Brown patches on your lawn in Ohio can be concerning, and drought and armyworms are common culprits. However, you'll want to distinguish between the two to give it what it needs to restore its vibrant green color! To determine whether it's drought, you'll want to consider your watering schedule. If you’re already watering your lawn weekly, then it’s likely not a drought issue. However, if you take a closer look at the grass blades and find gnaw marks, you’ll know armyworms are the problem. An increase in birds on your property and bare spots on your lawn are also signs of an armyworm infestation. While you can try to decipher which it is, the best way to know for sure is to contact a professional. That way, they can quickly identify the issue and create a plan to get your lawn back to good health!

You can determine whether your lawn is drought-stricken by looking at your watering schedule.

Water from a sprinkler head on a lawn in Delaware, OH.

The first step to determining whether your lawn's brown patches are due to drought is to take a look at your watering schedule. If you’re already watering your lawn weekly, providing about an inch of water per session, then it’s likely not suffering from drought stress. A good watering schedule, especially during warm and dry weather, helps maintain a moist and healthy environment that keeps your grass properly hydrated.

However, if you’re not watering it correctly, try doing so for a short period and see if you notice a difference. A healthy lawn can quickly recover from drought when given enough water. If not, then it’s probably another issue!

Could the brown patches on your lawn be caused by armyworms?

Armyworm chewing on a grass blade in Delaware, OH.

If you've ruled out drought, then your brown patches could mean your lawn is infested with armyworms. To determine if the brown patches on your lawn are caused by an armyworm infestation, take a closer look at the grass blades. If you see gnaw marks, the issue is likely armyworms.

Another sign that your lawn's discoloration is from armyworms is if you notice more birds on your property than usual. These birds have learned that your lawn is a feasting ground, meaning they keep returning to find and eat the armyworms. Bare spots on your turf are another indication that armyworms have infested it!

Contact Professionals to Identify Whether the Issue Is Drought or Armyworms

While you can try to distinguish between drought and armyworms, it’s best to contact professionals to know for sure. After all, using a “guessing game” to decipher what your lawn needs is a risk, as you could end up wasting time and money trying to remedy the wrong issue.

When you consult a professional team, they can quickly identify the problem and create a plan to get your lawn back to good health. For example, if the issue is drought, they’ll provide tips on how to water it properly. However, if it’s armyworms, they’ll apply an effective insect control treatment to eliminate them.

Lawn care pros can recommend a treatment plan to help your grass recover from armyworms.

Call us today to schedule our armyworm control service!

If you’ve noticed brown patches on your lawn and suspect it’s due to armyworms, we’re here to help! At Hoffmans Lawn & Fertilization, we offer a professional armyworm control service that is part of our comprehensive insect control program. This program includes five treatments from spring to fall to keep your lawn protected from destructive pests like armyworms. The treatment we use is also effective against other pests, like ants, chinch bugs, fleas, and more!

We offer our armyworm control service to commercial and residential properties, as well as HOAs, in and around Delaware, Lewis Center, and Powell, OH. We’ve been helping property owners maintain healthy, beautiful lawns since 2013, so you can trust that your turf is in good hands with us. Call our team today at (740) 318-5296 to schedule!