Fast.Shark – posted 07 February 2002 06:31
About a year ago, my wife and myself purchased a newer home. At the time when we first moved in our grass was the nicest on the block. We have underground sprinklers installed…but since there has been water restrictions (Cape Coral, Florida) I have opted to turn off the timer…there is a pretty hefty fine for watering out side of your “window” period. Over the past few months, I have watched my grass die in patches and also now, my grass is full of those silver dollar “weeds”. I have tried to fertileize…but with no luck. The doesn’t seem to be any difference if I use fertelizer or not. This is a HUGH let down to me. As Myself, seeing how this was our first house….the grass at the time of move in was in PERFECT condition. Dont one “dead” patch or any browning areas….Please, can any one suggest any treatments? I can snap a few pictures if that would help. PLEAE email to mthompsonhsd@earthlink.net (just incase I can not find this web page again…as I get pretty deep in links sometimes). When your grass looks DEAD, your house look dead too. This has been an on going personal issue for me. Please give me some insight as to how to treat my current problem as well as how to stop this from happening again.
-M. ThompsonCape Coral, Florida
P.S THANK YOU
seed – posted 08 February 2002 19:40
Fast.Shark, you probably have Floratam but it gets spelled many ways.
Cape Coral, as the name would imply, is pretty calcareous, that is, limestone base, and tends to have high pH or alkaline soils. That can be verified by a soil analysis, or just by looking at leaves with interveinal (between the veins) yellowing, due to iron (Fe), and possibly also manganese (Mn) that to take up in the roots when soil is alkaline.
If so, try fertilizing with ammonium sulfate. The ammonium part breaks down to nitrate, releasing acid, helping plant roots take up iron and manganese.
That doesn’t diagnose or necessarily treat your present problem, whatever it is. But the pH may be an underying problem.
I don’t understand the abundence of what sounds like dollarweed, because that is usually a water-loving weed. Is this your weed?http://dollarweed.com
Phil
RCchats – posted 15 March 2002 17:20
Sharky, you said your lawn looked great when you moved in. If your floritan was dying with brown patches, you might have had chinch bug. Chinch bug eats the grass and moves in an outward circle. Before you know it the lawn is dead. Don’t treat the damaged area, treat the area on the outside circle as that is where they are going. Diazonan works great. Ron
taylorrace – posted 11 March 2005 16:52
I too moved into a new home in Lehigh Acres almost two years ago. I have a little dollar weed problem in the back yard by the lake in back. I am going to treat with WEED Be Gone and see if it helps. As far as fertilizer goes, stick with Scott’s. I use Turf Builder with 2% iron all year with the exception of late winter/early spring (the end of Febor 1st of March) when I use Bonus S. I fertilize every 2 months and also put down Triazacide at the same time to control insects. I have a beautiful lawn which is thick and plush and dark green all year by using this method. I have tried other products and have not had the results that I have with Scott’s products. My irrigation system comes on every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday morning around 4:00 A.M. I also mow my grass at the highest setting that my mower has, Good luck and keep me posted at taylorrace@comcast.net.