Why are patches of your yard dying?

Answer 1

If the patches resemble round circles, it might be that you have chinch bugs--they like roots and tend to be active when it gets hot. You can reduce activity by periodically using insecticide on your lawn. In Texas, I used to do well by putting it on the lawn in February and again in August. Somewhere I read that is when their gestation period is. If the area is under a tree, it may be that the tree is getting the nutrients and/or the grass is getting too much shade. Using weed and feed products in the early spring helps avoid having the grass compete with weeds.