or foxes digging up the lawn | Grubs or leatherjackets (larvae eating the roots) |
| Small, round patch of dead grass in the centre with extra-green grass around the edge | Dog urine (nitrogen overload) |
| Patches matching tyre tracks or heavily walked paths | Compaction / mechanical wear |
How do you treat each cause?
- Drought: water deeply twice a week (10–15 litres per m²) rather than a little every day, and mow slightly higher (5–6 cm) during dry spells so the roots are better protected.
- Fungus: improve air circulation by scarifying and avoid mowing too short; skip feeding right before a warm, wet spell (ideal fungal conditions). Most lawn fungus clears up on its own once conditions change.
- Grubs/leatherjackets: pull up a loose patch of turf to confirm larvae. For light infestations, keeping the lawn healthy and well-watered helps it recover on its own; for heavy infestations, a targeted biological treatment with nematodes is effective, applied in autumn while larvae are still small.
- Dog urine: flush the spot with water immediately after urination to dilute the nitrogen. For existing patches: remove dead grass, lightly work the soil and reseed.
- Compaction: aerate the lawn yearly (spiking) on busy walked routes, especially on the heavy clay soil common in this region, where compaction sets in faster than on sandy soil.
How do you repair a bare patch?
- Remove dead grass and loose debris with a rake down to bare soil.
- Loosen the top 2–3 cm and mix in some compost.
- Reseed with a grass mix matching the rest of the lawn, or lay a small piece of turf for a small area — see our turf laying guide.
- Press the seed down lightly for good soil contact and keep the patch consistently moist for the first 2–3 weeks.
- Only mow once the new grass reaches 8–10 cm, and cut straight to the normal mowing height.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if grubs are causing bare patches?
Tug at the loose turf on the edge of a bare patch: with grubs or leatherjackets present, the grass lifts away like a loose carpet because the roots have been eaten. Crows, starlings or foxes actively digging in the lawn are often the first visible sign, hunting for the larvae.
Do brown patches from fungus go away on their own?
Often yes, once weather conditions change (drier, less warm-and-humid) and the lawn can grow normally again. Support recovery by not mowing too short, skipping fertiliser during an active outbreak, and improving air circulation by scarifying.
How do I stop my dog causing brown patches on the lawn?
Flush the spot with a watering can immediately after urination to dilute the nitrogen — by far the most effective measure. Some owners designate a separate spot in the garden (a patch of gravel or mulch) to spare the lawn entirely.
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