A brown or yellow lawn often raises the question of whether mowing is necessary. Mowing a brown lawn can be beneficial, but the approach depends entirely on the grass’s condition. Cutting the turf removes unsightly dead material, encourages new growth when conditions improve, and prevents weed seed dispersal. Understanding if your grass is truly dead or just dormant is the first step toward effective lawn care.
Is Your Grass Dead or Dormant?
The distinction between dead and dormant grass lies in the viability of the plant’s crown and root system. Dormancy is a survival mechanism where the grass temporarily stops growth and turns brown to conserve resources, often triggered by drought or extreme temperatures. A dormant lawn maintains a living crown (the white tissue at the base of the plant) and a functional root system. Truly dead grass has no living tissue left and will not recover, regardless of watering or weather changes.
The “tug test” assesses the integrity of the root system. Gently pull a small section of brown turf; if it resists and remains firmly anchored, the grass is likely dormant with intact roots. If the grass blades pull out easily, the root system has failed, indicating the turf is dead. You can also inspect the crown, located just above the soil line. Finding any white or pale green color at this base means the plant is still alive.
Mowing Techniques for Brown Turf
When mowing brown turf, using sharp mower blades is necessary to avoid further damage to any underlying living tissue. Dull blades tear the grass, creating ragged edges that require the plant to use more resources to heal and increase susceptibility to disease. Set the mowing height slightly higher than normal to prevent “scalping,” which is cutting too low and exposing the soil. Scalping damages the crowns of dormant grass and promotes weed growth in dead areas.
For dormant turf, mowing frequency should decrease significantly since the grass is not actively growing. A high setting helps shade the soil, conserving moisture and reducing the time the turf remains stressed. When mowing truly dead grass, a higher setting avoids kicking up excessive dust and soil, which can stress the mower. The goal of mowing brown turf is primarily to remove unsightly brown tips or control weeds growing above the turf.
Post-Mowing Cleanup and Debris Management
The decision to bag or mulch brown clippings is important for the lawn’s long-term health. Under normal conditions, mulching is beneficial because clippings are easily-degradable and return valuable nitrogen and other nutrients to the soil. However, leaving a significant amount of dead, dry material on the lawn can present problems.
Excessive dead material, particularly long clippings, can create a thick layer that shades and smothers recovering grass beneath. Although grass clippings do not typically contribute to true thatch, a thick layer of undecomposed material prevents water and air from reaching the soil surface. If you removed a large volume of brown material, bagging or raking the clippings is the safer option to promote better soil-to-seed contact for future growth.
Next Steps: Revival or Replacement
The action taken after mowing is determined by the initial diagnosis. If the tug test indicated the grass was only dormant, the focus shifts to revival through deep, consistent hydration. Dormant turf can survive for three to four weeks without water, but prolonged drought requires intervention. Apply one to two inches of water per week, preferably in the early morning, to encourage the grass to break dormancy.
If the grass was confirmed dead, the area requires preparation for replacement. Dead turf should be removed, and the soil lightly raked or aerated to alleviate compaction and allow for better seed-to-soil contact. Reseeding with an appropriate grass type or installing new sod are the only ways to restore dead areas. Soil amendments may also be necessary to correct underlying issues, such as nutrient deficiencies, that may have led to the grass’s death.