Whole lawn browning evenly
- Most likely
- Underwatering or heat stress
- DIY approach
- Switch to deep, infrequent watering with cycle-and-soak.
- When to call a pro
- Not needed.
- Typical cost
- $0
Lawn Care
Why your grass keeps dying — and what fixes it
Diagnose by pattern before you diagnose by product. Uniform browning is water or heat. Sharp-edged patches are fungus or chemical. Thin grass under a tree is shade, and no amount of water fixes shade.
Common problems and what they usually mean
Circular patches with defined edges
- Most likely
- Fungal disease, often from night watering
- DIY approach
- Water at sunrise instead, improve airflow, avoid excess nitrogen.
- When to call a pro
- For persistent large-area disease.
- Typical cost
- $25–$60 for treatment
Runoff into the street while watering
- Most likely
- Clay soil cannot absorb that fast
- DIY approach
- Split each zone into three short runs separated by 30 minutes.
- When to call a pro
- Not needed.
- Typical cost
- $0
Strips of dead grass along the driveway
- Most likely
- Heat reflection and chinch bugs
- DIY approach
- Raise the mow height and inspect the thatch for insects.
- When to call a pro
- For confirmed infestation.
- Typical cost
- $20–$70
Cost ranges are planning information for the Dallas–Fort Worth area, not quotes. Only an in-person inspection by a qualified professional produces an assessment you can rely on.
Checklist
- Water before 8am, deeply, and never nightly
- Raise the mow height in summer
- Sharpen the mower blade twice per season
- Aerate compacted clay once a year
- Audit every irrigation zone monthly
Safety first
- Read the label before applying any lawn chemical
- Keep pets and children off treated turf for the stated interval
- Never mow a wet slope