How to Fix Brown Spots in a Lawn Close to the Sprinkler

Feel the brown areas after the sprinklers have shut off. Perhaps the lawn nearest the sprinkler is not receiving adequate water because of the sprinkler's trajectory. If the brown patch feels dry, adjust the sprinkler or supplement by hand watering.

Look for a green "frog eye" in the center of the dry patch, especially if it's round. A brown patch with a green center and yellow outer ring indicate necrotic ringspot disease. Apply approximately 1 lb. of nitrogen fertilizer per 1,000 square feet of lawn in late fall to treat necrotic ringspot.

Inspect the lawn for clover mites. Look for pin-sized insects that are dark green, brown or red and if the grass blades have long silver streaks. Clover mites are more likely to infest lawns in the winter when it's dry, causing brown patches the following summer. Increase irrigation in the fall and winter to rid the lawn of clover mites.

Watch for signs that a dog is urinating or defecating on your lawn. In small amounts, the salts, proteins and nitrogen in dog waste can act as a natural fertilizer, but they can also cause lawn burn and brown patches. The best long-term solution is to retrain the dog to eliminate elsewhere. If that's not possible, remove solid waste immediately and apply extra water to the area to dilute harmful residues left by the waste.