Turf - Brown Grass Areas

Brown grass areas this time of year in cool season turf are commonly because of undesirable species and weeds that have gone dormant or have been killed by frost. The following are common problem weeds in lawns that brown out this time of year.

• Bermudagrass, also called wiregrass, will be going winter dormant this time of year leaving straw colored areas in lawns. Zoysiagrass and other warm season perennial grasses will also go winter dormant.
• Nimblewill is a common perennial grass weed that will go winter dormant this time of year.
• Annual grass weeds such as crabgrass and goosegrass are killed by frosts and straw colored areas will be seen where they were heavy.

Dormant burmudagrass is turning straw colored in turf areas now.

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County