Is Your Lubbock Lawn Dead or Just Dormant?

It's a funky time of year for Lubbock lawns- yours might be a lush jungle of Johnsongrass or sticker plants (I'm kinda guilty here), or it may already be turning crunchy and brown. You may be wondering if your grass is going dead or just dormant, and here's how to tell the difference.

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How to Tell if Your Grass Is Dead or Just Dormant

1. Look at the browning: If your lawn is going uniformly tan all over, your (likely) Bermuda grass is just fine. (Meanwhile, my random hodgepodge of native ground cover is thriving and probably negatively affecting my sinuses.)

If you have isolated patches, or have had problem patches all season long, you have another problem. It could be an issue with uneven watering, fungal disease, pests, or simply that our soil can be hard as a rock.

2. Gently inspect your grass near its roots. While the top may be super crunchy, the base of the grass should hold strong. If you see it's very weak, mushy, or rotted, you probably have an issue with your lawn.

Also known as "the tug test," if you pull your grass and it snaps, it's probably fine. If you pull your grass and it comes up easily with no roots attached, the grass is dead.

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What Should You Do About a Brown Lubbock Lawn?

If your lawn is dormant (likely), stop or reduce irrigation (new turf options or winterized trees still appreciate a deep soak once a month if Lubbock goes weeks without winter rain).

Don't apply nitrogen fertilizer while the grass isn't growing; it'll weaken your grass and will be wasteful, too. If your lawn has dead areas, you should figure out the issue before planting new grass, or you'll likely just have the same problems all over again. In my front yard, it's my Mulberry tree, and she isn't going anywhere, so I've accepted the bald patches.

When To Call In An Expert

If over half of your lawn is dead, your DIY treatments have not worked and/ or you cannot figure out what is causing the root damage, then it's time to call in an expert. You may consider a full renovation, including aeration, seeding, sod, etc. It can get quite pricey depending on sod type, etc., but a very beautiful lawn comes at a cost.

Alternatives

You've got options besides turf if your lawn has croaked. You can opt for native buffalo grass (much cheaper and hardier) or microclover; you can xeriscape with rocks and native perennials. You can also use artificial turf*.

Warning: artificial turf can get quite hot in Lubbock summers under direct sunlight; you will need to hose it off if you plan to have children/ dogs play on it, or it could burn them. There are ways to mitigate artificial turf from creating a "heat island" around your house that will drive up your utility bills- ask your installer if you go this route. 

Costs vary widely on these alternatives; however, they tend to be more permanent and require less maintenance than turf and may save you both upfront and maintenance costs.

Whatever you decide, just don't let sticker plants get out of control, please.