Help! What happened to my lawn?
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http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1195/7598...
It was growing really well until a few weeks ago and then everything just started dying, these brown patches with matted down dead grass.
In the spring (April) I reseeded the lawn, patched up dead spots and applied Grub-X and Scott's Lawncare fertilizer (the one for reseeding). I don't think it's grubs, I've dug down under these dead spots and found only one or two under a few of them but not enough to cause this. The ground seems hard and rocky, maybe there's bad drainage? I'm starting to suspect weather conditions, it happened after a rainy week, maybe the water didn't drain properly and caused some disease.
The type is grass is called "Rebel Elite": it's a tall fescue.
Thank you, I'm at my wit's end and it's very frustrating.
Answers:
The condition you describe along with type of grass would suggest 1 of 2 possible situations:
1. Due to the recent weather conditions across most of the country (high temps and lack of rain), many lawn are suffering from servere heat stress. This type of condition would display brownish yellow areas throughout the lawn.
2. It's a summer disease (Patch Disease); again, very common with recent weather conditions. This would also display Brownish spots in the lawn; however, would grow in size as week went on.
For Summer Stress; simply tweaking your cultural practice will great improve the condition. Water in the morning only (never in the evening hours). Make sure your mowing at a higher level along with putting down a sulfer coated dry fertilizer.
For a Summer Disease; I would suggest apply a Organic Fertilizer (like a Ringer product). Plus, make sure your following the same watering mowing steps as listed above. There is no product that can kill a fungus disease; however, products like Ringer will help push the disease down while thicking the grass to the point... a summer disease is not as apparent.
Watering amount vary depending on where you live; however rule of thumb is 1 1/2 inchs to 2 inchs of water every week. *Note; not be supplied in one day... LOL
Hope this helps
looks like your grass died.
To be honest, this could be number of things. My lawn looks exactly like that but it always recovers. Mine is mostly because my dog urinates in the same places over and over. Do you have a dog?
We have dogs that visit our yard from neighboring properties while we are away at work. One day I was running late, and one of them was sauntering down the street towards our house. He literally waited by our mailbox until I pulled out of the driveway, and proceeded right up to his favorite 'pottie place' as I watched from the road.
Wow, that's hard to kill fescue! That stuff is stubborn from my experience. It could definitely be from over watering with the recent rain (over watering leaves grass susceptible to diseases and bugs), it could also be that your roots don't have anywhere to go (ground is too hard). Does your grass feel spongy? If it does it needs to be thatched. I'd give it a week or two and see how it does when it dries out, but stop fertilizing it for the mean time.
Here is a link to an article that was in my local paper earlier this summer. It might have some suggestions for you. Your lawn does look like the rain water washed down a bunch of dead grass though. I have found ants are taking over and killing my lawn in spots right now. http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...
I know you may dissagree but I kinda think you still have a grum problem. If they eat the roots you have to water every day to keep it alive. I had a similar probem and I could see armadillo "hole" in the grass. I used Grub-stop and watered evry day and my lawn came back . I know they say that Grub stuff lasts all season but mine came back in two months. See if you can find any live grubs or look for mole or armadillo holes. It is said that they can actuaally hear the grubs!
Ok I can tell you what happen to my yard which has done the same thing.. We have a really long dry spell and then it rained during a really hot day. This kills the grass because its burns it.. The heat or steamy from the rain and the hot grounds kills grass . This being why you don't water you flowers when the sun is out.. You should always wait until after the sun is going down.. Hope this helps.. oh I guess I should tell you what I did to fix it.. We started watering the grass every night about ten or so at night for about a hour (water is on a timer). Had the lawn guy come out once a week.. Now I have nice green grass.. Good Luck
if fungus get some whole ground corn meal best place a feed store if grubs get some beneficial nematodes come on a blue sponge you soak the sponge in water and spray over your yard both of these things will not heart your yard also put down some good compose do not use chemicals they will only make matters worse
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