Lawn Turning Brown? Summer Survival Tips for Discovery West and River Vale Lawns
It’s peak summer in Bend, and if your lawn in Discovery West or River Vale is starting to turn brown, you’re not alone. High elevation sun, dry winds, and inconsistent watering can cause even healthy lawns to decline quickly.
But don’t panic—brown grass doesn’t always mean dead grass. Here’s a practical guide to reviving your lawn before it’s too late.
Identify What Kind of “Brown” You’re Dealing With
Not all brown patches are the same. Use this checklist to diagnose the issue:
Crispy, straw-like blades? Likely heat or drought stress.
Soft but discolored areas? Could be overwatering or fungal disease.
Irregular patches? May be pet spots or insect damage.
Evenly fading color across the whole lawn? Possibly a watering schedule issue.
If your lawn in River Vale has lots of trees or shade, check for fungus. If you’re in Discovery West with full sun and new sod, drought stress is likely.
Watering Schedule: Every Other Day, Morning and Evening
To rescue a stressed lawn in these neighborhoods, we recommend watering every other day, once in the early morning (4–7 a.m.) and once in the evening (8–10 p.m.).
This schedule gives your lawn consistent moisture while avoiding common issues like evaporation, pooling, or disease.
Pro Tip: Don’t expect overnight recovery. Stick to the schedule for 2–3 weeks before judging results.
Raise Your Mower Height
One of the easiest ways to protect a stressed lawn is to raise your mower blades to 3–3.5 inches.
Taller grass shades the soil.
It slows evaporation.
It encourages deeper roots.
Avoid cutting more than one-third of the grass height at a time, especially during heat waves.
Pause Fertilizer (For Now)
Avoid fertilizing when your lawn is heat-stressed or browning. Fertilizer can burn dry grass and worsen the damage. Wait until temperatures drop back into the 70s before resuming your normal feed schedule.
Spot Water Trouble Zones
Use a screwdriver or soil probe in brown patches:
If it’s hard to push in, your lawn is dry—water more deeply in that zone.
If it’s soggy or smells musty, reduce watering and improve drainage.
Sometimes a sprinkler head may be misaligned or clogged, causing uneven coverage. Walk your lawn once a week to catch these issues early.
Don’t Let Brown Turn Into Dead
Brown grass can recover—but dead grass will need reseeding or replacement. The longer you wait to adjust your schedule and mowing height, the harder it is to save.
Leave the Stress to Us
You’ve got better things to do than guess at what’s wrong with your lawn.
Let Edge Landscaping take over your lawn care and landscape maintenance in Discovery West, River Vale, and across Bend. We diagnose, treat, and maintain lawns so you can relax and enjoy your summer.
Contact us today and let the pros bring your lawn back to life.