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Speakeasy forum: I need a lawn expert . . .

by: Coryphaeus April 26, 2012 9:56 AM PDT

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I need a lawn expert . . .

by Coryphaeus - 4/26/12 9:56 AM

For the last many years, the St. Augustine grass in my back yard has been a carpet. It looked like a magazine ad. Two summers ago it started dying. I have a sprinkler system that runs twice a week and I only use Scotts Bonus-S. Last summer I sprayed with a fungicide and that didn't help. This is what it looks like this morning.

http://www.wayne2.net/grass.jpg

I spread iron last fall thinking that might help to green it up. It didn't. Any thoughts?


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Forgot to mention . . .

by Coryphaeus - 4/26/12 9:58 AM

In Reply to: I need a lawn expert . . . by Coryphaeus

Note the yellowing of the leaves.


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I moved so I don't have to deal with that as much.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 4/26/12 10:03 AM

In Reply to: I need a lawn expert . . . by Coryphaeus

But in the Boston area, it's rough to grow a good lawn but I see THATCH and every once year I would get it de-thatched.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dethatcher

I'm no expect but after a decade in the Boston area my lawn here is coming back to life as I apply what I learned.
Bob


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Dethatching . . .

by Coryphaeus - 4/26/12 10:45 AM

In Reply to: I moved so I don't have to deal with that as much. by R. Proffitt Moderator

I'm well familiar with that process. I've used this before.

http://www.amazon.com/Maxpower-330100-16-Inch-Universal-Dethatcher/dp/B0009XCNDA

The springs attach to the blade and dethatch as you mow. But I don't have any buildup of thatch.


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I think I see thatch.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 4/26/12 10:49 AM

In Reply to: Dethatching . . . by Coryphaeus

It's in those grey areas.


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(NT) That's where that missing Dark Matter has been hiding!! Rob

by Ziks511 - 4/26/12 12:49 PM

In Reply to: I think I see thatch. by R. Proffitt Moderator


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Bob . . .

by Coryphaeus - 4/26/12 2:11 PM

In Reply to: I think I see thatch. by R. Proffitt Moderator

That's not thatch, just the dead runners on the ground.


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It sure looks like fungus

by Diana Moderator - 4/26/12 1:55 PM

In Reply to: I need a lawn expert . . . by Coryphaeus

When do you water? I know that we used to water at night so there wouldn't be any water for fungus to feed on.

I've been looking at some pictures and it might be black fungus. This is the website - of course it's sponsored by Ortho.

Diana


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I water . . .

by Coryphaeus - 4/26/12 2:10 PM

In Reply to: It sure looks like fungus by Diana Moderator

at five in the morning so that it dries quickly on the leaves. Done this for years. I'm going to apply another treatment of fungicide and see what happens. Also gonna change to plain old Texas turf fertilizer, 15-15-15 and see what happens.


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Soil sample

by Willy - 4/26/12 7:06 PM

In Reply to: I need a lawn expert . . . by Coryphaeus

You should remove a patch of it and check the underside. see if grubs or any insects are at work. Also, you can check the roots as well. You can probably check the soil itself to a university or lab to check the salt/mineral content if you're water has gotten more bitter over the yrs.. You can also repatch that same area and see how it reacts, good luck -----Willy happy


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he should remove all dead areas down to dirt.

by James Denison - 4/26/12 9:30 PM

In Reply to: Soil sample by Willy

dead grass is "thatch".


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My thought too.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 4/26/12 9:54 PM

In Reply to: he should remove all dead areas down to dirt. by James Denison

New England taught me lessons on this. The biggest baddest de-thatcher then some mix of seed and mulch to give the bare ground something to grow.
Bob

PS. Love the comment about dead runners. Good thing this is Texas or that would have someone investigating.


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