As we move into the dog days of summer, your lawn may be sending some distress signals. Brown patches. Thinning turf. Faded color. If your yard looks a little tired or patchy in August, you’re not alone.
Late summer is a tough time for Pennsylvania lawns. Between intense heat, high humidity, and surprise rainstorms, conditions are perfect for turf disease, insect damage, and general lawn stress. At Stoney Acres, we’ve been caring for lawns in the Susquehanna Valley and beyond for decades, and August is one of the most common times we get the call: “Something’s not right with my grass.”
Let’s break down the most common lawn problems we see in August and how we fix them the right way.
1. Heat Stress: The Silent Lawn Killer
What it looks like:
Wilting or curled blades. Faded or bluish-gray grass. Brown or straw-like patches that don’t bounce back after watering.
What causes it:
Prolonged sun exposure, high temps, and dry conditions can send your turf into stress mode. Even if you’re watering, intense heat can dry out roots faster than they can take in moisture, especially in sunny, unshaded yards.
How we fix it:
At Stoney Acres, we don’t just water and walk away. We assess soil conditions, check that irrigation is reaching the root zone, and recommend deep, infrequent watering to encourage stronger roots. We might also suggest overseeding in early fall with heat-tolerant blends to rebuild those stressed areas.
2. Turf Diseases: When Humidity Meets Neglect
What it looks like:
Circular brown patches (dollar spot or brown patch). Slimy or moldy-looking grass (pythium blight). Yellowing or spotting blades.
What causes it:
Fungal diseases thrive in humid weather, especially when grass stays damp overnight or airflow is poor. Overwatering, cutting too short, and compacted soil can all make it worse.
How we fix it:
We always start with a turf evaluation to identify the specific disease. Then, we apply targeted fungicides if necessary (we only treat what’s truly needed). Long term, we may recommend aeration to improve airflow, adjusted mowing heights, and smarter watering habits like watering in the early morning, not late at night.
3. Insect Damage: Tiny Pests, Big Problems
What it looks like:
Brown or dead patches that peel back easily (grubs). Chewed blades or thinning turf (chinch bugs, sod webworms). Increased animal activity (skunks or birds digging for insects).
What causes it:
Grubs and surface-feeding insects are common in late summer, especially if your lawn wasn’t treated in spring. By August, they’ve matured and started eating underground roots or grass blades.
How we fix it:
Our team inspects the lawn and soil to confirm pest presence, no guessing here. If grubs are the culprit, we apply a curative treatment to stop the damage. For surface pests, we use targeted insect controls that won’t harm beneficial insects. Preventative treatment next spring may also be part of your long-term solution.
4. Dull Mower Blades and Poor Mowing Habits
What it looks like:
Ragged, shredded grass tips. Discolored turf even after recent mowing. Uneven or scalped spots.
What causes it:
It’s easy to forget that sharp mower blades and proper mowing height make a huge difference in turf health. Dull blades tear grass, leaving it vulnerable to disease and drought. Cutting too short weakens the root system, especially in the heat.
How we fix it:
Our mowing crews keep blades sharp and adjust height based on grass type and season. We also educate homeowners: in August, never cut more than 1/3 of the blade length and raise the mower height to help shade and protect roots.
Real-Life Fix: From Patchy to Picture-Perfect
One of our recent clients in Eagles Mere called us in mid-August, panicked about big brown patches taking over their otherwise healthy lawn. After a full turf assessment, we identified both heat stress and a minor grub infestation.
We created a simple plan:
✅ Adjust watering schedule
✅ Apply curative grub control
✅ Top-dress thin areas with compost and seed in early September
By mid-fall, their lawn had made a full recovery and they now schedule regular lawn health checks every summer to catch issues early.
Don’t Wait Until Fall: August Is the Time
August may not seem like the ideal time to deal with lawn problems, but catching issues now sets your turf up for success this fall and beyond. Waiting until the damage is widespread only makes the fix harder (and more expensive).
At Stoney Acres Landscaping, we specialize in diagnosing and solving summer lawn problems with solutions that actually work, and keep your lawn looking its best through every season.
???????? Get a Professional Lawn Checkup
If your lawn is looking tired, stressed, or patchy, let our expert team take a look. We’ll assess the damage, find the root cause, and customize a plan to restore your lawn the right way.???? Call us today at (570) 437-3093 or visit stoneyacresonline.com to schedule your late-summer lawn evaluation.