What does it indicate when a grass goes dormant?

When grass goes dormant, it often turns brown due to extreme temperatures, particularly during hot and dry conditions or when temperatures drop significantly in the colder months. Dormancy is a natural survival mechanism for many grass types, allowing them to conserve energy and water when environmental stressors such as drought or extreme heat are present. During this period, the grass may appear dead, but it is not; it is simply in a state of reduced metabolic activity, enabling it to survive until more favorable conditions return.

This explanation clarifies the relationship between temperature extremes and grass dormancy while offering insight into the plant's adaptive strategies. Other answers do not align with the correct understanding of dormancy in grasses: improper irrigation leads to different symptoms, pest damage typically presents signs of active damage rather than dormancy, and while fertilization can affect growth, it doesn’t directly relate to the dormancy state caused by temperature stresses.