If your lawn has irregular brown or yellow spots, chances are it's a lawn burn, which indicates the roots are stressed. Luckily, you can prevent this by fertilizing and watering.

This lawn burn can result from the misuse of fast-release fertilizers, which can result in nitrogen overload and render the microbes in your soil unable to digest properly.

To prevent this, it’s crucial to understand the lawn fertilizer numbers on the bag. If the fertilizer is 20% nitrogen, one pound of fertilizer is recommended per 1,000 square feet.

Try using a fertilizer spreader with an adjustable setting (versus manually scattering it) to ensure even distribution. You can also add fertilizer dye to help avoid overlapping.

If your yard is already plagued by high levels of nitrogen, aggressive watering is the only way to flush out the excess fertilizer or pet urine that’s causing it.

Enough water is needed to sink deep into the lawn and saturate the roots, most of which sit five to six inches underground. Aim to water early in the morning rather than midday.

Keep in mind that too much water can cause root rot, which can lead to lawn burn itself, so be sure you’re watering evenly and consistently without going overboard.