Small problem

[Stangman]

I am cuttign this guys lawn and have been for over a month now. Well up til now this lawn grew almpst put of control weekly. So I go today to cut it and I was ready for ahour long journey around a thick green pasture. When I got there I was surpirsed to see that since last week his yard has developed brown spots (I mean huge spots), thinning areas and some not too healthy looking grass. He said he did not put anything on itand we have had plenty of water. I don't have any clue as to what may be going on. Does anybody have a clue as to what I should look for or what I can do?

[gerne]

fungus or grubs is the first thing that comes to mind. I had a yard that it was perfectly green in some areas and huge brown spots in others. Drianage wasnt a problem but what the problem was, a slow leak in the irrigation system, one of the seals started to seperate. check for grubs or saturated soil first...if it's all good by some iron fertilizer and lay it down...see if it changes in a couple of weeks, maybe 2 at max if watered right

[Stangman]

It didn't look saturated. It looks like it's not gfetting any nourishment. Like a skinny unfed orphan. But wit hthe rain we've had and the fertilizer application earlier this year I just don't understand. You think I should put down some iron fertilizer huh? Anybody else got any suggestions?

[Jack]

stangman,

You are in the Columbia area, so is this centipede, Zoysia, St Augustine, or Bermuda?

Tell us about the soil, what type, and have you had a soil test done?

Sounds like with all the rain we have had in the south, that is a possibility

[Stangman]

I am actually in Spartanburg. It's fescue and up til now there haven't been any problems. If I got the soil checked where would I take it to?

[Stangman]

And the soil is pretty much your average run of the mill upstate carolina red clay. Pretty crappy. Should be the same as in N.W. Ga.

[Jack]

My mistake, I thought you were closer to Columbia.

I hope that I can express myself where it will make some sense.

You can have a soil test done by your county extension service, or Lesco dealer.

Soil is made up of four components, they are 1. mineral matter, 2. organic matter, 3. air, and 4. water.

The mineral fraction of soil is made up of soil separates known as sand, silt, and clay. The relative proportion of these separates in a soil determines its texture.

example: a soil high in sand content and containing small amounts of silt and clay is classified as sand.

Soils composed mostly of clays (40-100 percent) are clay.

Soil texture and soil structure are important in turf growth, because they influence the amount of air and water available to the turf.

In your area, small clay particles are more tightly fitted than larger sand particles. This means small pores for air and water.

So in other words sands hold relatively small amounts of water because their large pore spaces allow water to drain freely from the soils.

Clays adsorb (or, hold onto their surface) comparatively large amounts of water, and their small pore spaces retain it against gravitational forces.

Fine textured clay soils are easily compacted (packed together closely and firmly). This reduces pore space which limits air and water movement through the soil and increases surface runoff.

Clay soils compact more easily therefore, moisture stress can become a problem, even under high rainfall.

Root and top growth is influenced considerably by soil structure. As the soil becomes more compacted, the proportion of large pore spaces decreases, root growth is reduced and production declines.

In the south, soils are highly weathered and organic matter levels are low. In the south, an adequate level of organic matter benefits the soil in many ways.
1. improves physical condition
2. increases water filtration
3. improves soil tilth
4. decreases erosion losses
5. supplies plant nutrients

You might want to try some organic matter on the lawn, and that may help.

[Stangman]

Organic matter? As in what?

[Jack]

Fescue is a cool season grass, that grows well during the cool months of spring and fall when temperatures average 60 - 75 degrees F. It may undergo stress, become dormant, or be injured during the hot months of summer and may require more water than the warm season grasses.

Fescue is most popular in the mountain and upper piedmont areas. This is because of its ease of establishment through seeding and its green color during the spring and fall, when warm season grasses are dormant and brown.

Fescue is a type of grass that grows rapidly during spring and fall. Sometimes a spring pre-emergence herbicides are generally necessary to keep a lawn relatively free of weeds.

Fesuce adapts to a wide range of soil conditions but grows best on fertile, well-drained soils with a ph between 5.5 and 6.5.

It often needs irrigation to remain attractive during the summer.

If organic matter is needed, add one to three cubic yards per 1,000 square feet of lawn area. You may want to mix it in with topsoil and try it on some of the problem areas.

Materials such as peat moss, rotted sawdust (six to eight years old) or leaf mold serve as organic material.

This is just one possibility to look at

Some established fescue lawns tend to thin out and become "clumpy" and may need periodic reseeding every three or more years.

The weather this year has been so unpredictable, being cold for several days, and then warming up.

I hope this gives you some ideas, if I can offer any more ideas let me know, I will try my best to help.

[CrissBrothersLLC]

if it is grubs, the green grass surrounding the spots will pull up like carpet, and they will be actively feeding on it, youll see them. Lesco and scotts have great grub-control.