Have you noticed that only parts of your lawn are turning brown while the rest stays green? It’s a common concern during the summer, and the good news is that it doesn’t always mean your entire lawn is struggling.

In the latest Healthy Lawns with Dr. Jim, Dr. Jim Wilkinson, founder and owner of SeaScape Lawn Care, explains why dry spots develop and what homeowners can do to help keep their lawns healthy through hot, dry weather.

Why Dry Spots Appear in Lawns

Many people assume drought stress affects an entire lawn equally. In reality, certain areas lose moisture much faster than others because of differences in sunlight, soil conditions, slope, and irrigation.

Understanding why those spots are drying out is the first step toward solving the problem.

Common Causes of Dry Spots

☀️ 1. Full Sun vs. Shade

Areas that receive direct sunlight throughout the day naturally dry out faster than shaded sections of your lawn.

If one side of your property gets full afternoon sun while another is shaded by trees or your home, it’s completely normal for those sunny areas to show drought stress first.

🚽 2. Septic Tank Areas

Lawns growing over septic tanks often have only a few inches of topsoil above the tank.

Because there’s less soil available to hold moisture, these areas dry out much more quickly and may appear as a distinct rectangular patch of brown grass during hot weather.

🪨 3. Buried Rocks or Ledge

Throughout Southern New England, many lawns sit above buried rocks or ledge.

These areas can’t store as much water as deeper soils, causing grass above them to enter drought stress sooner than the rest of the lawn.

⛰️ 4. Slopes and Banks

Grass growing on steep slopes—especially south-facing slopes—can be particularly challenging during the summer.

Water tends to run downhill before it has time to soak into the soil, leaving these areas much drier than flatter sections of your yard.

💦 5. Sprinkler Coverage Problems

If you have an irrigation system, dry spots may simply mean certain sprinkler heads aren’t covering the area properly.

Sprinkler heads can shift over time from mowing, landscaping, or normal wear, creating sections of the lawn that receive little or no water.

How to Help Dry Spots Recover

The solution depends on what’s causing the problem, but in many cases you can improve dry areas by:

• Watering problem areas a little longer than the rest of the lawn.
• Checking irrigation heads for proper coverage and alignment.
• Paying extra attention to slopes, septic areas, and rocky sections during hot weather.
• Monitoring sunny areas more closely during extended dry periods.

Don’t Mistake Insect Damage for Drought

While many brown patches are simply caused by uneven moisture, it’s important to remember that surface-feeding insects such as chinch bugs and sod webworms can create damage that looks very similar to drought stress.

That’s one reason SeaScape technicians inspect lawns for insect activity during summer visits—catching problems early can prevent permanent turf damage.

Trust the Experts

Every lawn is unique. Soil depth, shade, drainage, and irrigation all play a role in how your grass responds to summer heat.

If you’re seeing persistent dry spots and aren’t sure why, the professionals at SeaScape Healthy Lawns can identify the underlying cause and recommend the best solution to keep your lawn healthy all season long.