Robert "Skip" Richter, a horticulturalist with Texas A&M University, said there are a few things that need to be done to get your yard back into shape if it has turned brown amidst drought conditions and record-setting heat. He says a good way to know whether grass will need to be replaced is to check for the color of the runners, referring to the stolons that allow grass to spread. “If they are brown the grass is dead, especially if it's St. Augustine, and you are going to need to replace it." Whether you decide to sod your yard or not, the time to fertilize is now, according to Richter. "The most important fertilizer we do is in the fall, because that is the energy the grass uses to come out next spring," he said. Read Richter's lawn recommendations at houstonpublicmedia.org #Lawns #BrownLawns #DryGrass #HoustonHomes #HomeOwners