What Killed the Grass? Diagnosing Dead Patches
Dead patches don’t fix themselves. We’ll figure out what caused the damage and whether your lawn needs treatment, resodding, or both.
Symptom overview
What This Looks Like
Dead patches — areas where the grass is completely brown and gone — are different from dormancy or disease spots. Something has killed the turf outright, and the cause determines whether it’ll come back on its own or need replanting.
Possible causes
What Could Be Causing This
Large Patch Fungus (Severe)
Severe or recurring large patch can kill grass crowns, not just the leaf blades. When this happens, the dead patches won’t recover on their own. Repeated years of untreated large patch cause permanent thinning.
Learn moreGrub Infestation
Heavy grub feeding severs roots completely. Dead patches from grubs peel up like loose carpet when you pull on them. Damage is most visible in late summer and fall.
Learn moreChemical Spill or Herbicide Misapplication
Gasoline, concentrated fertilizer, or non-selective herbicide (like glyphosate) will kill grass in defined patches. These spots are usually irregularly shaped and have sharp borders between dead and healthy turf.
Scalping from Mowing Too Low
Mowing below the grass’s growth point removes all green tissue and exposes the stolons to sun scorching. Bermuda can recover from mild scalping, but severe scalping in centipede or St. Augustine can kill the turf outright.
Armyworm Damage
Fall armyworms can strip a lawn to bare dirt overnight. They move in waves, leaving behind dead swaths that look like the grass was shaved. Damage often appears suddenly in late summer and early fall.
Learn moreDiagnose it
Narrow Down the Cause
Did the dead patches appear suddenly (within a few days)?
Rapid die-off points to armyworms, chemical damage, or extreme heat stress. Check for caterpillars by pouring soapy water on the edge of the dead area — armyworms will come to the surface.
Gradual decline is more consistent with disease (large patch) or grub damage building up over weeks.
Can you pull the dead grass up easily like a loose rug?
The roots are gone. Grubs are the most likely cause. Pull back the sod and look for white C-shaped larvae.
Roots are still anchored, which suggests the damage came from above — disease, chemical burn, or scalping.
Are the dead spots in a regular pattern or near edges where you mow?
This suggests scalping, especially on uneven ground or along sidewalk edges where the mower drops too low.
Irregular or random dead patches are more consistent with disease, pest damage, or chemical spills.
Still not sure? A professional lawn assessment takes the guesswork out of it.
Get QuoteSeasonal timing
When This Is Most Common
Dead patches from large patch typically appear in spring and fall. Grub damage peaks in late summer. Armyworm devastation hits in August through October. Chemical and mechanical damage can happen anytime. The repair window for warm-season grasses in Middle Georgia is May through August, when sod can establish quickly.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Will dead patches in my lawn grow back?
It depends on the cause. If the grass crowns and roots survived (as with mild disease or dormancy), the turf usually recovers during active growing season. If the roots are destroyed (grubs, chemical kill), those areas need resodding.
When is the best time to resod dead patches in Georgia?
Late spring through mid-summer (May–July) is ideal for laying warm-season sod in Middle Georgia. The heat drives fast root establishment. Avoid sodding in winter when grass is dormant — the roots won’t grow.
How do I prevent dead patches from coming back?
Prevention depends on the cause. Fungal diseases need a preventive fungicide program. Grubs need a preventive insecticide applied in early summer. Chemical damage is prevented by being careful with products near the lawn. We build a year-round plan that covers all of these.
Related problems
Other Lawn Problems to Consider
Take action
Stop Guessing and Start Fixing
Every lawn problem has a solution. Get a professional diagnosis and targeted treatment plan from Attaboy Lawn Care.
