Question
We just bought a new house.  I have the typical regional weeds, no problemt here.  However, there are patches where the grass looks electrocuted!  It's very brown, cruchy dry - not the normal browning into winter mode. Ideas?

Answer
Hi Diane;
It could very well be a fungus, or grub worms.
If you don't see at least 5 or 6 grubs in a spadeful of soil you have turned over, then it is probably a fungus. Treat it with Agricultural corn meal ( even yellw corn meal you use in cooking will work pretty well) or baking soda.
Agricultural corn meal should be applied at 10 or 15 pounds per 1000 sq.ft, or disolve 2 very heaping Tablespoons of baking soda per gallon of water and spray the spots and a bit further out on the edges of the spots.
Charlotte