mntnbkr – posted 20 September 2004 12:46
I have a emerald zoysia lawn that has been absolutely wonderful for the past 3 years, even though I’ve done a crappy job of maintaining it. This year it has decided to pay me back for my neglect. Here’s a link to some picturesMy Sick Lawn
The lawn has not been fertilized since early spring and we have had an incredibly wet summer here in Cary, NC (Piedmont)
Is this dollar spot, and if so should I fertilize the lawn now? If yes, what fertilizer (makeup) would be best? If it’s not dollar spot then what the heck is it and what do I need to do?
Thanks in advance for your assistance. (I know I’ve been a bad lawn owner, but want to rectify the situation)
Buck – posted 20 September 2004 13:42
If this were bermuda I’d say you have a health colony of mole crickets. Not sure they take up residence in your turf or not. If they do/can, maybe someone else can answer that, you need to get after it with Talstar or a generic substitute pronto. In Chaple Hill, I hit my bermuda twice a year with Talstar or I expect it would look a lot like your turf.
mntnbkr – posted 21 September 2004 07:51
Should I be able to identify if this is being done by critters by digging out a section that’s discolored?
If I scuff the turf with my shoe in the areas that are discolored the grass blades basically disintegrate leaving a mostly bare spot in the lawn.
I don’t want to apply insecticide / fungicide unless necessary, and I want to use the right stuff for the job.
Buck – posted 21 September 2004 08:39
Go here: http://molecrickets.ifas.ufl.edu/mcri0002.htm
cboothe – posted 21 September 2004 22:51
I’ve seen spots like in your top right picture in my Zoysia, but just one or two every now and then (usually when I’ve had lots of rain). Try to gently fold back the grass and see if you see any puff ball fungus growing directly on the ground.
Alex_in_FL – posted 22 November 2004 18:04
My suggestion is to take a sample to the county extension office and ask them for help.
Alternatively buy a good fungicide and spray the area and repeat with a good insecticide.
Good luck.
Alex
mntnbkr – posted 23 November 2004 08:10
I did go and contact the folks over at my county extension office and they where awesome. They identified it as a bad case of Dollarspot. They had me treat it with a fungicide and then apply nitrogen to help it grow out of the damage and it looks 100 percent better. Thanks for the feedback…