How to Revive Dead Grass

• Brown grass may be dormant, not dead, and can be revived with proper care.
• Check for green at the grass base to tell if it’s dormant.
• Restore areas where grass has died with aeration and overseeding.
• Water and fertilizer support living grass but cannot revive dead grass.
• Avoid mowing dead or dormant grass because it can weaken the lawn.
• Most dead grass needs to be removed and replanted.

Wondering how to revive dead grass as the seasons change? For many homeowners, reviving dead grass is a top priority, especially when dealing with unsightly brown patches.  

Discoloration doesn't always mean your grass is dead; often, it could just be dormant. Though reviving it is possible, restoring an unhealthy lawn can take effort. The experts at TruGreen are here to help and ready to turn your brown lawn green again!

Let’s get into the differences between dead grass and dormant grass and answer some common questions about what it takes to restore your lawn’s healthy-looking appearance. Find everything you need to know about reviving your lawn ahead. 

First things first: Brown grass doesn’t necessarily mean dead grass. In fact, in many cases, a brown lawn simply means your grass is dormant. This is especially true with southern turfgrasses such as Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass. These species naturally enter a dormant period in the fall and winter, which protects them from some kinds of winter damage. They often green-up and resume growing in the spring, when the temperatures warm up.

So how do you know if grass is completely dead or still dormant? While the top of the grass may be dry and brittle, if you can see any green at the base of the plants, then it is likely still dormant rather than dead. These signs can be tricky for homeowners to spot and interpret accurately.

If your grass is brown in patches and doesn’t green up after a few weeks of warm weather, reach out to TruGreen and one of our specialists will have the knowledge and experience to accurately diagnose your lawn. We can then decide on the best treatment plan. 

So, will watering dead grass bring it back? Unfortunately, no amount of water will revive dead grass. However, if it’s still healthy, a dormant lawn can typically survive for several weeks without rainfall or irrigation. If your lawn is dormant rather than dead, it should start to green up again once it receives the water it needs. How much water your lawn needs depends on a multitude of factors, including what type of grass it is, your location, and the area’s weather conditions.

Will dead grass grow back? If your grass is actually dead, there’s nothing you can do to bring it back other than plant new grass. Brown grass, however, can green up following proper care. Oftentimes, that just means water, nutrients and cooler temperatures for northern lawns and warmer temperatures for southern lawns.

If your grass is brown from lawn disease or lawn-damaging insects, targeted treatment may be required. TruGreen can help determine whether your grass is brown due to dormancy or damage and help get your lawn back on track. 

Overseeding is probably the first thing that comes to mind if you’re dealing with dead grass. And while overseeding can help restore your lawn, it has to be done properly for it to be effective. Tossing seeds on top of dead, thatched grass may result in poor or patchy growth. You might be better off opting for a TruGreen aeration and overseeding service instead.

First, we’ll break up compact soil and thatch, then, if you have cool-season grass, we'll overseed your lawn. Aeration allows for better air, water and nutrient penetration into the soil, and improves the new seed’s contact with the soil to foster germination and establishment of new seedlings.  

For cool season grasses, this service is typically performed in the late summer and fall, as the soil is still warm, but the daytime temperatures are cool — the optimal conditions for grass seed to establish in time for the following spring. 

No, raking dead grass will not help it grow. However, raking can help remove thatch — which, as we explained above, may enable grass that is living to grow stronger and healthier. Raking is actually a good practice for lawn areas that aren't emerging from dormancy and is one piece to the puzzle to repairing injured areas.

Fertilizer can be incredibly beneficial for thickening up a living lawn — but it won’t bring a dead lawn back to life or help with reviving dead grass. To get the best results, you should apply fertilizer when your grass is actively growing.

The timing for this depends on a few factors, including the type of grass you have and the weather in your region. In general, fertilization is a great practice and part of the lawn care treatment your local TruGreen expert uses when creating a tailored plan for your lawn. 

If your grass has stopped growing entirely, it’s either dead or dormant and will not grow. In either case, avoid mowing for the time being. Mowing dead grass is pointless; dead grass is dead grass, while mowing a dormant lawn can weaken your grass, leaving it susceptible to more serious damage.